Updates – Page 16 – Advent to Easter

Good Friday

“Well I’m sorry, but I don’t think this is what Brother Thomas Rocliffe envisaged in St Albans in 1361 when he came up with the idea of distributing a bun to the local poor as a Good Friday treat,” wrote Sophia Money-Coutts in The Sunday Telegraph. “The monk was absolutely not thinking of sticky toffee […]

Leigh Hatts 7 years agoOctober 29, 2023

Updates

Maundy Thursday towels

This morning the Queen has invited 184 pensioners to join her in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The 92 men and 92 women, representing the Queen’s age, will receive Maundy money. Accompanying Her Majesty will be clergy and children with towels wrapped around them. This is reminder that the sovereign used to wash the […]

Leigh Hatts 7 years agoOctober 29, 2023

Updates

Live Tenebrae on Spy Wednesday

On this day Judas Iscariot agrees to co-operate in the arrest of Jesus which is why some speak of today as Spy Wednesday. Tonight’s Tenebrae service has many references to Judas Iscariot. Tenebrae, once a major feature of Holy Week, is now mainly sung just tonight, Wednesday evening of Holy Week. The service opens with […]

Leigh Hatts 7 years agoOctober 29, 2023

Updates

Holy Week Tuesday

In Jerusalem for his third day, Jesus spends his time teaching in the Temple where the wary chief priests ask him, without direct success, by what authority he acts and speaks. The most famous incident is the trick question from the Pharisees asking whether they should pay taxes to Caesar. Holding up a coin , […]

Leigh Hatts 7 years agoOctober 29, 2023

Updates

Fig Monday

Fig Monday is an old name for the Monday of Holy Week. Dried figs were once eaten today in some parts of England. Bethany, where Jesus is staying, means House of Figs. Today Jesus pauses on the Jerusalem road to point to a fig tree lacking fruit. This is possibly a hint of the Temple’s […]

Leigh Hatts 7 years agoOctober 29, 2023

Updates

Palm Sunday processions

This weekend we start Holy Week. Sunday is Palm Sunday when the main church service begins with an outdoor procession. This is the liturgical re-enactment of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem on a donkey. The original route will be walked this afternoon by a large ecumenical procession faithfully going downhill and through the nearest gateway into […]

Leigh Hatts 7 years agoOctober 29, 2023

Updates

St Joseph’s Day: Cream buns and sawdust

Today, Monday 19 March, is St Joseph’s Day when we pause to remember the Virgin Mary’s husband Joseph. St Joseph was the father figure in Holy Family home where he provided for Mary and Jesus by working as a carpenter. He is often a forgotten figure maybe because the Bible does not record what happened […]

Leigh Hatts 7 years agoOctober 29, 2023

Updates

Passion Sunday

Today is Passion Sunday. In the north-west of England it is the custom to enjoy Carlin Peas at lunch or nibble them from a saucer in the pub. This reminds us where we are in the year, between Mothering Sunday and Palm Sunday. In church the statues have been veiled. All this tells us that […]

Leigh Hatts 7 years agoOctober 29, 2023

Updates

St Patrick’s Day was once drink free

Within living memory Dublin was quiet on St Patrick’s Day with all pubs closed. It was a little like Christmas Day with Mass in the morning before noon followed by family lunch and a snooze. Today 17 March is a break in Lent not only in Ireland. Even Edinburgh, which has St Andrew, is marking […]

Leigh Hatts 7 years agoOctober 29, 2023

Updates

Carlin Peas: Cooking instructions

If you are keeping the north-west tradition of eating Carlin Peas this coming Sunday, Passion Sunday or Carling Sunday, you will need to soak them overnight. COOKING INSTRUCTIONS for four people: Soak 12 oz carlin peas in cold water overnight. Drain and put them in a saucepan of boiling water with a pinch of salt. […]

Leigh Hatts 7 years agoOctober 29, 2023