From time to time, I am asked why certain verses in The Hymnal 1982 have an asterisk (*) before particular verses. The generalized and most common interpretation of this mark is that it’s OK to shorten the hymn and not sing all verses published. And this is true. An asterisk before a verse indicates that it may be omitted without obscuring the text of the hymn. However, it is generally the tradition of the church to include all verses of a hymn so that the whole theological thought is presented in it’s entirety.
The Hymnal 1982 is a collection of hymns from many traditions - old and new, protestant and catholic, spirituals and renaissance - and our hymns are drawn from a wide variety of liturgical practices and encompassing a wide cultural diversity of composers and sources. Read the rest of this entry » » » »
“Could You Not Stay Awake With Me One Hour?” (Matthew 26:40)
This was the question Jesus asked his disciples while he was in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Since the 15th century, a custom developed in which the faithful, following the celebration of the Eucharist on Maundy Thursday, would gather before an Altar of Repose to spend an hour in prayer, meditation, and reflection on Jesus’ agony during the events following his last supper with his friends and the events of Good Friday.
The Altar of Repose is a special location within a church’s sanctuary, side chapel or other location set aside as a chapel for the reception of the remaining consecrated elements following the celebration of the Holy Eucharist on Maundy Thursday. For many years it has been the custom of the church not to celebrate the Holy Eucharist from the end of the Maundy Thursday celebration until the first Eucharist of Easter Sunday. For emergency purposes, i.e. hospital visits, last rites, etc., the consecrated elements of the bread and wine are held in reserve. Since the Altar has been stripped of all appointments, including the aumbrey and/or tabernacle, the elements are removed to a secure place or to an Altar of Repose for the Hour Watches. Read the rest of this entry » » » »
Long, long ago, or it seems to me, Lent was a time of sadness, reflection and repentance, when Christians felt they should suffer. For 40 days these early church Christians ate no rich foods; no meat, cheese, eggs or even milk. However, what these early Christians did eat was fish, and they baked a special bread shaped into arms crossed, a symbol of rest and meditation as Christians sadly contemplated their sins. They called this bread Bracellae, the Latin word for “little arms.” Read the rest of this entry » » » »