I recently visited the Dallas Dhu Distillery near Forres. The purpose of my visit was simply to get photos for the blog - it was nothing to do with the free tasting!
Work on building the distillery started in 1898, and production began on 29 May 1899. The first barrel was filled with whisky on 3 June.
Forres is a town and former royal burgh situated in the north of Scotland on the Moray coast, approximately 30 miles east of Inverness. Forres has been a winner of the Scotland in Bloom award on several occasions. There are many geographical and historical attractions nearby such as the River Findhorn, and there are many historical artifacts and monuments within the town itself.
In the gospel today we hear the familiar parable about the wise and foolish virgins.
Wake, o wake! with tidings thrilling the watchmen all the air are filling, arise, Jerusalem, arise! Midnight strikes! no more delaying, "The hour has come!" we hear them saying. Where are ye all, ye virgins wise? The Bridegroom comes in sight, raise high your torches bright! Alleluia! The wedding song swells long and strong: go forth and join the festal throng.
Zion hears the watchmen shouting, her heart leaps with joy undoubting, she stands and waits with eager eyes; adorned with truth and grace unending! Her light burns clear, her star doth rise. Now come, thou precious Crown, Lord Jesus, God's own Son! Hosanna! Let us prepare to follow there, where in thy supper we may share.
Every soul in thee rejoices; from men and angelic voices be glory given to thee alone! Thy presence never more shall leave us, we stand with angels round thy throne. Earth cannot give below the bliss thou dost bestow. Alleluia! Grant us to raise to length of days, the triumph-chorus of thy praise.
Advent must be getting close - yet it feels more like midsummer here in the Highlands!
One canticle I love to hear at All Saints-tide is the Te Deum.
We praise thee, O God: we acknowledge thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship thee: the Father everlasting. To thee all Angels cry aloud: the Heavens, and all the Powers therein. To thee Cherubin and Seraphin: continually do cry, Holy, Holy, Holy: Lord God of Sabaoth; Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty: of thy glory. The glorious company of the Apostles: praise thee. The goodly fellowship of the Prophets: praise thee. The noble army of Martyrs: praise thee. The holy Church throughout all the world: doth acknowledge thee; The Father: of an infinite Majesty; Thine honourable, true: and only Son; Also the Holy Ghost: the Comforter.
Thou art the King of Glory: O Christ. Thou art the everlasting Son: of the Father. When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man: thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb. When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death: thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers. Thou sittest at the right hand of God: in the glory of the Father. We believe that thou shalt come: to be our Judge. We therefore pray thee, help thy servants: whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood. Make them to be numbered with thy Saints: in glory everlasting.
O Lord, save thy people: and bless thine heritage. Govern them: and lift them up for ever. Day by day: we magnify thee; And we worship thy Name: ever world without end. Vouchsafe, O Lord: to keep us this day without sin. O Lord, have mercy upon us: have mercy upon us. O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us: as our trust is in thee. O Lord, in thee have I trusted: let me never be confounded.
My Mother was very pleased that I visited John's grave on All Souls' Day, and she asked me to take a photo of the flowers that I placed in 'her vase'. Well here they are!
However, let me also post a photo that I took last month of my Mother on her 91st birthday. I note she is proudly displaying a photo of Ludo - my Sister's dog, not a photo of me - on her sideboard. I wonder why?!
One hymn comes to mind. Let us listen as the words are sung in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen as she attends worship in St Paul's Cathedral, London. Let us pray for all those involved in the protest there at this present time.
For the beauty of the earth For the glory of the skies, For the love which from our birth Over and around us lies.
Refrain
Lord of all, to Thee we raise, This our hymn of grateful praise.
For the beauty of each hour, Of the day and of the night, Hill and vale, and tree and flower, Sun and moon, and stars of light. Refrain
For the joy of ear and eye, For the heart and mind’s delight, For the mystic harmony Linking sense to sound and sight.
Refrain
For the joy of human love, Brother, sister, parent, child, Friends on earth and friends above, For all gentle thoughts and mild.
Refrain
For Thy Church, that evermore Lifteth holy hands above, Offering up on every shore Her pure sacrifice of love.
Refrain
For each perfect gift of Thine, To our race so freely given, Graces human and divine, Flowers of earth and buds of Heaven.
We do not know how long it is before a soul expectant becomes a saint triumphant - my reading of the gospels leads me to suspect rather less time than we think!
I remember being deacon at Westminster Cathedral in June 2003 at a Requiem Mass for Cardinal Vaughan - who had died in June 1903. I found the whole service in purple vestments rather depressing. If Cardinal Vaughan (who had been responsible for the building of the Cathedral) had not already got into heaven, I dreaded to think how long I will have to wait when I die!
On this All Soul's Day I will be praying especially for the repose of the soul of John Holdsworth, my dear late step-father, who died on 20 March 2011. I conducted his funeral at Harrogate Crematorium on 31 March, and presided at the burial of his ashes at Kilvean Cemetery (just outside Inverness) on 20 September. I shall visit his grave later today and put some flowers there. One day this grave will no doubt be the resting place for my earthly remains.
Jesus lives! thy terrors now can no longer, death, appall us; Jesus lives! by this we know thou, O grave, canst not enthrall us. Alleluia!
Jesus lives! henceforth is death but the gate of life immortal; this shall calm our trembling breath when we pass its gloomy portal. Alleluia!
Jesus lives! for us he died; then, alone to Jesus living, pure in heart may we abide, glory to our Saviour giving. Alleluia!
Jesus lives! our hearts know well nought from us his love shall sever; life, nor death, nor powers of hell tear us from his keeping ever. Alleluia!
Jesus lives! to him the throne over all the world is given: may we go where he has gone, rest and reign with him in heaven. Alleluia!
Rest eternal grant unto him, O Lord. And may light perpetual shine upon him.
There are some nice things about growing older. I now find myself rejoicing on All Saints' Day with people I used to pray for on All Souls' Day! I have plenty of good friends in heaven and I ask them to join their praises with mine on this day of jubilation. I look forward to joining their number.
For all the saints, who from their labours rest, Who Thee by faith before the world confessed, Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed. Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might; Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight; Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light. Alleluia, Alleluia!
O blest communion, fellowship divine! We feebly struggle, they in glory shine; Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine. Alleluia, Alleluia!
O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold, Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old, And win with them the victor’s crown of gold. Alleluia, Alleluia!
And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long, Steals on the ear the distant triumph song, And hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong. Alleluia, Alleluia!
The golden evening brightens in the west; Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest; Sweet is the calm of paradise the blest. Alleluia, Alleluia!
But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day; The saints triumphant rise in bright array; The King of glory passes on His way. Alleluia, Alleluia!
From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast, Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host, Singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost: Alleluia, Alleluia!
