[Magdalen] An Epiphany tradition?

[ME Michaud]

We had our Epiphany pageant this morning.
The children were, as always, adorable.

"The three wise men saw a stah in the east.
Let us follow them in ah hahts."

It made me nostalgic for home.

I have a couple of online acquaintances who are forever wailing about the
end of ECUSA. I call them the Chicken Little People. And how they try my
patience! But I'll confess that, if their foolish hopes were fulfilled in
my lifetime, I'd go to the RCs. Not just because Protestants annoy me, but
because I would never want to live without the Eucharist. It's far too
important to me.

And believe me, Sally, when I say most of the Catholics of my acquaintance
(even the clergy) have Catholic hearts but not Catholic minds.

Off in a few to the traditional Epiphany party, a fascinating mix of the
churched and theatre & music people, all of whom now have a moment to
breathe after the rigors of the Christmas season.
-M

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
>