At the Easter Vigil on the sanctuary at Westminster Cathedral, Father Alexander a priest, comes before the Archbishop and announces
Most Reverend Father
I bring you a message of great joy
Christ is risen
In his reply, Archbishop Vincent Nichols spoke of this Easter Vigil as a celebration of light and life, a triumph of light over darkness and of life over death. That in celebrating these truths and taking them to heart will every moment of our lives be transformed.
He then referred to the night's liturgy which placed the truth into its boldest context and invited us to grasp the deepest meaning of the triumph of our Risen Christ, the triumph over evil.
Reflecting on the beginning of the ceremony when the Paschal candle was lit Archbishop Nichols explained that the Paschal Candle symbolised Christ as the Light of the world, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning of all things and it's end, The one to Whom all time belongs. He went on to say that nothing was beyond the reach of the victory won for us in the flesh and blood of Christ. That as St Paul had written, that when Christ died, He died once and for all to sin so we may have new life, so we could live free from the slavery of sin.
Drawing on the recent words of Pope Francis, he focussed our thoughts on the ills of today where the reality of sin manifests itself in the wounds inflicted on humanity, a world riddled with economic conflicts that hit the weakest, where man's greed for money which could not be taken from this earth in any event, caused great suffering. How indeed habits of mind and heart become actions often repeated. Thus the importance of the light of this night, the light of Christ, was a reminder to us that the victory of Christ over sin was always available to us and that His mercy and healing were to be found in every mass, in every confession. Tonight too therefore, we thank God for the ministry of the church through which this mercy comes to us.
However there was too another aspect of which we should be aware this Holy Saturday and it was that in Christ reaching out to Adam to bring him out of the deepest pit into the glory of new light and life, we too as a result of this enjoy the grace of the redemption of our past. It was vital too to reflect that this peace was only possible through the work, life and light of Christ. While the world would make different demands on us in seeking full payment for our past, in God's world, a different economy was at work. One, in which the offer of a redemption of the past and a surety for the future was always available. Even the most deep-seated of all our burdens, that of sin which hung like a millstone round our neck, Archbishop Vincent reassured the congregation, will be struck and shattered by Christ.
Thus as it was written all who are thirsty would come to him and listen and our souls will live. It was not though without taking on a special task, that of witnessing for Christ and taking the lead again from Pope Francis that we should be looking to the youth of today to bring us joy of faith which itself must be lived with a young heart. Then having extended his Easter wishes to the congregation along with his blessing, the Archbishop had his customary meeting with his flock at the steps of the Cathedral.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III
EF 24-70L
Antiphon : God did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all
Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.
In your compassion blot out my offence.
O wash me more and more from my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin
Consider the extreme cruelty suffered by Christ Jesus at the hands of his executioners.
His inner garments adhered to his torn flesh. Yet they dragged them off him so violently that the skin came off with them. Those who sought His life used violence against him. And when extending his hands and feet upon the cross, they then proceeded to nail them to the wood so Jesus would die in anguish. Each blow of the hammer was taken for each and every one of us and each minute of the three hours that Christ was held upright on the cross when under the weight of His body, those very wounds would bring further agony to our Lord, was every minute of additional suffering endured for us.
Consider then that it would not be for nothing if we turned our sorrows into something good. As Pope Francis himself said the cross was the way by which God had made his reply. In response to evil God's answer was Christ on the Cross. Thus the ' Cross of Christ ' which is about love, mercy and forgiveness should encourage in us that the response to evil is to do good, the more than equal opposite of evil. The beautiful prayers, lamentations and meditations on this Good Friday should be a help to us to focus on how we respond to the sacrifice made which is an example to us. Christ died for us on Good Friday so the Good in this day is that love which the Father has shown to us through His Son. We can continue this good if we take up the Cross of Christ and do good ourselves. There is much that needs our attention not only in the world but in our own communities. Sad but it is still evident in the twenty first century that children are impoverished and going hungry, lacking opportunities which would give them a way forward in their lives while the homeless live on our streets.
Christ came to die for us and once and for all, do away with sin by replacing evil with good. If Christ on the cross means something to us then we could turn the sadness into something good in doing something good and positive. The ransom has been paid.
Picture - The congregation at Westminster Cathedral join a queue to venerate the cross on Good Friday. With the numbers attending The Celebration of The Passion of the Lord, it would be nearly two hours before the next phase of the day's events, that of the Stations of the Cross would begin.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III
EF 16-35L
Canon EOS 5D Mark III
EF 16-35L
A picture a day - A thought for each day
Said Christ to his apostles ( per Benedictus Antiphon )
- I have longed to eat this Passover with you before I suffer
The story then taken up by St Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians 11:23-26
This is what I received from the Lord and in turn passed on to you : that on the same night that he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread, and thanked God for it and broke it, and he said,
'This is my body, which is for you; do this in as a memorial of me.'
