Holy Thursday, sights and sounds
Now that this is our ninth (!) Holy Week in China, I wonder, like I have for the last two or three, if this might be our last one in China. Not that there is anything on the horizon, good or bad, that might force a relocation. However, we have been here quite a while, and not many foreigners without some sort of family ties in China tend to remain much longer than that.
I worry, then, that if this is our last one, how will I remember it? I've blogged so often over these last nine years about the profound impact this week in particular in the Chinese church has had on me (and hopefully us, but I can only account for myself). How can I keep something from this and carry it with us, in case wherever we live next does not measure up to this?
More after the jump
I've been worried that we might forget the sights and the sounds of Holy Week. The form is the same as the rest of the Universal Church, but it feels different in a way that I want to remain a part of me. For the first four or five years, I thought it felt new just because of the language change forcing me to be more attentive, but after nine years that can't be it any longer, can it?
There were moments during Mass that, once they passed, I wish I had taken video or audio, so I wouldn't forget. When our celebrant accepted the Holy Oils from the morning's Chrism Mass, the Kyrie was particularly nice. And the organ and bells at the beginning of the Gloria were drowned out by the clacker. I had to wonder if that were intentional.
During 洗脚礼 xǐ jiǎo lǐ we sang this hymn, as we have several times in the past. It is based on Corinthians 13:4-8.
We waited outside the small adoration chapel they had set up until we could have our turn. It gave me time to enjoy the quiet and dark at the Seminary.
I really like being there at night; I just wish we had more occasions to do so (without intruding upon the priests' and seminarians' living space, that is). As much as I get caught up in the sights and sounds of Holy Week, I find the absence of both at our church to be quite something as well.
I worry, then, that if this is our last one, how will I remember it? I've blogged so often over these last nine years about the profound impact this week in particular in the Chinese church has had on me (and hopefully us, but I can only account for myself). How can I keep something from this and carry it with us, in case wherever we live next does not measure up to this?
More after the jump
I've been worried that we might forget the sights and the sounds of Holy Week. The form is the same as the rest of the Universal Church, but it feels different in a way that I want to remain a part of me. For the first four or five years, I thought it felt new just because of the language change forcing me to be more attentive, but after nine years that can't be it any longer, can it?
There were moments during Mass that, once they passed, I wish I had taken video or audio, so I wouldn't forget. When our celebrant accepted the Holy Oils from the morning's Chrism Mass, the Kyrie was particularly nice. And the organ and bells at the beginning of the Gloria were drowned out by the clacker. I had to wonder if that were intentional.
During 洗脚礼 xǐ jiǎo lǐ we sang this hymn, as we have several times in the past. It is based on Corinthians 13:4-8.
After Communion came the Transfer of the Most Blessed Sacrament. We always sing "Tantum Ergo Sacramentum," but in Chinese it is called 皇皇圣体 Huánghuáng shèng tǐ.
We waited outside the small adoration chapel they had set up until we could have our turn. It gave me time to enjoy the quiet and dark at the Seminary.
I really like being there at night; I just wish we had more occasions to do so (without intruding upon the priests' and seminarians' living space, that is). As much as I get caught up in the sights and sounds of Holy Week, I find the absence of both at our church to be quite something as well.
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