REJOICE!
Christ is Risen!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Outburst of Joy
Olivier Messiaen
Jean Claude Raynaud, organist
Organ by Cavaillé-Coll (1888)
Basilica of Saint Serin, Toulouse, France
Jean Claude Raynaud, organist
Organ by Cavaillé-Coll (1888)
Basilica of Saint Serin, Toulouse, France
Et Resurrexit
Johann Sebastian Bach
30th Festival Resurrexit, 2012, April 9, 2012 , The Cathedral of the Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Siauliai, Lithuania
Siauliai State Chamber Orchestra
Sauliai Sondeckis Conductor,
30th Festival Resurrexit, 2012, April 9, 2012 , The Cathedral of the Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Siauliai, Lithuania
Siauliai State Chamber Orchestra
Sauliai Sondeckis Conductor,
He has Risen, indeed!
ReplyDeleteHallelujah!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to all..The People's Progressive Party extends Easter Greetings to all our Christian brothers and sisters in America and our best wishes to our Dear President Obama, the Beautiful First Lady, and his wonderful and gracious family. .
Easter symbolizes the resurrection of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and is observed by the people from all walks of life and from every religious persuasion together to celebrate this auspicious occasion.
It is the fervent wish of the Party that the Easter spirit of togetherness and joy will continue throughout the year and that righteousness will prevail in this beautiful country of ours. And to keep it well and prosperous under the Liberal/Progressive, flag.
May our candidates soar high in the November elections and lift the spirits of all of us Liberals/Progressives alike many of whom have become exhausted and tired by elements in our midst who seek to divide us as a nation and thwart our collective efforts to lift our economy and our country to even greater heights.
It has been Shocking to see and hear the things that the opposition party has been doing these past 5 years. Like the Shutting Down of the Government as well as voting against every effort that the president has made to better our land and our citizens. . This cutting your nose to spoil your face mentality by the opposition is hard to comprehend .
Equally shocking and shameful was to see some 2000 young Americans. throughout this great country of ours are found on bread lines every day.. This is one of the many immediate effects of the cuts to the 2014 National Budget by the political opposition. In one of its most disastrous attack on the Obama administration the opposition party aka Republicans heartlessly voted against
But through it all we have prevailed. As the President said in his recent SOTU address, “ we have seen The lowest unemployment rate in over five years. A rebounding housing market. A manufacturing sector that’s adding jobs for the first time since the 1990s. More oil produced at home than we buy from the rest of the world – the first time that’s happened in nearly twenty years. Our deficits – cut by more than half. And for the first time in over a decade, business leaders around the world have declared that China is no longer the world’s number one place to invest; America is”.
Once again, a Happy Easter to one and all.
The members of the American Peoples Party
Good morning, Thersites. A happy day to you and yours!
ReplyDeleteHe has, risen, INDEED, -- for those who have an honest desire to believe that Truth, Love, Beauty, Intelligence, Ingenuity, Creativity, Artistry, Bravery, Sincerity, Optimism, Perseverance, Good Humor, HOPE -- and HONOR -- eventually MUST prevail over the forces of darkness -- envy, spite, malice, cruelty, degeneracy, cupidity, rapacity, decline, decay, dissolution and disappearance.
Most people who profess to believe in God have only the vaguest concept of who He truly is. Those who cannot believe in Him have fallen prey to the widespread popular misconceptions bruited about by the institutional Church and by the hordes of ignorant, superstitious folk who want everything to be SIMPLE, and are this easily duped into following the false notions perpetrated by fear-filled, power-hungry, overly-ambitiousm supposedly learned, godly men, who really have no genuine faith at all.
It's no wonder that the "intelligentsia" has largely abandoned faith -- as it has been portrayed and proffered by God's "official" representatives on earth. I can hardly blame them. BUT it is the ARTISTS, the ARCHITECTS and the COMPOSERS -- not the "theologians," the "scholars," or the politicians -- who have understood the Truth all along, and it is because of the work of such as J.S. Bach, and Olivier Messiaen -- and a host of other enlightened men of creative genius -- that fait in somethung greater than ourselves has been able to survive -- and will CONTINUE to survive.
