[Magdalen] An Epiphany tradition?

[Joseph Cirou]

-----Original Message-----
>From: Sally Davies <sally.davies at gmail.com>
>Sent: Jan 8, 2017 10:08 AM
>To: magdalen <magdalen at herberthouse.org>
>Subject: Re: [Magdalen] An Epiphany tradition?
>
>Goodness gracious, Jim - you make a very good point. The cathedral had fans
>going but even so it was uncomfortably warm where we sat.
>
>Typical winter temps in the Northern hemisphere - not something I'd want my
>newborn to deal with!! The other baby, Francesco, was a little older, maybe
>four or five months, definitely sitting up by himself, but little Jessica
>was tiny.
>
>What about being anointed "priest, prophet and king"? Is that normal or was
>Father just getting a bit carried away with Epiphany symbolism?
>
>Sally D
>
>On 8 January 2017 at 16:02, James Oppenheimer-Crawford <
>oppenheimerjw at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> It certainly is fascinating.  I always find intriguing the folks who
>> gleefully stay on this list and yet seem to be more RCC than TEC. We are
>> all of us in the one holy, catholic and apostolic Church, we worship the
>> same Lord, but the idea of authority of the RCC harms people, I believe.
>> Actually, I personally think we do liturgy better than anybody else too, so
>> there is that. But I'm with you on the feeling, because I have friends who
>> are RCC, I feel more or less at home in the RCC services, and have been to
>> some terrific seminars at RCC facilities. Francis is doing away with some
>> of the "detestable enormities," such as the power-corrupted curia, that
>> made us protestant in the first place, so who knows?
>>
>> It sounds like it was a marvelous service. I suspect the temperature was
>> warm, which would not make the traditional baptism the problem it would
>> surely be here. Brrrr!!!
>>
>> James W. Oppenheimer-Crawford
>> *“A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved,
>> except in memory. LLAP**”  -- *Leonard Nimoy
>>
>> On Sun, Jan 8, 2017 at 6:01 AM, <sally.davies at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> > "Well that was different" - quote from my DH after we attended St
>> > Augustine's Cathedral (RC) for today's Epiphany service.
>> >
>> > He was dissatisfied with the "naff" music not because it was folksy but
>> > because they have a lovely organ which was played throughout without
>> > changing the stops or really doing anything much. However,  before the
>> > service started the priest came out in shirt sleeves and made the people
>> > practice the Psalm response and a couple of the hymns so I felt there was
>> > at least an intention to sing as well as possible!
>> >
>> > I was on cloud nine, RC services have that euphoric effect on me without
>> > fail.  There was very little grandeur but the cathedral packed with
>> people
>> > from all over everywhere - it's an inner city church that ministers to
>> > refugees and immigrants, and we still have many holidaymakers in town.
>> >
>> > We sang carols - We Three Kings, First Nowell and Hark the Herald angels;
>> > as well as a rather odd but sweet hymn that imagines witnessing the
>> > Nativity story to the tune of Roger Whittaker's Last Farewell.
>> >
>> > What I wanted to ask - has anyone in the Pub come across the tradition of
>> > "Chalking the Door"? The pew leaflet/newsletter we picked up encourages
>> > people to bless some chalk and then write 20 + C + M + B+17 on the lintel
>> > above the front door with the following prayer:
>> >
>> > "The three Wise Men, Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar followed the star of
>> > God's son who became human two thousand and seventeen years ago. May
>> Christ
>> > bless our home and remain with us throughout the year. Amen".
>> >
>> > A specific prayer for the blessing of the home and "all who live or visit
>> > here"  follows. The C, M and B represent the traditional names of the
>> Magi
>> > but also abbreviate "Christus Mansionem Benedicat" with crosses bookended
>> > by 2017. God bless this mansion, indeed.
>> >
>> > The sermon highlighted the "different way" that that Magi took after
>> > visiting the Christ Child, emphasising that each time we encounter the
>> > Christ we too will find ourselves taking a different, unplanned way. It
>> > occurred to me that even though the Magi had a long and difficult
>> journey,
>> > they had not come nearly as far as the Child they came to see.
>> >
>> > Two babies were baptised - oh my word, they really did a number on those
>> > kids, both very small - one couldn't have been more than a couple of
>> weeks.
>> > Not a stitch of clothing on, dipped into the font and then held up by the
>> > priest like those little flying cherubs in paintings. Both cried at the
>> > dipping but on being held aloft as the congregation sang "Alleluia,
>> > alleluia" both immediately stopped crying and gazed out at the people in
>> > wonder. Only after this were they dressed in their christening robes.
>> Each
>> > one - a boy and a girl - was "anointed priest, prophet and king" in the
>> > name of Christ.
>> >
>> > I never saw the like but it was a wonderful experience to be part of. We
>> > went up for Eucharist but crossed arms over our chests to receive a
>> > blessing.
>> >
>> > Perhaps I should be worried that I always feel so at home on the other
>> side
>> > of the Tiber, given how much I disagree with (some of) the Church's
>> > teachings!!  I told Keith that I seem to have a Catholic heart but alas,
>> > not a Catholic mind.
>> >
>> > Sally D
>> >
>>
No that is the traditional meaning of the annointing in Baptism/Confirmation. The Western Church separates baptism and chrismation/confirmation. The Eastern Church celebrates them on the same day and then gives first communion.

Joe