Blog Archives
sacrament
A member of this church drove up while we were outside taking photos and asked if we would like to see the inside. She unlocked the door and then left us alone for a while, a great kindness that I didn’t pay enough attention to at the time.
I like it that she was proud and wanted to show her meaningful place to three strangers. And her letting us experience the church for ourselves, without staying to see what we were doing, was the very best example of natural grace that I can even imagine. I am sure our thanks weren’t nearly enough.
San Isidore Catholic Church
Coyanosa, Texas
photographed 2.22.2025
you who are the stranger
This place is special in ways that I can’t explain. I hope that all of you have a place or two just like it.
near Toyahvale, Texas
photographed 2.18.2025
the seat of god
Like many things I find on my wanderings, this place failed to offer any strong clues about what was/is going on. I know someone got fancy with the concrete block. And I know there was a random chair in front of a similarly random broom. But past that…
Redford, Texas
photographed 2.19.2025
procession (a sacred duty)
A tiny slice of the parade to honor Sant’Agata. It’s chaotic. And spiritual. And confusing. And somehow comforting.
Catania, Sicily
photographed 2.4.2025
two saints and jesus
Yesterday I posted a photo of ancient Roman tiles on the floor of a villa.
Here’s more tile, this time Byzantine glass mosaics dating from the late 12th and the mid-13th centuries. These mosaics (6,500 m2; 70,000 square feet) cover the interior of the Duomo de Monreale, which is considered to be one of the finest examples of existing Norman architecture. Work on the cathedral was begun in 1174.
Fact check: According to a legend, William II of Sicily fell asleep under a carob tree while hunting in the woods near Monreale. The Holy Virgin appeared to him in dream, suggesting that he should build a church there. After removing the tree, a treasure was found in its roots, whose golden coins were used to finance the construction. It is more likely that the church was part of a plan of large construction in competition with the bishop of Palermo, who had ordered the large Cathedral of Palermo.
Duomo de Monreale
Montreale, Sicily
photographed 1.30.2025
