I understand our relocating it to within the chronology of Jesus' life in the (real) leactionary leading up to Holy Week.
But I've always thought the traditional 6 August date takes on a sobering significance in the nuclear age, being the Hiroshima anniversary too. Take you pick, Transfiguration as God offers it or as the world does.
I ran across a hymnal from 1607 (seems to be from Nürnberg) which indicates that on the "XXVII & Last Sunday after Trinity" the Gospel reading was Matthew 17 on Christ's transfiguration (i.e., not Matthew 25) but for appropriate hymns one is directed to the 6th Sunday after "Oberst," or Epiphany.
"When thou wast transfigured, O Savior, on a high mountain, in the presence of thy chief Disciples, thou didst shine forth in glory, symbolizing that they who are recognized for the sublimity of virtue, shall also be made worthy of divine glory. As for Moses and Elijah, when they conversed with Christ they made manifest that he was the Lord of the quick and the dead, and that he was the God who spake of old in the law and the Prophets, the same to whom the voice of the Father did bear witness from a radiant cloud, saying, Him do ye hear; for he it is who by the Cross hath taken captive hades and hath bestowed life eternal to the dead."
I understand our relocating it to within the chronology of Jesus' life in the (real) leactionary leading up to Holy Week.
ReplyDeleteBut I've always thought the traditional 6 August date takes on a sobering significance in the nuclear age, being the Hiroshima anniversary too. Take you pick, Transfiguration as God offers it or as the world does.
40 days after Transfiguration is Holy Cross Day.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI ran across a hymnal from 1607 (seems to be from Nürnberg) which indicates that on the "XXVII & Last Sunday after Trinity" the Gospel reading was Matthew 17 on Christ's transfiguration (i.e., not Matthew 25) but for appropriate hymns one is directed to the 6th Sunday after "Oberst," or Epiphany.
ReplyDeleteThank you, fr. Weedon. It is one of my favorite feasts!
ReplyDeleteMine, too, Christopher.
ReplyDeleteO wondrous type! O vision fair
Of glory that the Church may share,
Which Christ upon the mountain shows
Where brighter than the sun He glows!
Thank you, Pastor Weedon.
ReplyDelete"When thou wast transfigured, O Savior, on a high mountain, in the presence of thy chief Disciples,
thou didst shine forth in glory, symbolizing that they who are recognized for the sublimity of virtue,
shall also be made worthy of divine glory. As for Moses and Elijah, when they conversed with
Christ they made manifest that he was the Lord of the quick and the dead, and that he was the God
who spake of old in the law and the Prophets, the same to whom the voice of the Father did bear
witness from a radiant cloud, saying, Him do ye hear; for he it is who by the Cross hath taken
captive hades and hath bestowed life eternal to the dead."