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| wonderer |
on Sun 15 Feb 09, 6:43 AM to wonderer's blog.
(Old weblog copied from an earlier profile)
I've added the quotation "Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est" as my signoff on posts. So here is something of an explanation.
The Latin phrase is generally translated "Where charity and love are, God is there." But it might be rendered "Where generous love and amorous love are, God also is there". Or even "Where selfless love and erotic love abound, there the divine is to be found".
And as a believer I mean this affirmatively. Specifically having discovered IC as originally an outsider, I recognise many beautiful examples of both generous love and erotic love, and therefore recognise the divine presence is somehow here.
The full text of the antiphon, sometimes attributed to the 8th century Saint Paulinus, can be found at http://www.chantcd.com/lyrics/where_charity.htm
However that's not the whole story as to why I selected this.
One of the most moving parts of the church seasons is Lent, the 40 day "run up to Easter" which is a time in which we focus on the brokenness of our world and our own brokenness. It is a time of fasting and self denial. In church, it becomes a time of simplicity when we don't have flowers, we sing the Kyries (Lord have mercy) instead of the Gloria, and musically we dispense with the gorgeous rich harmonies of the 20th century and instead adopt the styles which are simple, sparse and ancient, mainly plainsong chant or renaissance music.
Towards the end of Lent we have Maundy Thursday, and in more traditional churches it can be one of the most moving services of the year. During the service the priests will wash the feet of some of the congregation as an act of humility. During the washing of the feet ceremony, a choir may sing a setting of Ubi caritas. (The most popular setting being by the French composer Durufle). Sometimes the Lamentation by E.C. Bairstow may be sung also.
As the service draws to a conclusion, the lights are switched off, the candles are gradually extinguished, and the staff dressed only in black cassocks gradually remove all forms of ornamentation from church in a ceremony known as the "stripping of the altars". All silver candlesticks and crosses, all coloured fabrics, icons, all items of beauty are removed while the choir sing an unaccompanied setting of Psalm 22 (My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me) to Anglican chant.
This is the only service in the year which ends without a blessing, and indeed without any kind of closure. Instead the congregation leave in silence, or perhaps stay for a silent overnight vigil until Good Friday, the most solemn day of the church year, being the day on which we commemorate the crucifixion.
Maundy Thursday and specifically the washing of feet ceremony has huge resonances for a dominant woman who I got to know a little through IC. She had in years gone by been involved in a non conformist church where she felt her kink was distinctly unwelcome. She felt unable to express or enjoy any kind of dominant scenario except on the one day in the year when one of the elders would kneel at her feet and wash them. A very special occasion for her.
Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
Edited Thu 27 Oct 11, 8:37 PM by wonderer
| 12 Jun 09, 6:12 PM honeysuckle_st UK(B), 2 yrs |
Hello  Anything that links spirituality and the world of kink is bound to grab my attention, being a (rather unconventional, needless to say =P) practising Christian, and I found this a very interesting post; especially your descriptions of the Church's Easter celebrations. I've always found that rather undefinable 'sub-space' to be almost spiritual in its nature, rather like the places my mind wanders in a particularly intense church ritual. Fascinating stuff. (And the Durufle working of Ubi Caritas Et Amor is beautifully moving. Are you familiar with Taize music, by any chance?)
Oh, and... 'God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.' - 1 John 4:16 |
| 27 Apr 11, 1:02 PM angelic_demon UK(W), 2 yrs |
Hello, I spotted the link to this post in your sig file and found it very moving. While not a religious person I would call myself spiritual to a certain degree.
One of my favourite quotations is "Ama et fac quod vis" by St, Augustine. The translation is "Love and do what you like." "Ouch" is NOT a safeword! |
