Finding himself travelling west on Good Friday in pursuit of worldly business, John Donne imagines himself straining to look east to witness the crucifixion, but also relieved that he cannot look: Who sees Gods face, that is self life, must dye;What a death were it then to see God dye? Donne’s response to this impossibleContinue reading “Love unknown”
Tag Archives: resurrection
Peace
Yesterday a colleague sent me the video of our choir singing Parry’s (1848-1918) ‘My Soul there is a Country’ with the Sistine Chapel Choir in front of Michaelangelo’s vast and terrifying Last Judgement. Parry’s anthem is one of the Songs of Farewell, composed in the final years of his life and tried out in draftContinue reading “Peace”
Epstein’s Lazarus
I wrote this reflection last year for the University Church’s Passion and Compassion project, a trail of stations of the cross using art objects around Oxford. The reflection seems especially pertinent now, as we are living in a time poised between death and life, longing for the promise of rebirth. For the full set ofContinue reading “Epstein’s Lazarus”
More wisdom from John Donne (1572-1631)
John Donne died on this day in 1631, after a long illness. His literary life is marked by a circling back to the themes of death and decay, inspiration and resurrection, that seem vital to me in these strange times. Here is a small selection from his poems and sermons to give you hope inContinue reading “More wisdom from John Donne (1572-1631)”
Live as though you are loved 