In the same way he took the cup after supper, and said,
'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this as a memorial of me.'
Until the Lord comes, therefore, every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are proclaiming his death.
The meal thus ended and having spoken one last time with his disciples, our Lord Jesus is taken away, willingly and without protest to fulfil his mission. as evening approaches then, the Blessed Sacrament Chapel lies empty, the altar stripped. Jesus is taken from our midst since to take us to our salvation, He would have to be taken this way. As great as the love of the Father is for the Son, great too is the love of the Father and of the Son for us. Great too is the price that has been paid for this love.
Braving freezing temperatures and in a first such gathering of it's kind, more than a thousand British and French supporters of marriage rallied at Trafalgar Square on Sunday 24 March to voice their concern at moves by their respective governments to redefine the concept of marriage. The rally organised by the French movement, La Manif Pour Tousin (March for All) was in response to plans to introduce same-sex 'marriage' which would further allow children to be adopted by homosexual couples in France mirrored one in Paris attended by one and a quarter million supporters of the cause. The rally in France was the second such meeting and it's attendance exceeded the previous turnout of a million on the Champs Elysees.
At Trafalgar Square, led by speakers from both sides of the channel amongst them, the movement's co-ordinator Damien Fournier Montgieux, Alain Craig and Chris Sugden, those gathered chanted ' Vive le Marriage ' while congregated around Nelson's Column, easily out voicing the near one hundred pro-equality supporters whose intent was to disrupt the peaceful proceedings.
As offered by Alain Craig, the intention of the movement was not to dismiss the rights of the same-sex community, instead it was a stand at protecting and preserving the institution of marriage.
As offered by Alain Craig, the intention of the movement was not to dismiss the rights of the same-sex community, instead it was a stand at protecting and preserving the institution of marriage.
The occasion saw supporters across several generations, many of whom were children who while brought by their parents nevertheless gave food for thought with the clear messages on the placards held aloft at the rally. Children too have their rights as nature intended. Strange indeed that the pro-equality protesters failed to recognise this though in these days of an increasingly secular world, it's more a case of ' that which I want ' than that which would be good for others which has been tested by time and should remain.
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV
EF 16-35L, 70-200L
Fuji X-10
If you should not be familiar with the St Matthew Passion and while a lover of classical and choral compositions I too must shamefully admit to having neglected investigation of this most sacred of works, you will like me, at least certainly recognise one of it's more widely-known chorale, " Erkenne Mich, Mein Huter " which is sung approximately midway through the first half of this two-part oratorio set to music by Bach nearly three centuries ago. The work, based on chapters 26 and 27 of the Gospel of St Matthew plays a timely role in helping to usher in Holy Week this year.
The choirs associated with The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School are no strangers to great choral works, having an illustrated history of performances, recordings and concert tours. Indeed just after the Easter Triduum in the coming week, the Schola Cantorum embark on a tour of Poland which promises to be a splendid musical journey even if it does result in the Easter holidays of the choir members and staff being shortened to two weeks.
For this Tuesday though at St James' Roman Catholic Church Spanish Place, along with soloists Nicholas Mulroy and Nicholas Warden, singing the parts of Matthew and Christ respectively and companied by the Belgravia Chamber Orchestra, the entire ensemble under the direction of Scott Price the Vaughan's music director, the school choir treated the assembled audience to music-making and singing of the finest calibre, bringing the music of Bach to an appreciative audience and on this most appropriate of times on the calendar. CVMS Music as home to the Schola Cantorum, the choir of The Vaughan and the school's own sixth form choir has to be one of the great choir schools of our time. Indeed, any time.
Additional Images
Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV
EF 16-35L, 24-70L, 70-200L
Last Thursday evening, at the close of a special thanksgiving mass for the election of Pope Francis 1, Archbishop Vincent Nichols met with members of his congregation as they made their way home having attended Westminster Cathedral.
Not for the first time has Archbishop Vincent meet with and warmly greet his flock. Just as on every procession at the conclusion of each mass that he says, the gathered have a feeling of being specially connected with him when he blesses them while walking by.
" Feed My Lambs...... Look after My sheep " ( John 21:16-17)
Man of the people and for the people. I think too someone who himself, is very specially connected.
In the deceptively-warm glow of an afternoon sun in winter, Brother Philip makes a stand for his faith before an inquisitive audience, some of whom came to spectate, others to debate, some to learn and on occasion too, there are those who come to heckle. This after all, is Speakers' Corner.
