Lament for the young Norwegians slain on Friday

Altar of Oslo Domkirke (Oslo Lutheran Cathedral)

This is a response to the posts of Allison and diddleymaz asking for prayers for all who died in the attacks in Norway. The vast majority were young. Above is the altar of Oslo Domkirke where a special service was held this morning.

Here is a video of Grex Vocalis, a Norwegian choir under the direction of Carl Høgset, singing When David Heard that Absalom was Slain, music by Thomas Weelkes (1573-1623).



When David heard that Absalom was slain he went up into his chamber over the gate and wept, and thus he said; My son, my son, O Absalom my son, would God I had died for thee!
Based on 2 Samuel 18:33, Authorized Version (King James Bible): And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!

Comments

  1. I did not realise Lutheran churches were so beautiful and ornate.
    I'm finding it hard to pray for this sinner who murdered innocent children.
    I hope the perpetrator of these crimes is not going to suggest that women are the source of all his difficulties and should have been kept in the home!

    Breivik is critical of the influence of women in his life saying: 'I do not approve of the super-liberal, matriarchal upbringing though as it completely lacked discipline and has contributed to feminise me to a certain degree.'
    To be "feminised" must seem to him the worst possible fate rather than a moderating influence.

    Perhaps you will do my praying for me Father please.

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  2. Beautiful. Thank you for posting.

    Margaret: When I have trouble praying for my enemy, I beg God to find someone to pray for me.

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  3. Thanks Allison. I'm hoping Father is doing that.

    Mothers of young sons take note!

    "Breivik's grudge against society appears to have its roots in humiliation at being forced to learn to knit in primary school"

    Daily Telegraph today. Page 4.

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  4. Thank you, Margaret and Allison. I will pray for what you are unable to pray for at the moment, Margaret. However, you can pray for the grace to desire to be able to pray for the young man who has done so much harm.

    I hadn't read that item in The Daily Telegraph. The humiliation of any child is never helpful. The reading in the Office of Readings fro the feast of St John Bosco, 31 January, is from a letter he wrote to his confreres in which he recognises the difficulty of teachers (and parents) when it comes to matters of discipline. 'It is so much more convenient for our own impatience and pride to punish then than to correct them patiently with firmness and gentleness . . . like true fathers, really intent on their correction and improvement, show them compassion at the present moment and hold out hope for the future'.

    The humiliation that Anders Breivik experienced that you mention wasn't in the context of punishment. My mother was more outspoken than my father. But she had very clear ideas on what women should do - and shouldn't do. She wasn't keen on women going into politics, though she always voted. She didn't think that women should be collectors in church. She never taught my brother or me how to knit or to cook, even though my father could cook when necessary. I never asked her why but I think it was because she, as a housewife, saw that as her job as a woman. My brother,who is married, is quite a competent cook now but my expertise is limited to making tea, coffee and boiling an egg! Here in the Philippines I've never been in a position where I've had to cook for myself. If I were to do my own cooking I would be depriving someone of a needed job.

    Sorry for the digression!

    I notice that a number of the reports of Sunday's service referred to is as a 'Mass'. I don't think it was a eucharistic service. You will notice too that the altar is right up against the back wall. On visits to Iceland I noticed the same in Lutheran churches there. In other words, in those churches the pastor celebrates the eucharist ad orientem, he and the congregation all facing the same way. I'm simply making an observation.

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  5. Thank you Father Sean
    You clearly had an excellent mother and hopefully, neither your teacher or she, forced you to learn to knit!

    I am curious why it should be uncomfortable to be a collector ( Am I understanding the word?) but this may be cultural, ie women do not hold the purse-strings etc.
    My cousin married an Indian doctor, son of a Brahmin priest. When she visited us with him she was in charge of the purse/wallet, air-tickets etc. When the restaurant bill came to him he glanced at her and out came the purse!
    Some women can successfully have a career and a family. Others feel they must concentrate their gifts on spouse and children, at least in the early years.
    The Norwegian man had an absent father and a disfunctional family. Maybe that helps me to pray for him.

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  6. I've no idea, Margaret, why my mother didn't like women collecting in church! But on a number of occasions, before and after her death, my father told me how good she was at budgetting. Whatever she bought, whether clothing or food, was always good quality. My parents never bought anything on what we in Ireland call the 'never never' or 'the Kathleen Mavourneen' - the latter from a line in that old song that says 'It may be for years and it may be for ever' - and I follow the same principle.

    I don't think that money was ever a source of conflict in my parents' marriage as it is in some.

    Here in the Philippines it's usually the wife who holds the purse-strings.

    God bless you

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  7. I'm wondering if the altar shown is used. It looks highly decorative with its lace cloth behind ornate rails.

    Is it possible that a table is brought out for the Lutheran Communion?

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