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15th April , 2007

THE EASTER MAGI

You will probably have guessed that despite the notice in last week’s bulletin these three wise men did not exactly spend the day in bed on Monday. While we might not have been up with the lark, the sun was still rising in the sky when we headed off to visit Chantilly. (In ‘word association’ terms, for me it means “ Chantilly lace, and a pretty face”, but you’re probably all much too young for that!) Some know it for its famed racetrack, but don’t be concerned, the funds raised for the Lenten project were never really under threat – and not just simply because there was no racing that day!

It’s a relatively short drive to Chantilly – even with a couple of minor deviations we still made it in a gentle 45 minutes or so. As the road emerges from the surrounding forests one is presented with a magnificent panorama – the Chateau to the right, the walled section of the town straight ahead, and the racecourse to the left – not a modern building intruding on the view. We headed for the Chateau.

To the casual viewer it was obvious that we had a choice of two car-parks – one to the left and one to the right. The one on the left looked to have more vacant spaces under the trees – choice made! One problem – where is the entrance? And we’re now on a narrow cobbled road, with a line of cars behind us! Nothing for it but to keep right on, into the town, find somewhere to turn, and back down again. By this time every bone in our bodies has been rattled loose, but we eventually reached the haven of the car park to the right!

Let’s visit the Chateau first – it reputedly has some magnificent art and an interesting library! Sounds a good idea, but why, despite all the cars, are there only about a dozen people dotted around the vast open vista that is the castle grounds. Can all the rest be packed into the Chateau already? No, - they’re standing in a queue, getting baked in the sun, getting restless, getting rowdier, getting anything you like, except in. I exaggerate – two or three were getting in every five minutes or so!

Slowly the queue advanced – heading into a small building, with a tiny door. To people who had just celebrated Easter it looked not dissimilar to the tomb with the stone rolled back. Except that there was far more life in the tomb! What the delay was, we never found out, because, typically, just as we were coming to the end of our long wait, and had reached the door, up pop ticket-sellers all over the place, and the queue evaporates in minutes! (Who ever talked of “the luck of the Irish”!)

I’m glad to be able to report that things went more smoothly from then on, and the visit proved very interesting and enjoyable, and even worth the effort! The kind of things that one might like to think people could say of our Easter ceremonies. Thanks to all who put in so much effort in making them so – to our readers, eucharistic ministers, ushers, altar servers, cantors and choirs, hospitality, donors of ‘goodies’ for the reception, and to the various congregations who created just a wonderful atmosphere of enthusiastic participation. Thanks also to those who left in gifts to mark the occasion – they are very much appreciated.

Can’t wait for our next day out!