Christ did speak of him

Anwar Ashiqi, president of the Saudi centre for Middle East strategic studies, endorsed this view in an interview on the site of Arab satellite TV network, al-Arabiya on Thursday.

“I haven taken part in several meetings related to Islamic-Christian dialogue and there have been negotiations on thisissue,” he said.

“It would be possible to launch official negotiations to construct a church in Saudi Arabia only after the Pope and all the Christian churches recognise the prophet Mohammed.”

“If they don`t recognise him as a prophet, how can we have a church in the Saudi kingdom?” Ashiqi`s comments came after a declaration launched by the papal nuncio of the Persian Gulf, the archbishop Mounged El-Hachem, at the opening of the first Catholic church in Qatar last week.  (Rorate Caeli post)

Christ does indeed speak of Mohammed (amoung others):

For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch as to deceive (if possible) even the elect. Behold I have told it to you, beforehand. If therefore they shall say to you: Behold he is in the desert, go ye not out. (Matt 24:24)
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And many false prophets shall rise, and shall seduce many. (Matt 24:11)
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Dearly beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits if they be of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (Epistle John 4:1)
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And the false prophet shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Apoc 20:10)

(Pic found here)

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Filioque

He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. (John 20:21)

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In This Sign Save

And Jesus coming, spoke to them, saying: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world. (Matt 28:18 )

(Baptism of Constantine, Raphael’s Students)

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Noli Esse Incredulus Sed Fidelis

And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said: Peace be to you. Then he saith to Thomas: Put in thy finger hither, and see my hands; and bring hither thy hand, and put it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing. Thomas answered, and said to him: My Lord, and my God. Jesus saith to him: Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed.  (John 20:26)

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Seed of Immortality

And in the frail and perishable body that divine Host, which is the immortal Body of Christ, implants a principle of resurrection, a seed of immortality, which one day must germinate. That to this source man’s soul and body will be indebted for both these boons has been the constant teaching of the Church, which has dutifully reaffirmed the affirmation of Christ: “He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day”. (Leo XIII: Holy Eucharist)

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Peace be to you

Now whilst they were speaking these things, Jesus stood in the midst of them, and saith to them: Peace be to you; it is I, fear not. But they being troubled and frightened, supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them: Why are you troubled, and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? See my hands and feet, that it is I myself; handle, and see: for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as you see me to have. And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. (Luke 24:36)

(Depiction of Christ’s tomb as a traditional Roman mausoleum)

In the early Church there was a custom whereby the Bishop or the priest, after the homily, would cry out to the faithful: “Conversi ad Dominum” – turn now towards the Lord.  This meant in the first place that they would turn towards the East, towards the rising sun, the sign of Christ returning, whom we go to meet when we celebrate the Eucharist.  Where this was not possible, for some reason, they would at least turn towards the image of Christ in the apse, or towards the Cross, so as to orient themselves inwardly towards the Lord.  Fundamentally, this involved an interior event;  conversion, the turning of our soul towards Jesus Christ and thus towards the living God, towards the true light.  Linked with this, then, was the other exclamation that still today, before the Eucharistic Prayer, is addressed to the community of the faithful: “Sursum corda” – “Lift up your hearts”, high above the tangled web of our concerns, desires, anxieties and thoughtlessness – “Lift up your hearts, your inner selves!”  In both exclamations we are summoned, as it were, to a renewal of our Baptism:  Conversi ad Dominum – we must distance ourselves ever anew from taking false paths, onto which we stray so often in our thoughts and actions.  We must turn ever anew towards him who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  (Benedict: Easter Vigil Homily)

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Easter Monday

Happy Easter Monday! Doesn’t it seem weird to go right back to work right after Easter? So strange, a supposedly “Christian” nation leaves no time to bask in the light of this Feast of Feasts. I guess because there’s no $ to be made in it. Back to the cubicles ye lackeys! 🙂 But, I digress…..First a picture of The Glorified Christ…. 

Then this….. 