The knowledgeable know this pitch as the site for these platforms are called, to be that operated by the Catholic Evidence Guild, an association of Catholic volunteers who by speaking at their pitch which incidentally is yards from Tyburn Convent, present compelling witness to their faith as Catholics and offer explanation of the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church. The Tyburn pitch of the guild which was established in 1918 is the oldest of all pitches bar one at Speakers' Corner, supporting statistical evidence that despite an increasingly-secular society, Roman Catholics in bearing witness still account for the highest percentage of Britain's Christian mass-going population.
Thankfully not all occasions of weekly witness comprise entirely of debates with hecklers since as Brother Henryk shows here, moments of thoughtful joy also make up the experience of an afternoon at the pitch.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III
16-35L
24-70L
.jpg)
Richard Elkington set up home in a 16th century building at Francis Yard in Chesham. In the ten years that he has been there, it has become home to works by living artists all over the country. The creative flavour of the Drawing Room further encompasses the performing arts since Richard's home is also a venue for musicians.
On December 6, I was privileged to attend the inaugural evening of a new series of events at the Drawing Room, one which brought together musicians and composers giving them the opportunity to explain their style and ideas in music while performing some of their own compositions. While not knowing what to expect, everyone came away from a thoroughly enjoyable evening with a view to returning again as I'm sure will many, once they've discovered the special magic of The Drawing Room. You see, it's Richard's home which feels very much like a home for many who have come and savoured the warmth and generosity of his hospitality. Not a great surprise really since as the written legend on the wall of The Drawing Room suggests, it was created with love from Richard's heart.
The Drawing Room in Chesham More images here
Canon EOS 5D Mark III
EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM
EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
Gordon Parks would have been 100 today. Born on November 30 1912 his career in photography documented all walks of life with his work seen in publications such as Vogue and Life Magazine. Once referring to his camera as a ' weapon against poverty and racism ' Gordon Park's work ranged from portrayal of life for the poor in Chicago, to the gangs of Harlem with his talent being sought in capturing the changing flavours of fashion coming out of Paris.
Gordon Parks did not confined his efforts to photography for he wrote books and poetry, directed films for television as well as the cinema with two of the latter namely, The Learning Tree and Shaft preserved in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. He also composed music and wrote both the music and libretto of Martin, a ballet dedicated to Martin Luther King. Gordon Park's beginnings were humble. Forced to leave home soon after the death of his mother and at the young age of 15, he made his way through life and in order to survive worked in brothels, then as a singer, a semi-professional basketball player and while traveling, took to waiting at tables to pay his way.
Amongst his photographic treasures is one entitled American Gothic, Washington, D.C. it's name inspired by an iconic painting bearing the same title. The photograph portrayed a black woman, Ella Watson, who worked on the cleaning crew of a government building, standing stiffly in front of an American flag which hung on the wall behind her, a broom in one hand and a mop in the background. Gordon Parks had been inspired to create the image after experiencing racism in restaurants and shops.
Despite attitudes during his time, Alexander Liberman the editor of Vogue Magazine hired him to shoot a collection of evening gowns. During this time Parks developed a distinctive style of shooting, that of capturing his models in motion. Returning to document American society following the war, he made a photographic essay on a young Harlem gang leader in 1948 which won him a staff job as a photographer and writer with Life magazine. While producing photographs on subjects ranging from fashion to sports, poverty, and racial segregation he became known for his portraits of Malcolm X, Mohammad Ali and Barbra Streisand.
The poor boy from Fort Scott in Kansas never forgot his roots and it is heartening to learn that a photographic essay dating back to 1961 on a poor Brazilian boy named Flavio da Silva who was dying from bronchial pneumonia and malnutrition brought donations from readers which saved the boy's life and paid for a new home for his family.
Gordon Parks was married three times and succumbed to cancer in 2006. He was survived by his widows and three of his four children. For his work, he received more than twenty honorary doctorates.
The Gordon Parks Foundation November 30 2012
Simple leaves in varying
shape, colour and size. At the height of their prowess, collective masses of tissue and connective
vessels toiling endlessly in selfless endeavour sustaining life. Then the day comes
when spent and the work of a lifetime seemingly complete, they make their graceful descent
with the prospect of providing yet sustenance of a different and more final
kind. Gone are the spring and summer of their days and while neither the vigour of
youth nor freshness of life remain yet today the fall to the ground ensures
a final tribute is paid by the life that they had once sustained. One final
look at beauty, dedication and the wonder of creation amidst an endless strife to find the right words to say thank you.
Goodnight Mum with lots of love from Dad and all of us November 17 2012 81 years and 354 days
Readers of my blog will have noted that on occasion I do drift from the business of photography to take in other matters that offer inspiration to put one's fingers to the keyboard.
