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Category Archives: Religion and related subjects
Top Hats for Top Chaps or if the cap fits…..
Easter had come and gone in flurries of snow. In my teenage days often on TV at this time of year they played that classic film musical Easter Parade – full of wonderful Irving Berlin songs; with Judy Garland and … Continue reading
Sede Vacante – where the papacy will go from here
The term ‘sede vacante’ is used to describe the interregnum between papacies. All elective monarchies have interregna. The term ‘sede vacante’ literally means the chair or seat is unoccupied. Sedes also corrupts to become See sometime in the fourth century. See is used to describe any apostolic jurisdiction … Continue reading
Why the Christmas spirit isn’t just for Christmas….
A less than seasonal greeting to our political masters…. If it is as blessed to give as to receive then taking benefits from the poorest means much more than saving the odd billion. It means it is a Christian … Continue reading
Eminently sensible…..
Pope Benedict XVI surprised Rome by announcing an impromptu consistory on the Feast of Jesus Christ Universal King. He will create 6 new cardinal electors. There will still be no English cardinal-elector. The new cardinals are:James Michael Harvey, born in the United … Continue reading
Straight down the middle – the via media up close and personal
Electing the Archbishop of Canterbury A society’s rituals – so history teaches- reflects profound truths about what we are or what we believe ourselves to be. This year the queen’s Diamond Jubilee offered us the reassurance of a link … Continue reading
Cardinal Archbishop Carlo Maria Martini RIP 1927 – 2012
Carlo Maria Martini RIP 1927 – 2012 Today in Milan they bury one of the greatest churchmen of the second half of the twentieth century. A Jesuit and former Archbishop of Milan Carlo Martini was primarily a scholar . Martini was awarded his … Continue reading
Eastertide….
From Easter day to Low Sunday Family lore – the stories that siblings inherit from their parents and share with their children – about each other, neighbours and friends or indeed family foes help to shape our sense of inheritance. … Continue reading
From Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday
Of Holy Week and the meaning of its rituals and symbols Last Saturday I watched the pope preside over the Easter Vigil from St Peter’s Basilica. It’s a curious service in many ways….a service in its modern form that … Continue reading
What is Passiontide?
Passion Sunday – 5th Sunday of Lent The great festivals that were once kept throughout Europe provided a cultural common language that is now almost entirely lost. But rather like the twelve days of Christmas…the days from the 5th Sunday … Continue reading
Robert Parsons c.1530 to January 1572
Robert Parsons c.1530 to January 1572 Thomas Tallis and William Byrd are the Tudor composers that most come to mind and music of the court and chapel are thought of generally in terms of the reigns of Henry VIII and … Continue reading