Dear Friends,
Today as we entered the chapel, there was something new! A
rich, deep purple color had been painted on the wall behind the altar, in the
shape of a tent. Above the roof of the tent there were still wisps of pale
lazuring, like smoke or incense, rising to the heavens.
It has been a very long time since our community has been
able to experience this deep purple as a backdrop, but the effect was amazing!
Every color in front of it stood out, from our beautiful altar painting, to the
altar cloth, the candles, and the candle flames.
This color and shape beckons you in. It encourages deeper
contemplation, a deeper striving for understanding and devotion.
In 1500 B.C., and for many centuries to come, this color was
known as royal purple. Archaeologists have been able to discern how this
color was made, in the city of Tyre, where the dyeing was perfected. Thousands
upon thousands of the murex shellfish were crushed to extract the color from
its mucus – up to 250,000 to make 1 ounce of dye. It was a costly and long
process, affordable only for royalty.
Today, we use the roots and berries of different plants to
make a natural purple dye, again, a form of sacrifice, on the part of the plant.
How appropriate and wonderful during this time of Passiontide,
to be able to experience the act of sacrifice in a different, yet meaningful,
way.
Sparky
