Feast of the Annunciation
It is just at this time of the year that many of our garden trees spring to life breaking forth with beautiful blossoms and foliage. The magnolia tree is always the first to parade its blossom in the Cathedral garden and its creamy white flowers are always out around the time of the Feast of the Ascension. Sadly the blossom can disappear as quickly as it appeared with the onset of stormy weather. This is also a time when we can readily spot unhealthy trees and bushes by their lack of buds and foliage. The Lenten Gospel for this Sunday describes the landowner complaining about a tree that is taking up room in the garden but has not yet produced any fruit. The gardener argues for it to be given another chance and he will dig round it and give it as much attention as he can in the hope that it will once again bear fruit. As we try to keep faith with the season of lent we pray that our efforts and sacrifices will bear fruit and bring about an enrichment of our faith and bear fruit in our lives.
On Tuesday we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation. Recalling the appearance of the Angel to Mary to announce that she was to conceive and bear a son through the Holy Spirit. Mary’s assent and act of faith ushered in the dawn of our salvation. Tuesday is also a Spirituality/Retreat day for many of our Catholic Head Teachers and Deputies which will be held all day in the Crypt.
The Music for Lent this Sunday afternoon at 3pm is a performance of Cesar Franck’s seven last words of Christ on the cross. A musical meditation on the final words of Jesus such as ‘Father Forgive them’, ‘Today you will be with me in paradise.’ And ‘Father into your hands I commit my spirit.’ Although this piece was written in 1859 it was never performed until the work was discovered in 1977. It is a beautiful meditational piece of music for this period of Lent. Next Sunday there will be Choral Evening Prayer inclusive of the Stabat Mater by Pergolesi.
A brief Lenten Thought “There is a really deep well inside me. And in it dwells God. Sometimes I am there too. But more often stones and grit block the well, and God is buried beneath. Then God must be dug out again.”
Monsignor Anthony O’Brien
Cathedral Dean
