Preaching to the Birds

     Have you ever been so moved by empathy for Christ's suffering that you wept yourself to blindness? St. Francis did. St. Francis started one of the most influential and long-lasting monastic orders in history and still has a heavy influence on present-day Catholic clergy. He is known not only for shaping a new and emotional connection with Jesus Christ and completely changing the christian life, but he also heavily influenced the beginning of realism in art. Correct proportions, realistic emotions, and action became focus of artwork.
     One of the most famous events that took place in St. Francis's life is his sermon to a flock of birds. While traveling with some of his companions, he saw a flock of birds of many different species. Upon seeing the birds, St. Francis felt moved to share with them his love of God. Stopping to speak to the birds, he said "My brother and sister birds, you should praise your Creator and always love him: He gave you feathers for clothes, wings to fly and all other things that you need. It is God who made you noble among all creatures, making your home in thin, pure air. Without sowing or reaping, you receive God's guidance and protection"(Catholicism Pure).
     After this event, St. Francis began to call upon all animals to sing praise to their Creator.
     This first sermon that he preached to birds is portrayed in the realistic style of painting displayed below.

To learn more: https://catholicismpure.wordpress.com/2011/10/04/francis-of-assisi-preaching-to-birds/

St. Patrick and Me in WashDC

It's inspiring to be in a new city, but my mind never wanders far from the Middle Ages. Although Washington D.C. was inspired by the ancient republics, and many classical-style buildings, there are some medieval links. For this blog I want to concentrate on a lovely church where I connected with the spiritual side of the city: St. Patrick's parish church founded in 1792. Since we studied St. Patrick and early Christian Ireland within the European context, it's interesting to know that as immigrants came to America they used many of the symbols and connections to their homeland. I've attached some photos which show the outside (complete with Rose window), and the inside (beautiful stained glass windows, one of Mary receiving the Holy Spirit directly, in the form of a Dove's rays, with angel's heads behind her). Inside the apse there are images of the American Saints (not too many because there have not been too many), the majority canonized by Pope John Paul II. I've also attached some photos of some items inside the church that emerged in Middle Ages as church structures matured: collections for the poor, the emphasis on the celibate priesthood, the stations of the cross to meditate (I love that one is about Jesus and women), and the tabernacle for the consecrated host. I was also privileged to enter the church as a  baptism was being held.

With cries from the baby, I heard the priest ask as the no. 1 question: do you renounce Satan, and the group replied in unison, yes! Then on to no. 2 question: do you believe in the Trinity . . .These moments help build the relevance of history and make me feel like the past is sometimes more in the present than we think.

T