BREAKING:
A number of significant Christian leaders have decided that Easter Day this year may be delayed from 12 April to 10 May. By then, it is hoped, that public church services (IRL) will be possible in those regions where they are not currently allowed because of Covid-19 restrictions.
Pope Francis was contacted by the Archbishop of Canterbury who came up with the concept. Archbishop Justin Welby, at Lambeth Palace, began to think about alternatives when he realised that, because of the Covid-19 Lockdown, Church of England churches would not be able to celebrate the liturgies of Holy Week and Easter. He got in touch with Pope Francis in the first instance, and then the two of them had a Zoom meeting with The Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches.
Roman Catholic understanding is that the Pope holds plenitudo potestatis (“fullness of power” to bind and loose, Matt 16:19) and through his proclamation, titled Stultus Aprilis, he is allowing individual national bishops conferences this year to retain Easter on 12 April or to move it to 10 May. Each national bishops conference will make this decision based on whether, in their jurisdiction, they can hold public Holy Week and Easter services. Technically, this unusual action, is termed a “dispensation of time”.
In Anglican (Episcopalian) ecclesiology (church understanding and structure), there are forty independent provinces in the Anglican Communion in full union with the Archbishop of Canterbury. Archbishop Justin Welby explained that each province will need to follow its own canonical processes to make this decision. I am expecting that there will be an announcement after a Zoom meeting of our Standing Committee of General Synod Te Hinota Whanui (I serve as a priest in the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia). Other denominations and Christian groups will follow their own processes to decide if they will join this moving of Easter or not. There is obviously some urgency to this decision making, but Zoom or other video conferencing systems are being used as never before, so this decision can be made speedily. The decision in your jurisdiction should be out later today (April 1).
Lent, for those following this revised scenario, will look like this:
5 April will use the readings (proper) for Lent 2 but not repeating this year’s readings, rather they will be last year’s (Year C in the Three Year Cycle) – Lent 1 is not repeated, so as to not repeat the Gospel story we have already had of Jesus fasting in the desert (and not to stress the 40 days – which now no longer applies; see below)
12 April Lent 3 Year C
19 April Lent 4 Year C
26 April Lent 5 Year C
3 May Palm Sunday, back to this year’s cycle, Year A
10 May Easter Day (Year A)
Foundational to how Easter is calculated is the decision at the Council of Nicaea (in 325 AD) that Easter is to be on the first Sunday after the first Full Moon occurring on or after the Vernal (Spring) Equinox. Northern Hemisphere Vernal Equinox is when the Sun directly crosses the Celestial Equator going north (about March 20 or 21). Of those three aspects (Sunday; Full Moon; Equinox), the dispensation for this year (and this year only, in these unprecedented times) is the removal of the Equinox aspect – so Sunday, 10 May, is the first Sunday after the next Full Moon.
Orthodox Churches have been approached, but they are not interested in participating in this option of moving Easter. Orthodox Easter is usually on a different date than Western Easter because of calendar differences between East and West. Orthodox Easter, this year, will continue to be on Sunday, 19 April – which already differed from Western Easter. So, to clarify, there will be some Western Christians who will celebrate Easter on 10 April (with Holy Week beginning 3 April); Eastern Orthodox Christians will celebrate Easter 19 April; and some Christians will hopefully by then be out of Covid-19 Lockdown and celebrate Easter on 10 May.
Obviously this approach (of extending Lent and moving Easter) is a more scientifically responsible one than some who are ignoring restrictions and saying “true” Christians will not be infected by Covid-19 (see, for example here and here). It is also more realistic than those leaders who are saying we will be through this crisis and back to normal by Easter Day (10 April). The 40 days of Lent do not include the Sundays; extending Lent by these four weeks (4×6, excluding Sundays) adds 24 more days (excluding Sundays) to Lent. Fascinatingly, just as 40 holds rich symbolism, this new length, 64 = 8 squared (8×8) can also be understood as symbolic. Eight, in Christian understanding, is the number of resurrection, of new life. These extra days mean we are heading to new, resurrection life – squared, in fact.
Lastly, to be clear, while there will be two different dates for Easter (three, counting Orthodox Easter) there will not be two dates for the Day of Pentecost. Those who will celebrate Easter on 10 May, will use the readings (proper) for the Second Sunday of Easter (Year A) on 17 May, and the Third Sunday of Easter on 24 May. Then all Western Christians celebrate the Day of Pentecost on 31 May.
image source: Associated Press
In my opinion, this is not a good idea. After all, every Sunday is, in its own proper way, a celebration of the Resurrection. Easter is as the Nicene canon describes it; and it falls on the day on which it falls whether we can observe the festivity or not. Severing the linkage of Easter to the cosmic time of the seasons and the sun and moon, seems to me to incur too great a loss for a questionable benefit. By all means, let us celebrate the ending of the Covid-19 pandemic, whenever it comes; but if our Easter celebration falls in a time of plague, or war, or famine — let us use that as a moment to contemplate the greater cycle of time, the universe, and everything — as Job might have felt when the voice spoke from the whirlwind…
Tobias – I share your concerns – but have you seen the DATE my friend? Not the new Easter date – today’s? 🙂 🙂
Indeed so… and I was taken in for a moment (largely due to the fact that I’d also seen this advanced seriously elsewhere by a few bishops) but once I realized I thought a response in kind was worth the effort; hence the oblique reference to the Hitchhikers’ Guide at the end.