Oddly enough this mysterious, intangible, some-say "irrational" thing we call faith THRIVES most when subjected to ADVERSITY.
Men may exploit, oppress, torture, and slaughter each other by the millions, but there is "something" IN us -- I call it Spirit -- that desires FREEDOM and LOVE above all else, and that mysterious force is God IN us.
We may suffer persecution, deprivation, -- even gruesome death, -- but some vital part of our bizarre, seemingly benighted race WILL contunue to STRIVE for PERFECTION.
Quixotic?
Perhaps, but that spark of fervent desire to know and achieve more and more -- to climb to ever greater heights -- WILL sustain us, just as it has always kept our ancestors going -- and most of them faced far worse "crises" than most of us could possibly imagine.
ORTHODOXY?
It's pour les oiseaux. ;-)
But the cultivation, nurturing and maintenance of a serious, intellectually-grounded, searching faith is probably THE most rational course we could choose to follow.
HAPPY EASTER! It's all about the renewal and resurgence of an increasingly vital interest in life, and love for benevolence, honesty and understanding.
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ReplyDeleteEaster, with its roots in paganism long before Christ arrived, was borrowed by Christianity. Resurrection was a concept preceeding Christ's own as well.
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter!
And isn't it sad, as well as shocking, if you want to use that word, to see how those who identify with the Left persist in clinging to the false belief that only their particular, highly secularized notions of what is right, good and proper MUST be "The Way, the Truth and the Life, instead of God in the person of Jesus Christ, and therefore should prevail without opposition?
ReplyDeleteSuch people do not seem to realize that Christ's Kingdom is not of this world.
Jesus Christ was entirely apolitical. It was not HE who claimed to be King of the Jews. That appellation was pinned on Him and noised abroad by his enemies in the Jewish Establishment, until the crowd of Jews, whose corrupt leaders Jesus had denounced and rudely challenged, finally shouted ferociously in favor of having Him crucified -- against the feelings and better judgment of Pontius Pilate, the Roman official who "found no fault in Him." [NOTE: The St. John Passion, which we gave everyone the opportunity to hear yesterday, makes it abundantly clear who the bad guys and the good guys were in this Historic Travesty of Justice. Go listen to it. It will remain there as ling as this blog is alive.]
The events leading to Jesus's Death on the Cross were an early application of The Big Lie technique, which tyrants, bullies, dictators, and overly ambitious men have used for countless millennia to keep their subjects in line by preventing them from learning the Truth.
The Scribes and Pharisees whose self-servng machinations brought about His Crucifixion live on today in the Enemedia, the Educational Establishment and the Entertainment Industries, and the minds of those poor, well-meaning souls who are in their thrall.
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ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteWhile some may wonder why one would take the opportunity on this Holiest of Holy Days for Christians, to want to call upon the Almighty to Bless our Great Republic and at the same time, all of you, far from being a dichotomy whatsoever, the two invocations, are inextricably entwined
Understandably, this devoted observance drives the secular progressives and the illogical fanatics to, and proponents of, The Establishment Clause, bonkers. So be it.
Regardless, of their exhaustive attempts at revisionism, our country was founded by men who recognized that to survive, we were compelled to not only follow laws of nature but Laws of God as well, and recognized that these “rights” were those which were a “gift” from our Creator and should never be taken for granted.
As our Freedoms are being challenged by forces who would see us destroyed and come primarily from those who do so in the name of their prophet and their god, it is important to remember our right to practice our individual faith—or not at all—is in peril and what better day than today to reflect, give thanks for what and “who” we are as well as pay tribute to not only our individual religious observance, but to ask our Creator to continue to bless this glorious Republic.
There are some who wish to blame the world’s ills on us (the blame America first faction) and as we have seen of late, there are even some who from the pulpit of a Church no less, call upon the Lord to damn the United States; and others still, who consider us as the “Great Satan.”
