Day: April 1, 2018

Pilgrimage 1/22 Liverpool

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Over the coming year I hope to visit each of the 22 Catholic diocesan cathedrals in England and Wales (and probably an occasional exarchate cathedral, oratory or shrine church too). The current Catholic cathedrals get a little overlooked as, post-reformation, the Church of England and Church in Wales own the formerly Catholic historical buildings. Today, Easter Sunday, began with Mass in Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, in my local diocese. Home ground for stage 1 of 22 on this particular pilgrimage. Fitting for me, too, as construction began in the year I was born and it is where I was received into the Church …

Liverpool Met Cathedral Easter 2018

 

Happy Easter!

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Left-footer alert! With Archbishop Malcolm McMahon at the Easter Vigil in Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral.

Easter Vigil 2018

 

Easter
[Written by Gerard Manley Hopkins in 1866 the year of his conversion.]

Break the box and shed the nard;
Stop not now to count the cost;
Hither bring pearl, opal, sard;
Reck not what the poor have lost;
Upon Christ throw all away:
Know ye, this is Easter Day.

Build His church and deck His shrine,
Empty though it be on earth;
Ye have kept your choicest wine—
Let it flow for heavenly mirth;
Pluck the harp and breathe the horn:
Know ye not ’tis Easter morn?

Gather gladness from the skies;
Take a lesson from the ground;
Flowers do ope their heavenward eyes
And a Spring-time joy have found;
Earth throws Winter’s robes away,
Decks herself for Easter Day.

Beauty now for ashes wear,
Perfumes for the garb of woe,
Chaplets for dishevelled hair,
Dances for sad footsteps slow;
Open wide your hearts that they
Let in joy this Easter Day.

Seek God’s house in happy throng;
Crowded let His table be;
Mingle praises, prayer, and song,
Singing to the Trinity.
Henceforth let your souls always
Make each morn an Easter Day.