Blog Action Day!

Knights Templar out of the Secret Archives!

I am fascinated by this article from the BBC about how the Vatican Secret Archives are releasing some of their documents about the Templars' heresy trials from the 14th Century. I guess if we had an extra $8,000, we could get ourselves a copy of the documents too! On parchment and everything.

I have to admit that I am really into the Knights of St John the Hospitalier. Ever since our visit to the town of St Antoine many years ago, I think the whole history of the Templars is amazing.

Plus, there are the pilgrimage routes through France and Spain to Santiago Compostela. What great opportunities for religious art. I think I've convinced Josiah that we should do a walking trip through the South of France to Santiago. It would be awesome!

Image from Grailquest.org

Al Gore et al. win the Nobel Peace Prize! Wow! Excellent news! Have a great weekend, everyone!

We're All in This Together

Lakshmi turned me on to "Bloglines" and now I'm hooked. I visited Flatbush Gardener, and was reminded of Robert Lentz's icons.... Thanks Lakshmi, thanks, F.G., and thanks Bloglines, for letting me find "The Rev. Mama." Ahh.... the beauty of the interwebs.

The image, above, is named Compassion Mandala, and reminded me of this sermon by the Rev. Mama. "We're all in this together, keep your stick on the ice", and be the mercy and grace you want to see around you.

"... have no fear of human sin. Love people, even in their sin, for that is the semblance of Divine Love and is the highest love on earth. Love all of God's creation. The whole and every grain of sand of it. Love every leaf, every ray of God's light. Love the animals, love the plants, love everything. If you love everything, you will perceive the divine mystery in things. Once you perceive it, you will be begin to comprehend it better every day. And you will come at last to live the whole world with an all-embracing love." * (Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov)

* from Trinity Stores, Robert Lentz's Compassion Mandala

Romania

Romania (and Bulgaria and Turkey) are fascinating to me. I traveled to all three, and more as a teenager during our family's wacky tour through Eastern Europe in a camper. [I'll have to tell about that whole trip sometime.] Basically, we drove through Eastern Europe from (then) East Germany to Turkey.

I've had dreams recently of doing a shorter revision of that trip with my family, now that La Segunda is old enough for travel, and La Prima would remember it. Josiah seems into it, especially if we could find the cash to pull it off.

I think we could start from Bucharest, do something like this suggested tour from the Romanian Travel website. Then, drive to Bulgaria - doesn't it look amazing?? And end in Turkey, with some extra time for AT LEAST one visit to a hamam. Of course, time in Istanbul would be essential, and maybe a trip to Ephesus, too.

There is so much about the history of these countries that is unknown to me. But, from what I understand, the cultures and languages are both products of ancient mixing and fighting. Why Romanian is Romanian, and Bulgarian is Bulgarian ends up being a fascinating question. Why is one a Roman alphabet, and the other Cyrillic, for example? The music, and the food, and, of course, the Religious Art (Romanian & Bulgarian), are all affected by their geographic place in the world, and the people who have crossed paths there.

I want to go back!

Thanks to Wikipedia for planting this seed in my head!

Che

This is the original image the Churches Advertising Network played with for their "Meek. Mild. As If." campaign.

The BBC article mentions how the image has been used in religious contexts, but doesn't get specific. Good article though.

Go Phillies!

I'm wearing red today! The school kids in Philadelphia had a relaxed uniform today so they could wear red & white to school.

It's amazing, because those are the same colors of the Welsh Rugby team. When I was in Kindergarten in Lampeter, Wales, all the kids wore red and white when they were in, AND WON the championship game. It was pandemonium!

Here in Philly, we're hoping for a trip to the World Series. It's a city full of optimistic dreamers, and we're used to being let down.... But maybe, just maybe, this time, we can pull it off! I just hope Jimmy Rollins' SI cover won't be the jinx that does it.

Raphael in the Tarot

I knew I had seen an image of Raphael that reminded me of the day of Judgement - who knew it would be the Tarot Deck!? The image of an angel blowing a horn was what stuck in my mind's eye. The general reading for this card is "Kingdom of Glory" [or "Glory of Kingdom"]. But I usually think of it, in a reading, as a revelation, or epiphany of some sort. Like, getting a new lease on life, an awakening. Or, to tie in with my earlier Raphael post, having the scales fall off my eyes.

