Cecilian Vespers

Now those feelings have overflowed with horrifying results. The case lifts the lid on fascinating episodes of Church history, thwarted ambitions, old grudges and long-simmering disputes. Monty immerses himself in a world of ancient chants, votive candles, stained glass, incense, and the music of the spheres.

The more he learns, the more questions he has. In the end, he finds himself turning to the saints for answers! Hardcover , pages. A Collins-Burke Mystery 4. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

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To ask other readers questions about Cecilian Vespers , please sign up. Lists with This Book. This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Dec 13, Francis rated it did not like it. Sometimes a good author writes a bad book, would probably best summarize, my opinion of this book. The best thing about this series is the character of Father Brennan Burke.

Sicilian Vespers - Wikipedia

Brennan is an Irish Catholic Priest who is both a bit of a renaissance man and a bit of a rouge. He is greatly tempted by all of the earthly delights but he is strongly committed to the traditional tenets of the church. He is not shy about sharing his opinions and often does using blunt, colorful and unfiltered language. He i Sometimes a good author writes a bad book, would probably best summarize, my opinion of this book.

He is also a fine figure of a man, who likes a drink and a cigarette after a long day of choir practice.

And, needless to say, he is sometimes sought out by attractive ladies seeking companionship. For me it was tedious and poorly structured, too many suspects, too many interviews, too many side stories, too many saints and too improbable. The story ends with yet another ten page rehashing of what took place. I never like this approach because I often get the impression that the author ran out of ideas, realized the story wasn't going anywhere, decided to end it on a quick note and now needs to fill a couple more pages in an attempt to tie up all the loose ends that were left scattered about.

Did I mention that I didn't really care for this book? Well don't use it to judge the series which is actually quit good.. Apr 21, Carolyn rated it it was ok. The author has created strong, interesting characters and it is always great to revisit lawyer Monty Collins and his friend,Father Brennan Burke. This book was very complex, and a slow read for me.

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I felt to fully appreciate it I would need to know more about Catholic theology before and after Vatican Council 2, more about the history of the Roman Catholic Church and its hierarchy, something about the obscure saints mentioned and have some knowledge of the different types of religious music. Father Burke has starts a school for adults, to focus on Renaissance sacred music and Gregorian chants, all in Latin.

They are a mixed lot and from the first session he sees there are a lot of rivalries between those who want to perform the old music and those who want to sing modern English hymns or even compose new ones which Father Burke considers drivel. Some of the students have very strong opinions for and against modern church services and choir music. One leading theologian of the Church is brutally murdered. The police arrest a British monk who confesses to the crime, but Father Burke and Collins doubt his guilt.

There seems to be clues involving the suspects' devotion to certain saints, and the backgrounds of each suspect must be investigated. There are too many suspects, and to follow the plot the beliefs of each person, traditional or modern, should be remembered.

• Cine Igualdade (Portuguese Edition).
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Among the priests, ex priests, monks, nuns, etc. Burke and Collins decide to go on a road trip in Europe to find information which might cast light on the motive for the murder. They interview a lot of people while not hanging out in taverns. Lots of drinking ensues. On returning to Halifax with the murder yet unsolved they are dismayed to learn that a High Vatican enforcer is coming to investigate the school and the killing.

A complicated plot with too many characters to keep in mind. Not as enjoyable as the two other books I have read, but certainly will read more in the series. Feb 19, ME rated it liked it. Maybe it was because I had very few opportunities to sit with this one, and did most of the reading in snatches, but it was not my favorite Collins and Burke story.

While it was informative and I learned a lot, it felt like the story took second fiddle to Emery's desire to educate her reader and delve into the Vatican II controversy. From a Protestant perspective, it only solidified in the end the pointless superstition of praying to dead people who can't hear you nor help you and the desperati Maybe it was because I had very few opportunities to sit with this one, and did most of the reading in snatches, but it was not my favorite Collins and Burke story.

From a Protestant perspective, it only solidified in the end the pointless superstition of praying to dead people who can't hear you nor help you and the desperation the decisions of MEN can create when they decide which dead guy is or is not able to help you based on some obviously faulty arbitrary set of man-made rules.

Christ alone is the Intercessor between men and God. The story for me lacked Emery's usual depth and I felt like an outsider to Burke's struggle, more in this book than in others. I was also disappointed to find little satisfaction in Collins' seeming truce with McNeil after the emotional wreckage of the last book. This seemed far too quickly and easily resolved, though there are lingering questions and bridges to cross. Still, I'm looking forward to the next installment and hope that we see more of the dynamic we're used to between our protagonists.

My least favorite book in the series. The fact that one of the primary characters in the series is a Catholic priest actually makes the books more enjoyable.

Cecilian Vespers: A Collins-Burke Mystery, Book 4

He is so flawed but seeks to be so good, that he has quickly become one of my favorite fictional characters. This book though spent far to much time in the minutia of Catholicism. It wasn't overtly religious or proselytizing, it just expected the reader to have a broader understanding of why and how the church changed in the last 75 years.

