Idle Thoughts of a Retired Dominie: April 2015

Friday 3 April 2015

Holy Week 2015

We are approaching the end of Lent, and for Christians, this week, Holy Week, is a time of extra prayer, extra meditation, and a final extra push with Lenten Observances.

Many of us Catholics will have spent more time than usual at Church services. For me an interesting point is that many of these services are not obligatory, but so many people of all ages make the extra effort.

The highlight of Thursday was the evening Mass of the Last Supper, where Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist, founded the Priesthood and began His Church with Peter as the first Pope.

Earlier in the day, Bishops all over the world had celebrated the Chrism Mass, blessing and distributing to priests the Holy Oil to be used during the year at Baptisms, Confirmations and and in the anointing of the Sick and the Dying.

At the evening Mass, each priest washed the feet of 12 men, reenacting what Jesus did at the Last Supper.

At the end of the Mass, the Blessed Sacrament was removed to the altar of repose where many people then sat in quiet prayer till the evening ended with the Night Prayer of the Church. It was a peaceful, silent holy time.

This morning, many came to Morning Prayer. The church was bare. No candles, no crucifixes, no altar cloths. No flowers, no statues. The Tabernacle was open and empty. The Holy water stoups dry.
The only day when there is no Mass said.

At 3pm, so many came along to remember the Passion and death of Jesus on the cross. There was the opportunity to kiss the Cross. At the end we quietly left the Church.

The next event will be the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night, beginning with the Church in darkness and the new fire being lit in the porch of the Church. And then the great celebration of the Resurrection begins.

Easter Day. Christ is Risen ! Alleluia!!

Wednesday 1 April 2015

Ulverston Lakeside and Windermere

There are many pretty areas in the Lake District. It was a bit early in the year for the scenery to be fantastic. No leaves on the trees, lots of brown and black.
But still lots to see and do.

Ulverston is a small town, perhaps most famous as the birth place of Stanley Laurel. There is a Laurel and Hardy museum.
Every town on the lakes offers the chance of a lake Cruise, and even this early they were doing great trade.
There are steam trains too, and motor museums and stately homes. Houses connected with writers and poets, like Wardsworth and Beatrix Potter.
It is all here to be enjoyed.