I don’t know… it’s dated April 1.
It is only with trepidation that I ever venture to contradict Fr. Haller. But it seems to me that Rome’s embrace of this Anglican initiative is entirely consistent with a document promulgated by the Pontifical Council for Social Communications a few years ago (“Ludificans asinos”). Its major theological development is the application of contemporary Communications Theory to the concept of “presence,” specifically in articulating a rationale for valid consecration of the Eucharist in “virtual space.”
(Although the complete text is still only available in Latin, the main lines of its argument are helpfully summarized in English here: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2020/march-web-only/online-communion-can-still-be-sacramental.html)
While its main point is to do with virtual space, a less-discussed section of “Ludificans asinos” (ch. IV.01 ff.) outlines a Catholic response to the recently posited concept of “virtual time,” applying the now-familiar distinction between “chronos” (linear, human time) and “kairos” (time-out-of-time, the in-breaking of God). When combined with Augustine’s celebrated argument that time is really only a tension (“distentio”) in human consciousness (“Confessions” 11.26.33), this approach allows for a re-reading of Paul’s condemnation of observing “days, and months, and seasons and years” from the standpoint of a realized eschatology: just as Christ’s nature is “all Yes” (2 Cor. 1:20), so in him all times are “Now” (cf. 2 Cor. 6:2b; Heb. 4:7-9).
As such, traditionally time-bound observances, such as the cycle of the liturgical year, emerge as radically contingent in the face of human need. (The crucial passage for virtual-time exegesis is, of course, Mark 2:27, “Sabbatum propter hominem factum est, et non homo propter Sabbatum.”) And the document reminds us that the liturgical year — even the dating of Easter — is not as ancient or immutable as we might like to think. (For example, for a contemporary witness to local variations in the eighth century, see Bede, “De temporum ratione.”)
Full disclosure: The above is my attempt to give a favourable interpretation of what is to me (as you would surely guess, Bosco) a most unwelcome and unsettling development. As any long-time comment readers here will know, I against all change, and especially change for the better!
And is it really a sign of sinful inflexibility that I should cherish the predictability of certain beloved annual observances?
I am grateful for the well-seasoned and well-reasoned comment from Prof. Billett. However, just as realized eschatology bumps up ineluctably with the temporal experience of the “not yet” of the “already/not yet” tension, I find myself (due to his persuasion) to be more of two minds, and somewhat repent of my initial reaction to the idea, though still coming down on the side of it not being a very good one. After all, appreciating the findings of Einstein concerning the unity of space and time; and having myself been less anxious about the spatial issue (and the use of media to offer a virtual presence) as in the article cited in his excellent responsa; and reminded of the further relativity of any talk of dates and times — in particular that one might be a “poisson d’avril” while still living and breathing in a calendrical “mars” — this may perhaps be seen as an adiaphoron, a day like the sabbath: made for man, presumably to be enjoyed when he is able so to do.
In any case, I pray we will all still be functioning and in good health when Easter (or its deferred observance), or indeed next April 1 comes around. And may we always be embraced by that which Johnson rightly called, “the folly of the wise.”
Before commenting, you might want to check each letter of each paragraph.
Thanks so much for the laugh, Bosco. The joke every April 1 is made all the more delightful by the anticipation of letting the mask drop on April 2. Humour is so needful in these trying times!
For all who may be wondering, just as the title of the pope’s proclamation “Stultus Aprilis” means “An April Fool,” so that of the PCSC document “Ludificans asinos” means “Fooling the fools.”
@Tobias: Now that universities are being forced to move all their teaching online, surely you and I could offer a joint graduate seminar on “The Art of Plausible Academic Nonsense”? The kids’ essays and dissertations would be much more fun to read if they were seasoned with some of your masterful je ne sais quoi.
Thank you, Jesse. I’m not sure if you are familiar with the Journal of Irreproducible Results (which tackles academic nonsense in the sciences), but a similar exercise in the theological/philosophical realm would be a great deal of fun! At least Don Bosco provides an annual outlet for frivolity.
“Done and dusted” — as they say, though perhaps that is more appropriate to the beginning of Lent than to its end — hence the whimsy in the response.
I can’t decide if this is an April Fools post or not. If it is, it seems in poor taste to me, given how many Christians are grieving that they cannot celebrate Easter together. If it is not, it seems entirely too convoluted and legalistic to be of practical help to anyone.
Yes Mike, an April Fool Hoax. There are 9 paragraphs each starting with a capital letter which together spell out APRIL FOOL!
