Sermons And Gubbins

 'Triduum' is Latin for 'three days'. Ecclesiastically, it refers to the three days of Jesus' arrest and death running up to Easter Sunday, covering the events of the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday, Jesus' crucifixion on Good Friday, and the liminal time of Holy Saturday when Jesus is dead. 'Haec Dies' means 'This is the day', and it is often used to refer to Easter Sunday itself ('This is the day that the Lord has made', from Psalm 118, which is often recited on Easter Sunday). Triduum Feria Quinta  Ante diem festum Paschae, sciens Jesus quia venit hora ejus ut transeat ex hoc mundo ad Patrem. I ran this morning.  Lord, have mercy — Along the path and round the field  that overlooks faraway green hills Then back up towards the church and down, and down, and through the daffodils Sliding on mud — my attempt to avoid  crushing purple hyacinths I traced the grass and my circling path around the garden labyrinth Christ have mercy — The mud s...

This poem was written for our monthly pub poetry night. The theme was 'age'.  Happy Birthday to You Age is just a number. Today is just a day. Life is simply protein strains, chemicals and DNA. A bucket is a bucket. A list is just some things. 'Happy Birthday' is just a song  that everybody sings. Loved ones are just people. A cake is just some food. The party lasts forever. And everything's All Good. Our lives are soon forgotten. The impression that we leave  is swift blown out like candles  People don't forever grieve. Heaven and earth will fly away, and all these things will pass. One day I'll believe all that I say;  until then, to you, I'll raise my glass.