Well, to one and all of the above-- while I cannot claim to recognize whence comes your hatred and desire for our annihilation other than the fact that we are the ONLY country which stands between freedom on earth and totalitarianism and enslavement-- later this morning, I will pray in my Church of my faith, of my choosing and of my free will for the salvation of mankind and that someday, they also may come to enjoy what only we can appreciate, yet too often, simply take for granted.
Furthermore, I will implore God to not only protect and keep us safe from all evil, but will also pray for the continued expression of said freedoms which are not permitted and protected, to the same extent, anywhere else on Earth.
Therefore, to one and all, God Bless America, God Bless each and everyone of you and Happy Easter.
And for you who choose not to believe, as long as you are Conservatives and support our cause and our Troops, may I wish you a Worldly Happy Sunday, as well.
From a Conservative Vermont Vet
The Other Truth said...
ReplyDelete"Easter, with its roots in paganism long before Christ arrived, was borrowed by Christianity. Resurrection was a concept preceeding Christ's own as well."
Yes, of course, all educated people know that certain basic yearnings and fundamental moral principles have emerged in most organized societies since the beginnings of organized society.
Early Christian missionaries such as Saint Patrick were famous for adapting pagan customs for Christian purposes. Today, we would call guys like that "geniuses at public relations," and offer to pay them seven-figure incomes to work on Madison Avenue. So what?
One can't help but wonder what your purpose might have been to post such an observation on this the most venerated of all Christian Holy Days?
What few seem to understand -- even in the Christian Church as a whole -- is that Jesus was born, and made His great Sacrifice, to free us poor mortals from fear-filled obeisance and thralldom to corrupt, depraved Authority, thus freeing us to realize our full, God-given potential, which -- as a few men like Newton, Shakespeare, Bach, Locke, Rousseau, Voltaire, Vatel, Paine, Jefferson, Adams, Edison, Semelweiss, Fleming, Salk, Lewis Thomas, and Steve Jobs ;-) have shown is IMMENSE and UNLIMITED.
I still hope to hear at least ONE comment showing that someone has listened to and given at least a token of respect if not full appreciation for the treasury of great music we have posted here in the past few days.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, but I find it a bit disheartening to prepare a fine feast of many different, perfectly beautiful, lovingly prepared dishes, only to have the guests insist on talking about other types of food they've eaten elsewhere or would have preferred me to serve.
Doesn't anyone realize how impolite that could seem?
Faith is Faith, it is what it is. Faith in anything that can neither be proved or disproved allows for each to accept or reject a given faith based concept.
ReplyDeleteEach should decide for themselves whether to believe or disbelieve. Free will to choose is something described quite well in the tale of Adam, Eve, the serpent, and the apple. It is as it should be.
My first comment was to illustrate the utter absurdity of things as they have always stood. Organized religion is about power and control and it has throughout the ages devoted much effort to accomplish both.
Those who understand Christ as explained by the words of man written and handed down realize they have nothing to fear, even if they are not a believer in a God. Because if they do good works they are righteous.
The music of the past days, as well as this one, has been superb. Unless of course a person is tone deaf.
Anna Louella Barnstable said
ReplyDeleteYou choice of illustrations alone show real talent. These are just terrific. That organ piece is a little strong for my tastes, though. It's scary. I don't hear any joy in it.Why did you pick that for Easter?
Would you like another cup of tea, FT?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete___ A GENTLE REMINDER ___
ReplyDeleteWe welcome conversation
But without vituperation.
If you come for vilification ––
Other forms of alienation ––
Or too much self-justification ––
We WILL use Comment Moderation,
Or perhaps ERADICATION.
Thank you, Thersites. I loved The Watchmaker's Son -- a beautiful tale beautifully told. I only wish we had been informed as to who wrote the poetic text, who wrote the fine music, who did the splendid narration, and who acted the parts of the son and his father. I love to see capable people get credit where credit is due,
ReplyDeleteDid you wonder, as did I, if we were supposed to draw special significance to the graceful white wing chair that stood out so prominently -- almost like a shining beacon -- in that otherwise dark and dimly lighted room?