But not a funny one. Number one, the caps weren’t big and bold when the post first went up. Number two, I’ve heard several people in tears because there won’t be public, corporate Easter worship this year.
Nothing against April Fool’s, but I think joking about this is a big misstep. Better to have gone small this year for pranks and hoaxes.
I agree having a sense of humor in times of trouble is important. I just disagree with this attempt.
Just a correction, Mike. There has been NO change to the acrostic “big and bold” caps that spell out “APRIL FOOL” down the side of the post. That is currently EXACTLY the same as “when the post first went up”. Blessings.
Well, we shall blame it on browser issues, then. I work in digital marketing and know things don’t always look the same across all browsers.
would not have questioned whether it were a joke had I seen that, and would have let it pass in peace (as maybe I should have in any event). To be clear, I’ve “lurked” your site for a long time and have gotten liturgical inspiration from you on several occasions over the years. I only clicked on the email notifying me of this post because it was from your site. And also it was late and I was tired – probably never a good time to post comments! Easter blessings to you and those you lead.
Thanks, Mike. Appreciated. One of the worst aspects for me and other clergy is that we are not permitted to be present at a burial (there are no funerals or tangi). The rules have only recently been loosened to allow those (but only those) in the household of the deceased to be present at the burial (this was originally forbidden). I literally weep for what some people are being asked to bear at this present time, including people I know well. Let us pray for each other.
April Fools?
April fools?
Is it possible this is an April Fool’s joke, given that Pope Francis’ proclamation is entitled Stultus Aprilis? If so, it seems a bit cruel, no?
Come on chaps! Where has your sense of humour gone to? Loss of smell and taste may be one of the symptoms of the virus but not humour as well.
Look at the capital letters that begin each paragraph and you will see they read;
APRIL FOOL!!!!!!!!
In any other year, I would find it quite funny, a very clever prank. Those living in epicenters across the world, though, are shut off from community, worship, and the Eucharist. It’s difficult to remember the day of the week, much less the date–everything runs together. The world is upside down. I just found that, given our times, this was a thoughtless, or perhaps just clueless, piece to publish. It would have been funnier last or God willing next year.
Dear Nancy, in another year, it would not in any way have been clever as you suggest. It would have made absolutely no sense as a joke either last year or next year. Living in the “most decisive and strongest lockdown in the world at the moment”, I object to your suggestion that I am clueless. Our city was destroyed by months of quakes. I minister IRL less than a mile from where one of the worst terrorist acts occurred a year ago. And now we are in lockdown with a stringency that your country is unable to bring itself to endure. Humour is one element, along with the huge effort I put into providing daily spiritual sustenance and emotional support as best I can in our context, that helps people. I respect that you have your opinion, but please be aware that the vast majority of responses on twitter and facebook have appreciated and enjoyed the effort I put in (annually, as indicated here) to bring a smile to people’s faces. I will pray for you. Please pray for me.
I apologize. It hit a nerve–I know a very kind monk who believed it and then felt an absolute fool–and it seems I hit a nerve as well. I was unfamiliar with your blog, so did not realize this is an annual occurrence. I had no intention of insulting you personally. Take good care, be safe, and let us all remember to be kind. And now I humbly take my leave.
Thanks, Nancy. Appreciated. I am sorry for any upset I caused. Do, from time to time, pop by this site and poke around. Let us continue to pray for each other. Blessings.
O dear, you had me believing it for a while. Cheeky cheeky!
I looked at the date at the top and assumed the article was in a similar vein to last year’s one on the reverse mortgaging of churches. Was I wrong?
No, I wasn’t wrong. I’ve just noticed the beginnings of each paragraph. Spoiler alert!
I always love your April Fools Day tricks, especially this year… it is a serious subject, and we live in serious times, but fun in general helps, and this fun was combined with some significant prompts for further thinking. What is Easter all about? Is it epitomized by the “American Resurrection” or the early church’s housegroup-like meetings in dangerous times when the powers that be were certainly not on their side? Was the decision by the early British church to adopt the timing of Easter used in Rome anything that made their Easter celebrations up until that time any less valid? Can people participating in a church service online actually be a part of a gathering as much as people in a crowded church building where they can hardly see the front and might only hear the words by the assistance of a microphone and loudspeaker system? Can bread be blessed from 1 foot away, from 1 metre away… what is the limiting distance for blessing?
So many questions, and so much free time to ponder them! And so many things going on in the world we might have thought impossible – a giant experiment in seeing what we can do without, and many cases of chickens coming home to roost as far as preparedness is concerned, and a lot of light being shone on actual results coming out of various theories, and whether postmodernism stacks up against Enlightenment, or how populist leaders who say what they want to hear stack up beside humble leaders that listen to experts and their heart.
Thanks, Mark. Certainly – those are ideas and questions swirling around my experience. I’m not finding “so much free time” yet – busyness on many fronts continues in different form. That can be added to your list of reflections 🙂 Blessings.