From Wikipedia: Raphael in Islam According to the Hadith, Israfil (Raphael in Arabic) is the Angel responsible for signalling the coming of Judgment Day by blowing a horn and sending out a "Blast of Truth". Unlike Jibrail(Gabriel) and Mikail(Michael), this archangel was not mentioned by name in the Quran.

See, I should have read further down the Wikipedia entry on Raphael:

Modern occultists sometimes associate Raphael with the colors yellow or gold and emerald green, the direction East (or West), the element Air, the crystal emerald and the Suit of Swords of the Tarot in traditions loosely derived from reports of Kabbalism. According to Francis Barrett (The Magus, vol. II, 1801), Raphael has also been denoted as the angel of science and knowledge, as well as the preceptor angel of Isaac. Other titles attributed to Raphael include the angel of prayer, love, joy, light, as well as the guardian of both the Tree of Life and of humanity.

That's where the Science and Technology ideas came from for the Archangels. And I thought it was a big mystery! Well, there you have it, folks, Wikipedia IS the source of all knowledge! [Whether confirmed, fully-researched, or not.]

Tarotpedia rocks, btw.

more Raphael images...

I am frequently amazed by Google and the kinds of stuff I find out there on the internets! Take this Futuristic Religious Art site for example. Wow. I can't say I get it, but the images are interesting. I mean, who would have thought of one of the 4 Archangels as representing "High Energy Physics"?!?

I hadn't thought of Uriel as representing Ecology, but hey! Why not? Maybe the Futuristic Art people can get in touch with the Patron Saint people, and they could make an addition to the Ecologists listing.

Anyway, I'm fascinated, and will keep searching for and thinking about the religious art out there.

And if I can ask you all, please send positive thoughts to all the teachers in your lives. There are a lot of them, and some of them are struggling mightily right now. Bless them!

Images from: http://www.pyracantha.com/religious.html

Raphael the Archangel

Well, all, just found out a cousin has Retinitis Pigmentosa. Please send her all your love and positive thoughts.

When she told me I went to the trusty Patron Saints index and found out that Raphael the Archangel is associated with the blind and curing blindness. Apparently he travelled with (and guarded) Tobiah, and cured a man's blindness; hence his connection with travellers, young people, blindness, healing and healers.

" Raphael means...God's remedy, for when he touched Tobit's eyes in order to cure him, he banished the darkness of his blindness. Thus, since he is to heal, he is rightly caused God's remedy. " from a homily by Pope Saint Gregory the Great

I'm so psyched the Free Library of Philadelphia had this manuscript image online. Thank you!

Fashion Week - Betsey Johnson

Betsey Johnson is another one of my favorite designers. So feminine. And what great colors! I love visiting her stores, and am so bummed there is no longer one in Philly - but I guess there's still a store in KoP. I guess it just means I have to make another visit to our megalopolis neighbor to the north.

The yellow one is cute too:

Thanks to the FUG Girls for the link to the Betsey Johnson show.

I'm not Catholic....

.... but I love this article posted at Idle Speculations. A Green Confessional! What a great idea!

[Isn't St Francis the best?!?]

Thanks to Trinity Stores for carrying Robert Lentz's work!

Al Gore in the News

Just read about Al Gore's latest honor. As you may have gathered, I think he's on the right track. That we need to do a better job with the environment - but we need to talk about it in terms that are manageable. That it WILL actually make a positive impact if each of us does our part to help the planet. I like that concept.

Upon doing a little research at my favorite Patron Saint site, I found out that St Francis of Assisi (one of my faves) and Kateri are both patron saints for Environmentalists.

