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“Flakes of Glory”

Ascension - 2002 – Solemn Eucharist

“At Easter, it was the Lord’s resurrection which was the cause of our joy; our present rejoicing is on account of his ascension into heaven. With all due solemnity we are commemorating that day on which our poor human nature was carried up, in Christ, above all the hosts of heaven, above all the ranks of angels, beyond the highest heavenly powers to the very throne of God the Father.”
Leo the Great, Bishop of Rome (ca. 400-461)

The Feast of the Ascension, in the listing of the Book of common Prayer, is one the “Principal Feasts” of our Lord, alongside Christmas, The Epiphany, and Easter. The theological and pastoral significance of the Ascension is rich and complex, fulfilling a critical transitional role in the story line of salvation history. The apostles (and later Christians in all times and places) had to move from the visible physical presence of the Lord among them to his abiding presence in the sacramental life of the church where we encounter him anew in each celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Indeed, our willingness to embrace that which is not seen is a requisite component of the Christian faith. To quote Leo the Great again:

“For such is the power of great minds, such is the light of truly believing souls,
that they put unhesitating faith in what is not seen with the bodily eye; they fix their desires on what is beyond sight. Such fidelity could never be born in our hearts, nor could anyone be justified by faith, if our salvation lay only in what was visible. And so our Redeemer’s visible presence has passed into the sacraments.”

A second point is well expressed in a line from Hymn 215: “Thou hast raised our human nature on the clouds to God’s right hand: there we sit in heavenly places…” Jesus’ ascension is the final restoration and elevation of our fallen human nature showing us that, if we are “risen with Christ” we can set our minds and hearts “on the things that are above where Christ is.” As Augustine put it: “He did not leave heaven when he came down to us; nor did he withdraw from us when he went up again.” We are united with him in faith, hope, and love until the end of the age.

We have long offered a fitting celebration of this great feast at the Chapel of the Cross but, I am sorry to say, it has always been poorly attended. A great opportunity is being missed to indwell some of the most important of the paschal mysteries of our faith.
This year we will offer a Solemn Eucharist with powerful and spiritual music to move us up, in our minds and hearts, to heavenly places. The “ordinary” texts of the Eucharist (Kyrie, Sanctus, etc.) will be sung to the music of 20th century master French organist and composer, Jean Langlais (1907-1991). His Missa Salve Regina was composed in 1954 for Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The original performing forces were formidable: two choirs, two organs separated by almost a city block, and two brass quartets. For budgetary reasons we will perform this piece with the organ alone, but the power and the majesty of the archaic modes of the Gregorian chant (well-known to regular worshippers at Compline) and medieval harmonies, translated into the musical idiom of the 20th century will be transporting. The anthem will be 20th century English composer Gerald Finzi’s setting of an 18th century text: “God is gone up with a triumphant shout.” Colorful melodies and harmonies weave a mystical texture evoking in memorable images things otherwise unseen with the mortal eye:

“Methinks I see Heaven’s sparkling courtiers fly, In flakes of Glory down him to attend, And hear heart-cramping notes of Melody Surround his Chariot as it did ascend; Mixing their Music, making every string, More to enravish as they this tune sing.”

Organ compositions of Olivier Messiaen and Jean Langlais will be offered to open and close this powerful liturgy.