Cool Liturgies
Mar. 23rd, 2008 09:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
learnteachThis year I made it to both Maundy Thursday and Easter Vigil mass. It was very interesting, as I also helped set up the church between the two liturgies.
Maundy Thursday is a very eerie ceremony, done simply. It doesn't end so much as be extinguished. At the end of the Mass, instead of going forth with a blessing, the final choir piece was followed by a clarinet piece, then one by one the candles were snuffed out as everything was taken off the alter. The celebrants removed all of their liturgical clothing, placed it on the altar, and as the church went dark they walked out. We waited a bit, then followed in silence. No lights in the church, and an absolute hush. The service started with a dinner, where many washed each others feet. What with the poison oak, I abstained from that.
Contrasting this is of course the Easter vigil. It started at 5:30, in darkness, outside the church. The moon was just setting over the church when it started, and the stars were very clear. I was a little cold after the ride. Candles were passed around, and after being welcomed, the old stories presaging Jesus were told--but the old, classic stories. Genesis (and it was good). The Flood. The escape from Egypt (harden the heart). The valley of dry bones. The fire was lit, and then the Paschal candle from that, and then our candles hand to hand from that, and except for the flashlights of the people reading their cue cards occasionally, the only light was the fire and the candles. The stories are very elemental, water and air and rock. We then processed into the church and there were two Easter baptisms, and a renewal of vows. Followed by an Easter breakfast; first yeasted bread in 6 weeks. Caffiene is harder to give up.
Very nice. I'm going to join the choir, and start singing regularly again.
Contrasting this is of course the Easter vigil. It started at 5:30, in darkness, outside the church. The moon was just setting over the church when it started, and the stars were very clear. I was a little cold after the ride. Candles were passed around, and after being welcomed, the old stories presaging Jesus were told--but the old, classic stories. Genesis (and it was good). The Flood. The escape from Egypt (harden the heart). The valley of dry bones. The fire was lit, and then the Paschal candle from that, and then our candles hand to hand from that, and except for the flashlights of the people reading their cue cards occasionally, the only light was the fire and the candles. The stories are very elemental, water and air and rock. We then processed into the church and there were two Easter baptisms, and a renewal of vows. Followed by an Easter breakfast; first yeasted bread in 6 weeks. Caffiene is harder to give up.
Very nice. I'm going to join the choir, and start singing regularly again.
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Date: 2008-03-24 04:24 am (UTC)Holy Thursday mass always effects me that way too. I went to a morning mass on Easter because the incense has bothered me at the midnight services in the last couple of years. They opened the doors on this lovely day and breathing was much better because it could go right on out.