And the Lord said: Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and thou, being once converted, confirm thy brethren. (Luke 22:31)

Pray for our Pope:

Knobloch said that she could not envision a continuation of the inter-religious dialogue as long as the old prayer stands. “The inter-religious dialogue has suffered an enormous setback because of this version and I assume that one will find a way very soon to continue the dialogue, but at the moment I don’t see it happening,” she said.”As long as the Catholic Church, that is to say Pope Benedict, does not return to the previous wording, I assume that there will not be any further dialogue in the form that we were able to have in the past,” Knobloch said. (Jews not happy that Benedict concerning “Dialog”)

The Easter baptism of an Italian Muslim by Pope Benedict was a provocative act that raises questions about the Vatican’s approach to Islam, a leading participant in Christian-Muslim dialogue said on Monday. (Muslims not happy with Benedict concerning “Dialog”) Pray for the man who converted also, “The Religion of Peace” is already breathing fire.

In an audio recording posted on the Internet coinciding with the birthday of Islam’s founder, bin Laden said the drawings, considered offensive by Muslims, were part of a “new crusade” in which Pope Benedict was involved. (Bin Laden not happy with Benedict)

Modern “liturgists” can’t be too happy with this development either (the white mozetta):

Also some wise guy on a blog commented he thought the miter Benedict wore on Easter showed Christ petting a dog!?!

It is actually based on the Mosaic of the Good Sheppard in the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna:

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The Christ Abides Forever

Is there anyone who is a devout lover of God?
Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!
Is there anyone who is a grateful servant?
Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!

Are there any weary with fasting?
Let them now receive their wages!
If any have toiled from the first hour,
let them receive their due reward;
If any have come after the third hour,
let him with gratitude join in the Feast!
And he that arrived after the sixth hour,
let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss.
And if any delayed until the ninth hour,
let him not hesitate; but let him come too.
And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour,
let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.

For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first.
He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour,
as well as to him that toiled from the first.
To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows.
He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor.
The deed He honors and the intention He commends.

Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord!
First and last alike receive your reward;
rich and poor, rejoice together!
Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!

You that have kept the fast, and you that have not,
rejoice today for the Table is richly laden!
Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one.
Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith.
Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!

Let no one grieve at his poverty,
for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again;
for forgiveness has risen from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.
He has destroyed it by enduring it.

He destroyed Hades when He descended into it.
He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh.
Isaiah foretold this when he said,
“You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below.”

Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.
It was in an uproar because it is mocked.
It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.
It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.
It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive.
Hell took a body, and discovered God.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.
O death, where is thy sting?
O Hades, where is thy victory?

Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!
Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!
Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead;
for Christ having risen from the dead,
is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!
(Easter Sermon of St. John Chrysostom)

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Free Among The Dead

O Lord, the God of my salvation: I have cried in the day, and in the night before thee. Let my prayer come in before thee: incline thy ear to my petition. For my soul is filled with evils: and my life hath drawn nigh to hell. I am counted among them that go down to the pit: I am become as a man without help, Free among the dead. Like the slain sleeping in the sepulchres, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cast off from thy hand. They have laid me in the lower pit: in the dark places, and in the shadow of death. Thy wrath is strong over me: and all thy waves thou hast brought in upon me. Thou hast put away my acquaintance far from me: they have set me an abomination to themselves. I was delivered up, and came not forth: My eyes languished through poverty. All the day I cried to thee, O Lord: I stretched out my hands to thee.

Wilt thou show wonders to the dead? or shall physicians raise to life, and give praise to thee? Shall any one in the sepulchre declare thy mercy: and thy truth in destruction? Shall thy wonders be known in the dark; and thy justice in the land of forgetfulness? But I, O Lord, have cried to thee: and in the morning my prayer shall prevent thee. (Psalm 87)

