Enjoying the Feast of the Holy Trinity

The weather in London today finally broke into just above 20 degrees centigrade, or just tipping 70 if you are using old money. It was a beautiful day to celebrate the feast of the Most Holy Trinity.

This weekend and last, I have been helping at St Bede’s, Clapham Park. In a most pastorally sensitive swap, the late Archbishop Smith allowed Fr Basden to move from Clapham Park to Ramsgate, and Fr Holden to move from there to Clapham Park. Thus, continuity was secured for both parishes.

The parish choir at St Bede’s has been going from strength to strength. On several recent visits I have heard them sing polyphonic masses with aplomb. Today we had Victoria’s Missa O Quam Gloriosum. 

As is the way with many traditional Masses in parishes, the older servers have had children who are now competently taking over. More than one young teenager that has served me as MC has asked his parents for a vintage copy of Fortescue for his birthday.

Yesterday I wrote about the blessing of the new painting of St Bede . I should have mentioned that the Latin Mass Society both generously supported the provision of this addition to the devotional life of the Church, and provided the music for the High Mass, courtesy of Matthew Schellhorn, the Society’s Director of Music.

Thanks to the liturgical structure of the Easter season, the Octave of Pentecost finishes after the Mass on the Saturday after Pentecost, so that on Trinity Sunday, we are no longer in Eastertide, we have a gradual and alleluia, the preface of the Holy Trinity at the beginning of its long run until Advent, and the Marian Anthem is the Salve Regina, which was sung today to the solemn tone.

I hope that with Our Lord’s help, my preaching was up to the occasion. The main rule for Trinity Sunday in my opinion, is to avoid attempting to say anything new. In fact, I made that one of the recommendations of my sermon: it is unwise for any of us to attempt to say anything novel about the Holy Trinity. Centuries ago, in her creeds and councils, Holy Mother Church clearly set down the language for us to use. If you want to pray a sonorous extended version, the Athanasian Creed is a stirring source for meditation.

 

PICTURE CREDIT: Wikimedia. Holy Trinity by Sandro Botticelli. 1491-1493. Public Domain.

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