It did provide quite a bit of detail but most of it wasn't that interesting. Plus in this volume of the series Emery cheats the mystery reader. Part of the pleasure of reading mysteries is meeting all the suspects, learning about them and then deciding which person you think is guilty, before the big reveal. Aug 09, Diane rated it it was ok Shelves: I've enjoyed Anne Emery's previous books much more than this one. But I did not find the mystery or the multiple suspects particularly compelling to begin with, and the extensive research she has obviously done led to an awful lot of detail: Dec 05, Richard rated it it was ok.

This book contains way too much information about the Catholic church that has nothing to do with the mystery. The information I assume it is correct itself was interesting, but did absolutely nothing to advance the story line.

Dec 26, Mike Bull rated it liked it. This was a book I checked out of the library electronically to my ebook--it's a great service on a whim because it's set in Halifax, a city I know next to nothing about. It surrounds a priest who is teaching a music course to Catholics from Canada, America, the UK and Europe, and an associated murder mystery with suspects among the attendees.

This is a "light" murder mystery with plenty of humor and sarcasm, particularly poking fun at both the liberal and conservative aspects of the church. I le This was a book I checked out of the library electronically to my ebook--it's a great service on a whim because it's set in Halifax, a city I know next to nothing about. I learned a few things too, which is always great. On balance, this book isn't an eternal classic, but it's a fun read especially curled up in the cold of winter with a hot or strong drink.

May 26, Susan rated it really liked it Shelves: Father Burke is running a schola or school for adults interested in traditional church music in Halifax, NS, when a controversial priest who is attending is found murdered. Only a few of the attendees lack alibis, and Burke and his best friend, lawyer Montague Collins, decide to help the police by interviewing the suspects, and--eventually--taking a trip to Italy.

There's a lot about church music and church politics, but Emery keeps the discussions interesting. Dec 10, Suzanne rated it liked it Shelves: According to Leonardo Bruni , the Palermitans were holding a festival outside the city when the French came up to check for weapons, and on that pretext began to fondle the breasts of their women. This then began a riot.

Scarlatti, A (The) Cecilian Vespers

The French were attacked, first with rocks, then weapons, and all were killed. The news spread to other cities leading to revolt throughout Sicily. There is also a third version of the events that is quite close to Runciman's, varying only in the minor details. This story is part of the oral tradition on the island up to the present time. This oral tradition cannot be verified, but is of interest to sociologists. All three were later excommunicated by Pope Martin IV in After leaders were elected in Palermo, messengers spread word across the island for the rebels to strike before the French had time to organise resistance.

In a fortnight the rebels gained control over most of the island, and within six weeks it was all under rebel control, except for Messina which was well fortified, and whose leading family, the Riso, remained faithful to Charles. Charles' Vicar Herbert and his family were safely within castle Mategriffon , but after negotiations the rebels granted Herbert and his family safe conduct to leave the island upon a promise that they never return.

After the restoration of order in the city, the townsmen announced themselves a free commune answerable only to the pope. They elected leaders, one of whom was Bartholomaeus of Neocastro who was prominent in the unfolding events and would later chronicle much of the revolt in Historia Sicula , an important if sometimes contradictory source of information for historians. Again significantly, the leaders' next act was to send word, via a Genoese merchant named Alafranco Cassano, to the Emperor Michael advising him that his nemesis Charles had been crippled.

The islanders were hoping for status such as enjoyed by Venice , Genoa, Pisa and other cities, free to form their own government, but morally answerable only to the pope who would hold a vague and unstable suzerainty. Charles' island officials were far removed from his oversight; he did not see the avarice, the rape, theft and murder, nor did he see the high taxes levied against the meager possessions of the peasants, which kept them impoverished, but made no improvement in their lives.

When the pope asked why he needed such a great war fleet, Peter stated that it would be used against the followers of Islam along the northern coast of Africa, because he had legitimate trade interests there and needed to protect them. So when Peter received a request for help from the Sicilians he was conveniently on the north coast of Africa in Tunis , just miles across the sea from the island.

At first, Peter feigned indifference to the request of the Sicilians and their plight, but after several days to allow a proper showing of deference made for the pope's consumption, he took advantage of the revolt. Peter ordered his fleet to sail for Sicily, landed at Trapani on 30 August While he marched towards Palermo, his fleet followed close by the coastal road. However, after Pope Martin made plain his orders for the populace to accept Charles, Peter promised the islanders that they would enjoy the ancient privileges they had had under the Norman king, William II of Sicily.

Thereafter, he was accepted as a satisfactory second choice and was crowned by acclamation of the people at the cathedral in Palermo on September 4, thus becoming also Peter I of Sicily. With the pope's blessing, the counterattack from Charles was not long in coming; his fleet from the Kingdom of Naples arrived and blockaded the port of Messina and made several attempts to land troops on the island, but all were repulsed. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. War of the Sicilian Vespers. Wars of the Guelphs and Ghibellines. He raised secular and church taxes in England and paid the Pope 60, marks, but could raise no more.

The people and clergy of England refused to be taxed any further to enable an English prince to sit on the Sicilian throne. On December 18, Pope Alexander issued a bull releasing Henry from his obligation to buy the throne, but he kept the 60, marks already paid cf.

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