 Who then frees from death and from bondage, save He, who is “Free among the dead”? Who is “Free among the dead,” save He who among sinners is without sin? “Lo, the prince of the world comes,” says our Redeemer Himself, our Deliverer, “Lo, the prince of the world comes, and shall find nothing in Me.” He holds fast those whom he has deceived, whom he has seduced, whom he has persuaded to sin and death; “in Me shall he find nothing.” Come, Lord, Redeemer come, come; let the captive acknowledge you, him that leads captive flee you; be Thou my Deliverer. Lost as I was, He has found me in Whom the devil finds nothing that comes of the flesh. The prince of this world finds in Him Flesh, he finds it but what kind of Flesh? A mortal Flesh, which he can seize, which he can crucify, which he can kill. You are mistaken, O deceiver, the Redeemer is not deceived; you are mistaken. You see in the Lord a mortal Flesh, it is not flesh of sin, it is the likeness of flesh of sin. “For God sent His Son in the likeness of flesh of sin.” True Flesh, mortal Flesh; but not flesh of sin. “For God sent His Son in the likeness of flesh of sin, that by sin He might condemn sin in the Flesh.” “For God sent His Son in the likeness of flesh of sin;” in Flesh, but not in flesh of sin; but “in the likeness of flesh of sin.” For what purpose? “That by sin,” of which assuredly there was none in Him, “He might condemn sin in the flesh; that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”(St. Augustine: Sermon 84)

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Good Friday

And they came to a farm called Gethsemani. And he saith to his disciples: Sit you here, while I pray. And he taketh Peter and James and John with him; and he began to fear and to be heavy. And he saith to them: My soul is sorrowful even unto death; stay you here, and watch. And when he was gone forward a little, he fell flat on the ground; and he prayed, that if it might be, the hour might pass from him.

And he saith: Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee: remove this chalice from me; but not what I will, but what thou wilt. (Mark 14: 32)

And he was withdrawn away from them a stone’s cast; and kneeling down, he prayed, Saying: Father, if thou wilt, remove this chalice from me: but yet not my will, but thine be done. And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony, he prayed the longer. And his sweat became as drops of blood, trickling down upon the ground. (Luke 22:44)

And when morning was come, all the chief priests and ancients of the people took counsel against Jesus, that they might put him to death. And they brought him bound, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor…….Pilate saith to them: What shall I do then with Jesus that is called Christ? They say all: Let him be crucified. The governor said to them: Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying: Let him be crucified. And Pilate seeing that he prevailed nothing, but that rather a tumult was made; taking water washed his hands before the people, saying: I am innocent of the blood of this just man; look you to it. And the whole people answering, said: His blood be upon us and our children. (Matt 27)

And so Pilate being willing to satisfy the people, released to them Barabbas, and delivered up Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified….And the soldiers led him away into the court of the palace, and they called together the whole band: And they clothe him with purple, and platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon him. And they began to salute him: Hail, king of the Jews. And they struck his head with a reed: and they did spit on him. And bowing their knees, they adored him. (Mark 15)

Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith to them: Behold, I bring him forth unto you, that you may know that I find no cause in him. (Jesus therefore came forth, bearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment.) And he saith to them: Behold the Man. Pilate saith to them: Shall I crucify your king? The chief priests answered: We have no king but Caesar.Then therefore he delivered him to them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him forth. (John 19)

And they took Jesus, and led him forth. And bearing his own cross, he went forth to that place which is called Calvary, but in Hebrew Golgotha. (John 19)

And going out, they found a man of Cyrene, named Simon: him they forced to take up his cross. And they came to the place that is called Golgotha, which is the place of Calvary. (Matt 27)

And after they had crucified him, they divided his garments, casting lots; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: They divided my garments among them; and upon my vesture they cast lots.

