I
have received appreciative comments on the series of sermons we did during Advent on the
Eucharist. Among them has been a request for a
summary of the last sermon in which I dealt with some practical and symbolic aspects of
our worship. I set out below some of the items
covered in that sermon.
Candles
on the altar
Although
traditionally candles would have also had the practical purpose of providing light for the
celebrant they have also come to symbolise that Christ is the true light of the world, and
the lights represent His two natures, the human and the divine, ‘both of which he
bears at the right hand of God’.
Fair Linen
Cloth
The
white linen cloth which covers the top of the altar and hangs down at the ends. It is symbolic of the winding sheet in which the
dead body of Jesus was wrapped at this burial. Sometimes
they are embroidered with five crosses as a memorial of his five wounds.
The Corporal
A
small square of white linen, spread on the centre of the altar upon which the sacred
vessels are placed.
The Pall
A
square covering of linen which is placed on the chalice.
Purificators
Small
squares of linen used for drying the sacred vessels and the celebrant’s hands.
The
Burse
A
kind of pocket formed of two squares of cardboard covered with embroidery. In the pocket so formed, the corporal and pall are
kept when not in use. In texture, colour and
embroidery the burse corresponds to the vestments of the celebrant.
I
hope these practical notes supplement the theology of the Eucharist that we shared with
you.
Candlemas
We
end the celebrations of Christmas and Epiphany with the feast of Candlemas on February 2nd. After this festival the church points us forward to
the penitential season of Lent. As the world
apparently gears itself up for war with Iraq
there has never been a more important time for Christians to pray and work for peace. May we all both privately and corporately join
together in this prayer for wisdom justice and
peace in the world.
Your
priest and friend
Tom
Leary
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