Remember the Cross
Remember the Cross on which Jesus died. Remember the Promise of Resurrection.
Easter Remembered at Laurel Grove Church Ruins, from my Picasa Albums:
“Laurel Grove, Virginia“.
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The image, Promise of Resurrection, is subject to copyright by barneykin. It is posted here with permission via the Flickr API by barneykin.
Old Brick Church on the James
Jamestown Island Brick Church on the James River, from “My Picasa Album” – Jamestown Island.
The present church was built in 1907, by the National Society of Colonial Dames of America. The Church stands behind a brick tower which was erected circa 1690, and is the only surviving seventeenth-century structure at Jamestown. It is also one of the oldest English buildings in the United States. The interior of the Church contains the brick and cobblestone foundations of the original 1639 Jamestown settlement church. The James River flows beside the site. It is at this sacred place that America’s most cherished traditions of freedom were first planted. They took root well.
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The image, Old Brick Church on the James, was originally uploaded by barneykin. It is posted here from Neddy’s 
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Saint Patrick’s Day
Saint Patrick (circa 390-464)
“I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.” ~~ from Saint Patrick’s ‘Breastplate’ Prayer
- Saint Patrick’s Benediction
- Saint Patrick Shipwrecked
- Saint Paddy
- Saints Patrick, Enda, Edna, et al
- Middle Mouse
- Happy Saint Paddy’s Card
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The image, Saint Patrick (circa 390-464), was originally uploaded by barneykin. It is posted here from Neddy’s .
Saint Francis and the Creche
In the year 1223, Francis of Assisi, a deacon, was visiting the mountainous town of Grecio to celebrate Christmas. When Francis realized that the chapel of the Franciscan hermitage would not accommodate the congregation for Midnight Mass, he found a niche in the nearby rock and set up the altar. Saint Francis made this Midnight Mass unlike any other held before and its legacy has lived on. Saint Bonaventure (died 1274) wrote the story in his recordings about the life of Saint Francis of Assisi.
It happened in the third year before his death, that in order to excite the inhabitants of Grecio to commemorate the nativity of the Infant Jesus with great devotion, [St. Francis] determined to keep it with all possible solemnity; and lest he should be accused of lightness or novelty, he asked and obtained the permission of the sovereign Pontiff. Then he prepared a manger, and brought hay, and an ox and an ass to the place appointed. The brethren were summoned, the people ran together, the forest resounded with their voices, and that venerable night was made glorious by many and brilliant lights and sonorous psalms of praise. The man of God [St. Francis] stood before the manger, full of devotion and piety, bathed in tears and radiant with joy; the Holy Gospel was chanted by Francis, the Levite of Christ. Then he preached to the people around the nativity of the poor King; and being unable to utter His name for the tenderness of His love, He called Him the Babe of Bethlehem. A certain valiant and veracious soldier, Master John of Grecio, who, for the love of Christ, had left the warfare of this world, and become a dear friend of this holy man, affirmed that he beheld an Infant marvellously beautiful, sleeping in the manger, Whom the blessed Father Francis embraced with both his arms, as if he would awake Him from sleep. This vision of the devout soldier is credible, not only by reason of the sanctity of him that saw it, but by reason of the miracles which afterwards confirmed its truth. For example of Francis, if it be considered by the world, is doubtless sufficient to excite all hearts which are negligent in the faith of Christ; and the hay of that manger, being preserved by the people, miraculously cured all diseases of cattle, and many other pestilences; God thus in all things glorifying his servant, and witnessing to the great efficacy of his holy prayers by manifest prodigies and miracles. (from Father William Saunders)
The creches and nativity scenes which now decorate our Christmases and remind us of that night when our Savior was born, started long, long ago when Francis of Assisi was preaching the gospel of Christ to those mountain folk.
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The image, Saint Francis, was originally uploaded by barneykin. It is posted here from Neddy’s .
Neddy's Wondrous World 