Friday, February 20, 2015

7 Quick Takes; the portal edition









  

Door from the Tuileries Palace






1.

O gates, lift high your heads; 
grow higher, ancient doors.
 Let him enter, the king of glory!

from Psalm 24




St Marys Church West Porch Door

2. 

Go within his gates, giving thanks.
Enter his courts with songs of praise.
Give thanks to him and bless his name.-from Psalm 100-

Maison du Maillot | The Middle East's Beachwear Boutique | Worldwide Delivery | Free Returns | www.maisonmaillot.com | Peace.Love.Bikinis |


3.
The glory of these forty days
We celebrate with songs of praise;
For Christ, by whom all things were made,
Himself has fasted and has prayed.

Alone and fasting Moses saw
The loving God who gave the law;
And to Elijah, fasting, came
The steeds and chariots of flame.

So Daniel trained his mystic sight,
Deliver'd from the lions' might;
And John the Bridegroom's friend, became
The herald of Messiah's name.

Then grant us, Lord, like them to do
Such things as bring great praise to you;
Our spirits strengthen with your grace
And give us joy to see your face.

O Father, Son, and Spirit blest,
To you be every prayer addressed
And by all mankind be adored,
From age to age, the only Lord.

Text: Latin , sixth century
Translation: Maurice F Bell 1906



4.


stunning



He has strengthened the bars of your gates, 
he has blessed the children within you.
He established peace on your borders,
he feeds you with finest wheat.

-from Psalm 147-




5. So, numbers one through four were taken from today's morning prayers, called Lauds. They are from the Salesian tradition. I thought, since I am reading De Sales, it would all kind of go together.
The doors, gates, portal-like theme kind of jumped out at me, though it is by no means a dominant theme in the whole of the prayers. But I did find it to be very Lent appropriate. You know, like the "turning a page" saying, also we can, "go through" to a new way, a new and different season, which indeed we will.

,



6. The hymn, the Glory of These Forty Days, struck me especially as I read it instead of singing. The words had different meaning somehow, the way they brought me through time, all the way from Moses forward. I have to admit, while reciting the words, William Shatner leapt to mind, and I had to work to banish him.


7. I hope the grace and mercies that float around in the air (or seem to) during this season are touching you. 

The next stanza of Psalm 147 talks about sending down snow and scattering hoar-frost. Which, if you are anywhere in the Northeast or Midwest United States, you can relate to, but probably would rather not. 
So, I pray any floating graces and mercies are of the warm variety.


Peace-

Kelly

Parham Park - Cootham, West Sussex, England

7 comments:

  1. I love these doors, especially the one for number 5 - so beautiful and haunting!

    I didn't know that hymn growing up (neither did you I'm sure), but it's wonderful. Do you like the hymn Forty Days and Forty Nights? It's not nearly so ancient - written in the 1800s I think. Come to think of it, it may be Anglican, I don't know.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No Caroline, I didn't know any of the "forty" type hymns until I converted, I do know Forty Days and Forty Nights, also, Lord Who Throughout These Forty Days, which I am singing tomorrow morning at a pro life mass. At seven in the A of M. Right before I go to work. So yes, I am pitying myself just a tad. Plus we are supposed to get some more snow tonight. Wah wah, I know.
      :) Weakness of the flesh, what can I say.

      Delete
    2. Oh and I forgot to mention I have a collection of door photographs on my PInterest board, which is where these came from. I just like think they are cool.

      Delete
  2. Oh wow, you have been posting. Good post. I signed up for Pinterest, a while back but I have no idea what to do there. You have a Pinterest board? How does that work? Send me an email if it's too lengthy a response for the blog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    2. Pinterest is like an online scrap book. You can use it to collect ideas about almost anything. I like it for recipes, beauty and clothing ideas, gathering little bits of artistic inspiration, such as my "doors" category. You can follow certain posters, or as you begin to collect certain categories, the things shown to you will start to hone in on your interests. There is a search box you can type in a category to browse, then if you want to save something, you click "Pin It." I have a "Catholicism" board that I save things on also. The Pinterest site ought to walk you through getting started.

      Delete

      Delete
    3. Thanks. I'll see if there is anything to walk me through.

      Delete