Categories: work, family, feast-days
Date: 27 May 2007 06:14:14
And oops. I completely forgot it was Pentecost today.
I worked yesterday from around 11:30 to 17:00 fixing a problem that was threatening the release of our new website on Monday. After that it was off to the Nepean Rowing Club [along the Nepean River, though, it being dark we couldn't see much apart from the Victoria Bridge] for my aunt's 70th birthday -- a good time was had by all, and my niece, all of 2, made the dance-floor her own.
So, this morning I slept in until after 9:30 [unusual for me, who is generally awake by 7 at the latest every day], and missed church. I don't like to miss church any week [it truly does leave me feeling odd for the rest of the week -- the praise and thanksgiving and worship, not forgetting the Blessed Body and Blood of our Lord which sustains and enlivens me and my spirit, truly do have a positive effect on me throughout the rest of the week], but I especially don't like to miss the Great Feasts. I will probably head off to one of the few liturgical, and the highest of the highs, at least in Sydney, though I don't doubt Australia, Anglican parishes in Sydney, Christ Church St Laurence for Solemn Evensong with Procession and Benediction. God willing, I may even hear one of my favorite hymns:
Come down, O love divine,
seek thou this soul of mine,
and visit it with thine own ardor glowing;
O Comforter, draw near,
within my heart appear,
and kindle it, thy holy flame bestowing.O let it freely burn,
till earthly passions turn
to dust and ashes in its heat consuming;
and let thy glorious light
shine ever on my sight,
and clothe me round, the while my path illuming.Let holy charity
mine outward vesture be,
and lowliness become mine inner clothing;
true lowliness of heart,
which takes the humbler part,
and o'er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.And so the yearning strong,
with which the soul will long,
shall far outpass the power of human telling;
for none can guess its grace,
till Love create a place
wherein the Holy Spirit makes a dwelling.Bianco da Siena, d. 1434; tr. Richard Frederick Littledale, Jr., 1867
Music: Down Ampney, Ralph Vaughn Williams [Oremus Hymnal]