It has been a while since I last heard a performance of Faure's Requiem and this video of part of the work by King's College Chapel Choir brought back memories of the first recording I ever bought of the requiem which was by the New Philharmonia Orchestra as they were then called. As with the video, the soprano aria Pie Jesu was performed instead by a boy treble. Just as Robert Chilcott sounded both effective and ' touchingly vulnerable ' on the 1967 vinyl recording, so twenty years later, a young singer once again with King's College has delivered a hauntingly beautiful and moving account that will linger long in my memory.
I hope you'll enjoy this as much as I have
Preparing for an evening of music and readings devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the proceeds of which would be used by Aid to the Church in Need for children in Sudan, singers of the Schola Cantorum of the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School assemble in prayer before their concert last Thursday at the Carmelite Priory in Kensington.
The Schola consisting of boys aged between 11 and 18 performed under the direction of Scott Price, the Director of Music at Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School and provided a programme ranging from plainsong to works dating back to the 16th century by Parsons and Monteverdi, composers of the classical and romantic period such as Bruckner, Grieg, Pergolesi and Rachmaninov and finally to 20th century offerings by Britten, Faure, Taverner and MacMillan.
The evening of music was complemented with readings by the school's chaplain, Fr Dominic Allan.
Images made with
Canon EOS 5D Mark III
EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM More pictures here
I had never thought this was something one could do without invitation nor accreditation. That I had both allowed me access into this most historic building last week but as you may know the Palace of Westminster is open to the public. You can watch debates, the Lords select committee at work and tour the Houses of Parliament. There is airport-style security of course though I can report that it is very friendly. More importantly the Houses of Parliament belong to us, little though we may be aware of it and it really is a mighty great privilege to visit such a grand and historic place. Just ask your member of Parliament to arrange it.
Picture - House of Lords, Committee Room 4
Fujifilm X10
October 18 2012
Palace of Westminster
ACN's ( Aid to the Church in Need ) event for October 2012 began with visit to the Houses of Parliament to address a meeting on the issue of religious freedom. Primary delegates attending on behalf of ACN were Bishop Audo of Syria and Archbishop Kaigama from Nigeria, both of whom addressed peers, MPs and officials from the Houses of Parliament at a meeting in the classic setting of Committee Room No 4 chaired by The Baroness Berridge of the Vale of Catmose
Following introductions by Baroness Berridge and ACN's John Pontifex, Bishop Audo advised the gathering that while the violent crisis in Syria brought hardship and uncertainty to all, Christians were additionally threatened by the breakdown of society and the difficulties particularly for them that this has created.
Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama spoke of the challenges of maintaining and practising the faith in Nigeria where attacks on churches and the faithful occur on a weekly basis. Despite such trying circumstances, Archbishop Kaigama said that the solidarity and friendship of the various agencies abroad provided Catholics and all Christians in Nigeria much encouragement and support in the face of their trials and that it was important for us to continue the good work which help Nigerians to adopt a positive outlook and approach which he likened to lighting a candle which he concluded was better than cursing the darkness.
Later both dignitaries met with the invited guests which included students from the Cardinal Vaughan School in London
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV
EF 24-70 f/2.8L
EF 70-200 f/2.8IS L
October 16 2012
But for a direct
hit on a makeshift media centre used by international journalists during the
shelling of Homs by Syrian forces, Remi Ochlik would have been 29 today.
Born in 1983 in
Thionville in the Lorraine region of northeastern France, Remi’s ambitions of
taking up archaeology were cast aside when his grandfather gifted him with an
Olympus OM-1, one of the iconic cameras from the era of the 35mm film.
Graduating from the Icart Photo School he joined the photographic agency
Wostok, achieving a career breakthrough covering the riots in Haiti in 2004. Through a proposal by an editor of
Paris Match, Remi Ochlik’s images were projected at the Visa pour l’Image International Photojournalism Festival
though not before his pictures had won him the Francois Chalais Award for Young
Reporters.
Founding IP3,
his own photographic agency in 2005, Remi began to cover many political events
not only in his native France but in the Democratic Republic of Congo, again in
Haiti and more recently the Arab Spring revolutions of 2011 and 2012. Remi’s
image of a Libyan rebel fighter won him the first prize at the 2012 World Press
Photo awards.
On
February 22 this year, he and fellow journalist Marie Colvin lost their lives
when working in Syria. It is widely believed that the building they were in was
deliberately targeted. In a career that was so tragically cut short, Remi’s
photographs will live on as a powerful reminder of the conflicts that exist in
our world today as much of his work may be seen in several publications and on
many websites.
Picture - fanpop.com
Time.com
IP3
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)