And they sat and watched him. And they put over his head his cause written: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. (Matt 27)

And crucifying him, they divided his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.  And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. (Mark 15)

And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, they crucified him there; and the robbers, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. And Jesus said: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. (Luke 23)

Where they crucified him, and with him two others, one on each side, and Jesus in the midst. And Pilate wrote a title also, and he put it upon the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS…..When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he saith to his mother: Woman, behold thy son.  After that, he saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own. Afterwards, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, said: I thirst. Now there was a vessel set there full of vinegar. And they, putting a sponge full of vinegar and hyssop, put it to his mouth. Jesus therefore, when he had taken the vinegar, said: It is consummated. And bowing his head, he gave up the ghost.  (John 19)

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Maundy Thursday

And whilst they were at supper, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke: and gave to his disciples, and said: Take ye, and eat. This is my body. And taking the chalice, he gave thanks, and gave to them, saying: Drink ye all of this. For this is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many unto remission of sins. (Matt 26:26)

(Detail: Seven Sacraments, WEYDEN, Rogier van der)

(Detail:Calvary and the Martyrdom of St Denis, MALOUEL, Jean)

He riseth from supper, and layeth aside his garments, and having taken a towel, girded himself. After that, he putteth water into a basin, and began to wash the feet of the disciples, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. He cometh therefore to Simon Peter. And Peter saith to him: Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered, and said to him: What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith to him: Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him: If I wash thee not, thou shalt have no part with me. Simon Peter saith to him: Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him: He that is washed, needeth not but to wash his feet, but is clean wholly. And you are clean, but not all. (John 13:4)

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Jerusalem, Jerusalem

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee…….

…how often would I have gathered together thy children, as the hen doth gather her chickens under her wings, and thou wouldest not?……………..

(Frans Floris: Allegory of the Trinity)

Behold, your house shall be left to you, desolate. (Matt 23:37)

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Palm Sunday 2008

Notice some new things in these pictures? (besides the glorious cope) The Crozier His Holiness used is not the twisted Paul VI cross, but a normal looking Crucifix. Small steps……

In a more serious note, His Holiness condemned the voilence in Iraq, and spoke of the Martyred Bishop:
Benedict has called Rahho’s death an “inhuman act of violence” that offended human dignity. On Sunday, Benedict praised Rahho for his loyalty to Christ and his refusal to abandon his flock despite many threats and difficulties.

Benedict said Rahho’s dedication to the Catholic Church and his death compelled him to “raise a strong and sorrowful cry” to denounce the violence in Iraq spawned by the war that began five years ago this week. (Read Rest)

Pope Benedict meeting with Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho (who was Martyed last week by the Mohomedans).Let us Pray for the conversion of his murderers, and all Muslims to the One True Faith. The Blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church.The Header has also changed for Holy Week. It is a detail of a painting by Tiepolo, entitled: Christ Carrying the Cross

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Behold Thy King

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Sion, shout for joy, O daughter of Jerusalem: BEHOLD THY KING will come to thee, the just and saviour: he is poor, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. (Zach 9:9)

And on the next day, a great multitude that was to come to the festival day, when they had heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried: Hosanna, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord, the king of Israel. And Jesus found a young ass, and sat upon it, as it is written: Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy king cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt. (Mark 12:12)

And they brought the ass and the colt, and laid their garments upon them, and made him sit thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way: and others cut boughs from the trees, and strewed them in the way: And the multitudes that went before and that followed, cried, saying: Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest. (Matt 21:7)

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Holy Ministers of Your Altar

Then he saith to his disciples, The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth labourers into his harvest. (Matt 9:37)

O Father, raise up among Christians numerous and holy vocations to the priesthood, to keep the faith alive and guard the gracious memory of your Son Jesus through the preaching of his word and the administration of the Sacraments, with which you continually renew your faithful.

Give us holy ministers of your altar, who are careful and fervent guardians of the Eucharist, the sacrament of the supreme gift of Christ for the redemption of the world.
Call ministers of your mercy,who, through the sacrament of Reconciliation, spread the joy of your forgiveness.

Grant, O Father, that the Church may welcome with joy numerous inspirations of the Spirit of your Son and, docile to His teachings, may she care for vocations to the ministerial priesthood and to the consecrated life.

