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"Now that Jesus Christ is crucified in our ears": the week 'before Easter' 2020

Quoted by Mant in his Notes (1820), George Stanhope (Dean of Canterbury, 1704-28) points us to the Gospel readings of the Passion of Our Lord, appointed for each day of the week 'before Easter', as preparation for receiving the holy Sacrament on Easter Day.  This assumes, of course, that they are read and heard at Ante-Communion on the days of Holy Week, a practice which has particular relevance at this time when we are required to fast from the Eucharist.  The readings of the Lord's Passion during the days of this week 'before Easter' 2020 can become a rich form of preparation for us as we await the end of our need to fast from the Sacrament.

It is also another example of how the traditional Prayer Book liturgy for this week before Easter - seemingly impoverished in comparison with the provision of contemporary Holy Week rites - actually has a deep coherence in its unrelenting focus upon the Lord's Cross, thus drawing us more fully to behold "the exceeding great love of our Master and only Saviour Jesus Christ, thus dying for us, and the innumerable benefits which by his precious blood-shedding he hath obtained to us".

This therefore may be a convenient, as it is an obvious occasion for observing the reasonableness of that rubrick in our Liturgy, which contains so general a command of communicating at Easter. For, when indeed can it be more properly done, than at this holy season? When may we expect more plentiful supplies of grace? When do we put ourselves more directly in the way of it, than by thus doing honour to that body and blood, which was broken and shed for us, at the very time, when it was actually broken and shed?

 If ever our devotions can be exalted to a pitch, in any degree worthy of those blessed mysteries; sure it must be then, when the repeated contemplation of our Lord's glorious achievements for us has raised our heavy souls, and put them on the wing. If ever our faith in Christ be lively and steadfast; it is then most like to be so, when we celebrate his conquest over death and hell, and take courage, from the rout now given to his enemies and ours. If ever we be touched with deep and tender remorse, and melt into penitential tears, and heartily abhor our faults and follies, and ourselves for them; sure, this will be the effect of reading, hearing, recollecting, our dear Redeemer's sufferings: the bitterness of his bodily pains, the anguish of his soul, and the dreadful punishment inflicted upon sin, in his person. If ever the love of Christ commit a holy violence upon our hearts, “and constrain us to obedience:” when are we so prepared to submit to, and be vanquished by it, as now that Jesus Christ is crucified in our ears, and before our eyes, for a whole week together; and hath thereby so fully possessed us with ideas of his most astonishing kindness and condescension?

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