Regular readers may remember the recent review of The Alchemist here, which also touched upon the unique biography of author Paulo Coelho. The book Coelho wrote before The Alchemist was The Pilgrimage, a story about his walking the Camino de Santiago which led him to...
Catholic
Holy Hill Scenic Tower: Fall colors, Hubertus, Wisconsin
Hubertus, Wisconsin — A view of Wisconsin's fall colors from the scenic tower at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians at Holy Hill.Footage of our visit is included in the video above, shot for Amy's...
Ian graduates 8th grade, St. Joseph, Kenosha, Wisconsin
Kenosha, Wisconsin — Our nephew, Ian Thrasher, graduates from eighth grade at St. Joseph Interparish Junior High School, shaking hands with keynote speaker and St. Joe's alum Lisa Halverson.
Easter traditions, like the movie ‘King of Kings’ (1961)
It is funny how a few random details, repeated together over time, can solidify into a ritual which becomes essential to your psychological comfort. This is one of mine — the 1961 movie King of Kings and its main theme music, written by Miklós Rózsa. I grew up...
Chiesa della Madonna del Soccorso, Montalcino, Italy
Montalcino (Siena), Italy — The Chiesa della Madonna del Soccorso (Church of Our Lady of Help) on Viale Pietro Strozzi, at the northwest edge of the city.
Giotto’s Campanile at dusk, Florence, Italy
Florence, Italy — The west side of Giotto's Campanile (bell tower) is seen at dusk from street level on the Via de' Pecori. Obscured at left is the Battistero di San Giovanni, and behind that is the dome of Florence...
Campanile di Giotto from Duomo, Florence, Italy
Florence, Italy — The east side of Giotto's Campanile (bell tower) is seen from atop the dome of Florence Cathedral (the Duomo — or Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore). Designed by the early Italian Renaissance painter and...
Siena Cathedral with bell tower, Siena, Italy
Siena, Tuscany, Italy — Siena Cathedral, designed and completed between 1215 and 1263, with its façade and the bell tower of black and white marble.
Father Damien of Molokai, Holy Rosary Parish, Maui
Paia, Maui, Hawaii — Statue at the shrine honoring Father Damien of Molokai, who spent over 16 years ministering to victims of leprosy (Hansen's disease) at the leper colony on Molokaʻi, and ultimately contracted and died...
Father Damien Statue, Hawaii State Capitol
Honolulu, Hawaii — The bronze Father Damien Statue by sculptor Marisol Escobar at the Hawaii State Capitol.
Basilica of the Sacré-Coeur, Montmartre, Paris
Paris, France — The Basilica of the Sacré-Coeur ("sacred heart"), viewed from the base of the butte Montmartre in the evening. Along its railing, people are gathered to gaze at the Paris skyline.
Notre Dame de Paris: Portal of Saint Anne
Paris, France — Notre Dame Cathedral, west facade: The tympanum of the Portal of Saint Anne, the rightmost and earliest of the cathedral's three western portals. Depicted are the enthroned Virgin with Child, visited by the...
Cathedral: Norte Dame de Paris, west facade
Paris, France — West façade of the cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris (Our Lady of Paris), with its 31.5-foot rose window at center, dating from about 1225, behind the Virgin with Child between two angels. Under the...
Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral, Paris, France
Paris, France — West façade of the cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris. One of the finest examples of French Gothic church architecture, the cathedral is located on the eastern half of the Île de la Cité, in the fourth...
Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral, Reims, France
Reims, France — Notre-Dame de Reims (Our Lady of Reims), the Roman Catholic cathedral where the kings of France were once crowned, and the seat of the Archdiocese of Reims. Construction on this cathedral began shortly after...
Chapel window, St. Catherine’s Hospital, Kenosha
Kenosha, Wisconsin — Chapel window at St. Catherine's Hospital, 3556 7th Avenue.
St. Catherine’s Hospital, Kenosha, Wisconsin
Kenosha, Wisconsin — St. Catherine's Hospital, 3556 7th Avenue, at dawn.
Virgin Mary with deer
Waterford, Wisconsin — A Virgin Mary statue and a resting deer figurine decorate a headstone in Saint Thomas Aquinas Cemetery.
St. John’s Catholic Church, Union Grove, Wisconsin
Union Grove, Wisconsin — St. John's Catholic Church, 1501 172nd Avenue.
Mount Carmel procession, Kenosha, Wisconsin
Kenosha, Wisconsin — Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish procession through Kenosha's Columbus Park neighborhood during the church's annual festival in Columbus Park.
Blessed Virgin Mary
Kenosha, Wisconsin — Sign displayed outside the convent of St. Casimir Church on Washington Road: "Blessed Virgin Mary, please pray for us," flanked by two American flags.
St. George / St. Elizabeth rectory
Kenosha, Wisconsin — Founded in 1849 as a largely German parish, St. George Catholic Church merged with St. Casimir in 1996 to form St. Elizabeth Parish. The parish rectory, seen here, is located at 4804 7th...
St. George / St. Elizabeth Catholic Church
Kenosha, Wisconsin — Founded in 1849 as a largely German parish, St. George's Catholic Church merged with St. Casimir in 1996 to form St. Elizabeth Parish. The church, erected in 1875, is seen here facing 8th Avenue adjacent...