I love this image of Kateri by my favorite icon painter, Robert Lentz. She was from New York State, Mohawk Iroquois Nation, adopted by the Turtle Clan - the symbols are all there - the birch trees, the background color (feels like the inside of a forest to me), and the turtle. Apparently,

in her right hand she bears one of the most important symbols of her culture, the tree of peace. By the mid-15th century, blood feuds had almost destroyed her people. A holy man named Dekanawidah appeared, preaching peace and reconciliation. He taught that all people were brothers and sisters and that differences were better resolved by discussion than war. Through his influence, the five Iroquois tribes formed a unified government and stopped fighting among themselves. The symbol of this vision was a huge tree under which all peoples could find peace. When more people would come, the branches of the tree would simply grow longer. An eagle lived at the top of the tree and warned the people whenever peace was threatened. The tree, like all the earth, rode on the back of a giant turtle’s back. *

Keep up the great work, Al!

* Excerpts from Jones, Terry H., "Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha" Patron Saints Index, from Trinity Stores' website all rights reserved.

Fall Collections

It's that time of year again - time for the over-sized Vogue and Elle magazines to come out. In years past Angie and I would get them on our way to our family vacation in Canada and pick out our favorite outfits.

I'm not sure I'm hip to the shoe styles that are coming out - nothing is really striking me as a must-have. Though I do love the new Prada combos (go to the Women's Collections, Advertising and then, my favorite is the black and green skirt w/jacket!) I'm searching desperately for a photo to share!

Of course Paul Smith, and Missoni are coming out with pretty things, but Paul is still going neutral on me - where are his shocking and bright solids and plaids?!?!

Nantes... more

Thanks, Angie, for this link to a recent NYT article about Nantes' revitalization efforts! You can see a slideshow here. Je vourdrais bien y voyager. Je manque que les sous!

Aaah... Nantes!

All this talk about the Tour de France, its history, and the fact that it still goes through Nantes, makes me nostalgic. It was such a strange time for me when I was there - missing Josiah, dealing with daily rain. But, it was a great way to learn French, and how to tie a scarf!

Not only does the Tour go through Nantes, but, the World Cup of Rugby will be there in 2007. Wow! The tourism board has entered the "scrum" so to speak, and has all kinds of articles about how great the city is.

The tourist stuff is OK, in my opinion, but what I love about Nantes are the little out of the way corners. The LU biscuit factory (and of course factory store!). Walking past the

Théâtre Graslin, and seeing La Cigale. Or eating at the Creperie Jaune, taking the tram back and seeing the cranes in the distance. Or walking down the little street whose name I forget on the way to the chocolaterie near Place De Launay. There's lots I miss....

And just so I can post ONE MORE photo of Mr. Gerdemann, here goes:



[tour de france images from their site: http://www.letour.fr/2007/TDF/LIVE/fr/800/images.html]

Vive Le Tour de France!

When La Segunda was an infant, her babysitter, Maija, was TOTALLY into the Tour de France. She went with her mom to the Alps and then Paris for a week and had a blast.

This past week has been so hot in Philly, that I've tuned in at night, after work, to catch up on the days' events on the Tour. Man Alive is it EXCITING! Hot, skinny men speeding up mountains - what stamina!


Anyway, it turns out that the Madonna del Gihsallo is the patron saint of cyclists. So, I'll light a candle!

Librarian Book Carts... Update!

Thanks again to Lakshmi for her inimitable web sleuthing. She sent me this link to a "Pimp My Book Cart" contest.

St Catherine of Alexandria, Patron Saint of Librarians (scholars and secretaries)

Librarian Book Cart Drill Teams - Who Knew?

I've known many Librarians in my day. And no one ever filled me in on the wonderful mystery that is Book Cart Drill Team Championships that are held at the ALA conferences. I am stunned. First, that I was living in ignorance all this time. Second, that the routines are so good. Because I've tried pushing those carts and I have yet to not stub my toe or crash into a carrel or bookshelf. Bravo!

Lakshmi put me on to this phenom when she told me her local Librarians' Drill team placed third at this year's championships. And sent me the Christian Science Monitor Link to prove it.

I'm still amazed, and realizing, for the zillionth time, that I made a mistake with my career path! I shoulda been a Librarian!

St Catherine of Alexandria, Patron Saint of Librarians (scholars and secretaries)

Good News!

The Pennsylvania Legislature has said it's O.K. to breast feed in public. Yay!

Philadelphia, of course, was way out in front - you can always count on that - with our statute passed in 1997! But good news, nonetheless.

I love images of Mary nursing Jesus. Seems so normal and maternal.