Cold Christ Child The Chapel

Dear reader, 

I always feel sad on Easter Saturday because I am thinking of Jesus and his death and burial.  I wonder what He is doing in the burial place when He is supposed to be dead, a cave, with a stone over the entrance.  Then on Easter Day in the early morning someone has moved the stone and Jesus is seen walking and is recognised by his friends.  Although one of them thought he was the gardener.   But He has been resurrected and has come back to the world to save us all from our sins.  He does this by loving us all.  It is so good to know He loves me.  This is such a fantastic story and it is a great relief to me when Saturday is over and I then know all is well. Wondering who moved the stone I think it must have been the angels.

Because I am deaf and can't hear a word in our church I watched a service from Bristol Cathedral to celebrate the Risen Christ.  But sadly in the last few years I haven't felt the magic or spirituality of God in these church services.  It is all too regimented.  Too many choir hymns and not enough partaking of them by the congregation.  I watch these services but don't feel a part of them.  Give me a small chapel somewhere with a priest and a small congregation and I feel at home and part of God's children.

                                          

                                                                             *

From Samuel Pepys    April 22  1664 in Kent

'I was called up this morning before four o'clock.  It was ull light to dress myself: and so by water against the tide, it being a little cool, to Greenwich; and thence, only that it was somewhat foggy till the sun got to some height, walked with great pleasure to Woolwich, in my way staying several times to listen to the nightingales.'

From John Clare   April 23rd  1825 in Northants

'Saw the redstart or firetail to-day and little willow wren.  The blackthorn tree in full flower that shines about the hedges like cloaths hung out to dry.'

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Cold Christ Child

 

Why did Murillo, Fra Filippo Lippi,

Leonardo da Vinci paint

the Christ Child nude?

Did they not know of night-time cold?

 

Was the hot Levantine wind

blowing in the midday sun,

enough to stay the chill of evening

and warm this precious child?

 

They painted the Madonna in a dress,

the soldiers fully clad

in jerkins, armour, helmets,

the angels in sumptuous robes,

but the Christ Child is left on marble floors,

or dandled in laps,

with nothing to swaddle and secure him.

 

Could it be that this cold start

was not enough 

to set alight the love

needed to save us all?

 

                                                                               *

 

 

Chapel

 

Away with the cherubs

the angels, the painted ceilings

the high arches

the high ceilings

nudes male and female

the artifacts

the gold crosses

and ornate statues of the

Virgin Mary.

 

Give me a chapel with

whitewashed bricks

wooden pews

oak door with studs

daisies on the altar

in a china jug

a bust of St. Columba

and quiet peace

in God’s house.

 

                                                                                       ^*

 

^{With very best wishes, Patrica}