Sunday, March 6, 2011

Easter Preparations

Often when you are planing a special party, you will make lists of all the necessary things that need to be done. You will want to clean the house, put out fresh linen, decide if you want to have decorations, party favors, music playing, and of course make the big decision of what food to serve.

This coming Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. A day that many christian churches will observe as part of the preparation for Easter. Some congregations will begin with Shrove Tuesday, also called Fat Tuesday, with a Pancake Supper, because Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a time for introspection, repentance, and some people will practice self denial.

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On Ash Wednesday adherents will be reminded that we are all sinners, the inner need to repent, and forgiveness that comes from God. We are mortal, but through the sacrifice of Jesus we have eternal life. An ashen cross will be placed on the foreheads of participants while Genesis 3:19 will be quoted, "...for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." For me this time of reflection helps to focus on the suffering Jesus bore for my sins, His victory over death, and prepare for a glorious and joyful Easter, the day that is also called Resurrection Sunday.


In Psalms 51 King David pours out his heart to God in confessing his sins and asking for forgiveness. This is the text for which Italian Gregorio Allegri, in the 1630s, composed the Miserere Mi Deus - Have Mercy On Me, O God . This composition was to be heard only in the Sistine Chapel during matins of Holy Week, and it was forbidden to transcribe the music under the threat of being excommunicated.

There is an account of then 14 year old Mozart hearing this music while visiting in Rome and writing it down entirely from memory. He passed it on to the British historian Dr. Charles Burney who took it to England where it was published in 1771. The Pope summoned Mozart to Rome, but instead of excommunicating him, the Pope showered praises on him for his musical genius.

Perhaps we should be thankful to Mozart that we may enjoy this music.




To read the verses you might need to double click a couple of times on the YouTube screen, then press the arrow to start the video, and when finished press the escape key on your keyboard.




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Linking to Charlotte's and Ginger's Spiritual Sundays.




photo credit:
1. www.soulscode.com
2. www.illuminatedleaves.com/hours101.htm
credits:
1. www.classical.net.com
2. www.mirabilis.ca/archives/002951.html
3. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miserere_(Allegri)

19 comments:

  1. Our plans for Easter this year is that we will both be in France :))))))) Diane

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  2. What a beautiful post. Hope you have a blessed Sunday.

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  3. Interesting post and thankyou for the reminder that it is Shrove Tuesday this week.

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  4. Lent has always be an important part of my Christian journey. Thank you for posting about this.

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  5. I've heard of pancake day and always wondered where that came from. We're Jewish and celebrate Passover which is I love coincides with Easter.

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  6. Yes, Sarah, both are about defeating death. With the Passover we remember the blood on the doorpost so the angel could see it, and with Easter we remember the blood of Jesus on the cross. Renewal

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  7. What lovely music for Lent along with the sweet history and meditations. I just wrote my Word-Filled Wednesday post for this week, also centered on Lent with ideas for grandparents and their grand kids to talk about and learn encouraging Bible verses for the children to understand more about Jesus, His powerful love for us, and His awesome sacrifice for us. It's nice to "meet" up. You might also be interested in Floss' A Pause In Lent. :)

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  8. Wonderful and informative, and will the Church say, "A-man!

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  9. Did not know that about Mozart ... love that you teach me new stuff (())

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  10. Looking forward to the Easter season, and all the contemplation that accompanies it. Very interesting about the song's history--I found that fascinating!

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  11. Oh Mya, this is a favourite, favourite piece of music of mine. I love it!! Thanks for bringing it back to me. ;-)

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  12. That's just beautiful! Did you ever hear "Pei Su"? I'm killing the title! Cannot for the life of me remember the spelling. But it was written ages ago, based on scripture. It's absolutely bone chilling...

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  13. Love the history in this post. I love the whole Easter season.

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  14. Hello Sweet Mya!! I am still planning St. Patrick's Day:)....my son is part Irish so we make a wee celebration!...THEN it is time to dig into the Easter season (which I love everything about EXCEPT the pastel colors:)

    I wanted to let you know that I do NOT have an Etsy shop...I love looking at everyone's talented work though! I don't think I could do it!!

    Have a great day darling girl!!

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  15. What an interesting post. I am happy to be your newest follower.

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  16. The video is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing this inspiring message with us. The Mozart story is so interesting. He was really a genius.
    Hope you're having a wonderful week.
    Blessings,
    Charlotte

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  17. Oh Mya! This one of my very favorite pieces of music. I am so thankful for Jesus . I so want to always be pleasing to him .
    You asked about the doves. They are not in the garden yet but they will be on Easter Sunday

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