Sustain the Bishops, priests and deacons, consecrated men and women, and all the baptized in Christ, so that they may faithfully fulfill their mission at the service of the Gospel. This we pray You through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Mary, Queen of Apostles, pray for us
(Pope Benedict XVI Prayer for Vocations)

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Abraham Rejoiced

And he took the wood for the holocaust, and laid it upon Isaac his son: and he himself carried in his hands fire and a sword. And as they two went on together, Isaac said to his father: My father. And he answered: What wilt thou, son? Behold, saith he, fire and wood: where is the victim for the holocaust? And Abraham said: God will provide himself a victim for an holocaust, my son. (Gen 22:6)

Abraham your father rejoiced that he might see my day: he saw it, and was glad. The Jews therefore said to him: Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say to you, before Abraham was made, I am. (John 8:56)

(1st Pic: Basilica of San Vitale) (2nd Pic: Church of Ss. Cosmas & Damian)

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To mitigate your sadness….

To mitigate some of the sadness brought about by my announcing of less frequent posting (see last post if you missed it)……I present you lucky boys & girls with a Golden Ticket…..

The many Flickr accounts that I used for many of my earlier posts have now been made public. There are many pics on them that I never used! (The photobucket ones will stay private until my complete retirement) Just go to to: Flickr People Search and search for my accounts:

kjk76_88
kjk76_89
kjk76_90
kjk76_91
kking_88
kking_888

That’s almost 1200 pictures!

Enjoy yourselves folks!!

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A Programming Notice

Hello All. For some time now, I have comtemplated to stop blogging completely. But, due to some protests, and general whining 🙂 I have decided to continue, but with one major change. I typically post every day of so (303 posts in the almost a year I have had the blog on wordpress). This will decrease, and from now on I will only post every 5-7 days. Between work, and everything else, scrounging around the net for pictures has become very tiresome. So HallowedGround will continue, but at a somewhat slower pace.

Now, without further ado, a picture post! These are pics of the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth. Kind of modern, but yet again, very nice (imho).

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This Supernatural Revelation

This supernatural revelation, according to the belief of the universal Church, is contained both in unwritten Tradition, and in written Books, which are therefore called sacred and canonical because, “being written under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, they have God for their author and as such have been delivered to the Church.”This belief has been perpetually held and professed by the Church in regard to the Books of both Testaments; and there are well-known documents of the gravest kind, coming down to us from the earliest times, which proclaim that God, Who spoke first by the Prophets, then by His own mouth, and lastly by the Apostles, composed also the Canonical Scriptures, and that these are His own oracles and words– a Letter, written by our heavenly Father, and transmitted by the sacred writers to the human race in its pilgrimage so far from its heavenly country. (Leo XIII Providentissimus Deus)

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We Honor the Servants

We do not adore, I will not say the relics of the martyrs, but either the sun or the moon or even the angels — that is to say, with the worship of “latria”…But we honor the martyrs’ relics, so that thereby we give honor to Him Whose [witness] they are: we honor the servants, that the honor shown to them may reflect on their Master (St. Jerome on Relics) (Article about the exhumation of St. Pio)

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I confess….

This might make me lose some “Trad Status” in the blogoshpere, but what the heck, here it goes. I confess that I actually like one aspect of the Cathedral in Los Angeles, sometimes known as the “Taj Mahony”. The tapestries that are on the walls are actually pretty nicely done. The rest of the place, ah, not soo much. Take a look, and imagine them in a different context, one that doesn’t look like a “modern art museum” Cathedral:

More info/pics on the Tapestries: (Cathedral Site, most of the pictures came from) (Link2)

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Much Power and Majesty

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all tribes of the earth mourn: and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with much power and majesty.  (Matt 24:30)

You might have noticed a change of header on the blog, it is a mosaic from the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. I love the old mosaics.

***Also, if you could pray for an older couple who I sat next to at the TLM at St. Agnes parish for the last 5 years (Walter & his wife Pat). They stopped attending Mass at St. Agnes around November, and I had no idea why, as they were indeed regulars. Another parishioner recently received a phone call from Pat, who informed her (and me via proxy) that Walter passed away on Christmas Eve. To make matters worse she was diagnosed with cancer at the same time, and is now undergoing treatment. Please pray for Walters’ soul, and that Pat gets well, and can forbear during this very rough patch. Thank You in advance, God Bless.***

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