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April 13, 2009
The Mother of All Vigils
I met my colleagues leading our program in Rome this year at Sta Prassede for the Easter Vigil. Luckily for my overall liturgical tourism mood I was early enough to catch the Exultet in Latin next door at Sta Maria Maggiore while waiting for them, because the Vallumbrosans were not all thhat on the ball. Not the Exultet - which, though in Italian, was full-length and lovely. But they didn't use the schola at all except for a little incidental music during the eucharist. I wouldn't be surprised if they quit. They also turned on the lights WAY too early - that church could stand some candle light.
But hey - it was the Vigil! And there was incense, and solemnity, a fine organist, and enough readings to take the whole affair seriously. Still and all, they need a real MC.
I spent Sunday wandering around and today has been about equally useful - actually more seems closed today for Pasquetta, Easter Monday, than yesterday!
Posted by CrankyProfessor at April 13, 2009 3:53 PM