I am, of course a Furniture Freak -- among other things ;-) -- and distinguished looking pieces rarely escape my attention, but it was the singular whiteness of the piece that causes me to wonder ... A symbol of domestic comfort portrayed as a virtue, perhaps?
And yes, there is a LOT to be said for the simple, homely little customs that make life a warmer, cozier, more affectionate experience. One of my great-aunts was an Englishwoman, and the daily ritual of tea at her lovely house furnished with polished mahogany antiques and bright floral chintzes hung at the windows served punctually at 4:00 each afternoon remans a memorable treat to this day. Nothing but tea, served with the choice of lemon or cream and sugar, and a few homemade biscuits and maybe some orange marmalade from Seville oranges imported from Scotland, but in her quiet, comfortably reassuring dowdy way, my aunt made it an EVENT, bless her dear old heart.
Sometimes the littlest details contain the deepest meanings. As for myself, I would have taken the pristine white chair as an indication of an absence of visitors to the house on Ghost Hill, with the "overgrown" path leading to it.
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me of my friends favorite aunt, who's white sitting room couch was forever encased in the most uncomfortable plastic... to keep it from being worn and sullied by the many visitors who came to sit and exchange pleasantries.
But then, that was another time altogether...
*sigh*
One day we will all become our Father's sons.
ReplyDelete...identification is, at its most radical, identification with the lost (or rejected) libidinal object? We BECOME (identify with) the OBJECT which we were deprived of, so that our subjective identity is a repository of the traces of our lost objects.
I and my Father are One with the Holy Spirit.
ReplyDeleteThe Mystery -- and the Beauty -- of the Trinity.
The Trinity... The Trident... Could there be a casual connection?
ReplyDeleteAnything is possible, Anonymous. As we were told in Ecclesiastes, "There is nothing new under the sun. ..."
ReplyDeleteCreation is eternal, yet ever changing.
Nevertheless, all the elements have been present since The Beginning, so all that ever was still is, and all that is yet to come is in essence already here waiting to be discovered.
"Life is a mystery to be lived, not a problem to be solved." ;-)
Your understanding of "the chair" makes very good sense, Thersites. I knew its astonishing prominence could not have been accidental, but I found myself searching for its meaning. Yes. Evidence of the absence of camaraderie -- an object intended for the extension of hospitality that remained sadly pristine.
ReplyDeleteThat must be it. Thank you.
I wonder if anyone passing by has experienced the terror and consternation in Messiaen's Outburst of Joy?
ReplyDeleteWe Christians have largely been conditioned to think of the Resurrection purely in terms of joy and triumph, but just imagine, if you can, what it must have been like for those who loved Jesus, in deepest grief because they believed Him dead, to find -- despite its having been guarded by hostile Roman soldiers since Jesus had been laid to rest, -- that the tomb was EMPTY -- the enormous, heavy stone that sealed His body in darkness had been rolled away, -- and then He, whose body had been tortured, insulted and broken, suddenly APPEARED fully alive -- and SPOKE to them.
The very idea of this is no small thing.
Eventual Joy yes -- certainly --, but INITIALLY a TERRIFYING SHOCK. Messiaen's music expresses the oxymoronic dichotomy of this Transcendent Event brilliantly. The music shouts, shrieks, roars, quivers, wriggles, leaps and dances, but not till close to the very end does it resolve itself in a triumphant cadence.
Once again I have to say the Vision of great artists teaches so much more than drily didactic instruction could ever hope to do, but ONLY if we OPEN OURSELVES to it.
I hope that last remark answered your question, Ms Barnstable?
ReplyDeleteLife might seem simpler and easier if we never bothered to look beneath the surface or far above into the limitless sky, but fortunately God gave us the troubling faculties of Free Will and Insatiable Curiosity. All human beings, of course, do not possess these things in equal measure, but those who are best with them in abundance lead far richer, more rewarding lives than hose who don't.
Life is not meant to lived resting on our laurels in comfortable mediocrity.