'To win the laughter of thine Easter Day'

As Holy Week begins, Kenneth's Leighton's Solus ad Victimam, a setting of words of Peter Abelard, translated by Helen Waddell - sung here by the Choir of Christ Church Oxford, conducted by Stephen Darlington.



Alone to sacrifice thou goest, Lord, 
giving thyself to Death whom thou hast slain. 
For us thy wretched folk is any word? 
Who know that for our sins this is thy pain? 
For they are ours, O Lord, our deeds, our deeds. 
Why must thou suffer torture for our sin? 
Let our hearts suffer in thy Passion, Lord,
that very suffering may thy mercy win. 
This is the night of tears, the three days' space, 
sorrow abiding of the eventide, 
Until the day break with the risen Christ, 
and hearts that sorrowed shall be satisfied. 
So may our hearts share in thine anguish, Lord, 
that they may sharers of thy glory be; 
Heavy with weeping may the three days pass,
to win the laughter of thine Easter Day. 


Earlier today, despite the appalling weather,  I was at Bristol Cathedral, with a number of brother priests and deacons (and Bishop David Thomas) from the Province of Wales, for the Mass of the Chrism. An excellent liturgy, glorious music and a very thoughtful address from Bishop John Ford.