East Coker IV
The wounded surgeon plies the steel
That questions the distempered part;
Beneath the bleeding hands we feel
The sharp compassion of the healer’s art
Resolving the enigma of the fever chart.
Our only health is the disease
If we obey the dying nurse
Whose constant care is not to please
But to remind of our, and Adam’s curse,
And that, to be restored, our sickness must grow worse.
The whole earth is our hospital
Endowed by the ruined millionaire,
Wherein, if we do well, we shall
Die of the absolute paternal care
That will not leave us, but prevents us everywhere.
The chill ascends from feet to knees,
The fever sings in mental wires.
If to be warmed, then I must freeze
And quake in frigid purgatorial fires
Of which the flame is roses, and the smoke is briars.
The dripping blood our only drink,
The bloody flesh our only food:
In spite of which we like to think
That we are sound, substantial flesh and blood—
Again, in spite of that, we call this Friday good
-T.S. Eliot
Lamentation, Giotto
I awoke this morning to the sound of two sweet voices praying the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary and heard Daniel explain the Crucifixion story to him as they prayed. When I came out Benjamin told me that bad things happened to Jesus and he didn’t like those bad things and that Jesus was hurt and what does hurting mean, Mama? This is the first Holy Week that Benjamin has been able to understand any of the Easter story at all. Of course it’s too much for him to understand this year. It’s too much for anyone to understand. But I love that he wants to learn the Gospel story.
We spent some of the morning listening to the Easter portion of Handel’s Messiah. Benjamin would ask me questions like “Why is Jesus the Lamb of God?”
I think we’re going to prepare the natural dyes today to soak our Easter eggs in this weekend. Then Daniel’s coming home early so we can go to Stations of the Cross this afternoon before the Good Friday service. Benjamin was a trooper during last night’s Maundy Thursday Mass. Here’s hoping he’ll be as angelic this afternoon and evening!
I hope you have a blessed Good Friday. This Lent has seemed very long and I am so looking forward to celebrating the Feast of Feasts with our family on Sunday. This Easter will mark our first year since being confirmed in the Catholic Church and our joy is increased because our dear friend Luke is being confirmed this year at St. Louis Church which was our parish in Waco. Welcome home, Luke!
I can’t believe y’all have been Catholic for a year already. Our Lent’s felt really long, too, with the head colds and the apartment flooding and the fact that it SNOWED a little this morning (again). I’m so ready for Easter and springtime. I hope yours is lovely.
Well you’ll get plenty springtime when you come for that wedding! In fact, you’ll get 85 and 90 degree summer weather. It would be fun to be Eastering together! Also, lately all I’ve been able to think about is the delicious beer bread you made for Mardi Gras. I still have your basket. And I might make you fill it with bread again before I give it back. Yum.
Well you’ll get plenty springtime when you come for that wedding! In fact, you’ll get 85 and 90 degree summer weather. It would be fun to be Eastering together! Also, lately all I’ve been able to think about is the delicious beer bread you made for Mardi Gras. I still have your basket. And I might make you fill it with bread again before I give it back. Yum.