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"Look to the east," she said, "for always, while the light dies in the west, there is the promise of rebirth from the east." -The Mists of Avalon 💙 . . . Amazing photo and edit thanks to @duerringphoto Costume, MUAH, and model - me aka Durnesque Design #medieval #renaissance #morgana #morganlefay #medievalcostume #renaissancecostume #mystic #enchanted #sorceress #hoodedcloak #cloak #enchantedphotography #gothicphotography #fantasy #fantasycostuming #fantasyphotography #photoshoot #smoke #smokeandmagic https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn9PkVLDQTG/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=14du4n3vd907h

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Viscountesque rides again! Darcy and I were graciously offered tickets to Once on this Island last night by another costumer friend of mine. Wish I'd thought to get a picture of all three of us at the bar. But the show was amazing! I wept... a lot....🌊 . . . #tidalwaveoftears #onceonthisisland #nyc #nycadventures #broadway #musicaltheatre #musicaltheater #professionaltraveler #costumer #costumerbuddies https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn3_0fCjaeR/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=r8yc1ufmwgkf

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"Eventide: Dark and light striking each other, vividly etching wild colors through the horizon. The charm of sunset..." Tara Estacaan 🌅 So, this is apparently the sequel to our group shot. If anybody needs a book cover for their fantastical romance between a demon and a witch, holla! 😉 . . . Photo and editing thanks to the amazing @k3images Other model: @madlivvyvane #omgihavesomuchneck #unseelie #witch #enchantress #demon #daemon #demonhunter #fae #faerie #fairytale #enchanted #dark #darkfairytale #darkness #darkart #darkphotography #darkfantasy #fantasy #fantasyphotography #elf #goth #gothic #gothy #gothfantasy #sunset #sunsetphotography #eventide #twilight #conebuns https://www.instagram.com/p/BnhJhhNggpv/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=a2scwi10ns6q

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"Eventide: Dark and light striking each other, vividly etching wild colors through the horizon. The charm of sunset..." Tara Estacaan 🌅 So, this is apparently the sequel to our group shot. If anybody needs a book cover for their fantastical romance between a demon and a witch, holla! 😉 . . . Photo and editing thanks to the amazing @k3images Other model: @madlivvyvane #omgihavesomuchneck #unseelie #witch #enchantress #demon #daemon #demonhunter #fae #faerie #fairytale #enchanted #dark #darkfairytale #darkness #darkart #darkphotography #darkfantasy #fantasy #fantasyphotography #elf #goth #gothic #gothy #gothfantasy #sunset #sunsetphotography #eventide #twilight #conebuns https://www.instagram.com/p/BnhJhhNggpv/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=n006v75g7yl7

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yourgracelikethemorning:

The World Trade Center Cross, made of intersecting steel beams found in the rubble of buildings destroyed in the September 11 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, waits to be blessed by Father Brian Jordan, a Franciscan Priest, before it is transported then lifted by a crane and lowered into an opening in the World Trade Center site below ground level where it will become part of the permanent installation exhibit in the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, in New York, July 23, 2011. The 9/11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center site will open on the 10 year anniversary of the attacks on September 11, 2011.

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heckyeahutahhh:

(by Ryan Houston)

Gorgeous

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badwolfcomplex:

rainyautumntwilight:

As I point out at the Gregorian Institute’s blog … September 11, 2001 showed that one religion is much stronger than anyone thought. That religion is Catholicism. Here are some of the heroes who transformed 9/11 into a story about the power of Catholic identity:

Tom Burnett was a hero of United Airlines Flight 97, which passengers helped take down in Pennsylvania. A daily-Mass goer, father and businessman, he was best summed up in Tim Drake’s “To Pray, to Act, to Fight: A Hero’s Life.”

Father Peter Philominraj, stationed at Our Lady of Victory near the WTC, was finishing Mass as the first plane struck. He immediately organized Eucharistic Adoration, then went outside to anoint the sick and hear confessions.

Father Mychal Judge‘s love for the Church and for souls was greater than his struggles for sobriety and chastity. He gave general absolution to firemen, then died with them.

John O’Neill, head of WTC security (and subject of a Frontline documentary), can stand for all the rescue workers who died. Of the 2,606 who died in New York, 16% were only there to help. Many of these were Irish and Italian; their deaths were marked by Mass cards like this one.

Let Gen. Timothy Maude stand for the victims. There were many touching stories of faith amid the victims of 9/11. Gen. Maude, a Knight and Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, died when the plane hit his Pentagon office.

Judith Toppin wrote an account of her rescue on 9/11. Called “Angels Walk Among Us,” her e-mail went viral. Last spring, her rescuer, Paul Carris was ordained a deacon, finishing a journey he began that day. I wrote about it last Ascension Sunday.

Some heroes were made in the days that followed 9/11. Tim Drake’s powerful “Love Was Lifting up the Rubble” describes Father Geno Sylva‘s experience blessing body parts at Ground Zero and ministering to families.

Jason Read, l, as the New York Times noted, was a first responder who converted to Catholicism at Ground Zero (possibly because he saw Father Geno Sylva blessing body parts … seeing a priest doing that is central to his conversion story) and went on to be an Olympic gold medalist.

Last category of hero: the survivor. It takes a faith like Will Jimeno‘s to force an Oliver Stone movie to notice the power of the faith. “What kept me going was my faith in God that my mother instilled in me as a Catholic,”Jimeno says.

Tom Hoopes is writer in residence at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., where he teaches in the Journalism and Mass Communications department and edits the college’s Catholic identity speech digest, The Gregorian.

This is beautiful.

(Also, Benedictine!!)

Catholic 9/11 Heroes by Tom Hoopes

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alivingghost:

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011110907034

Omg! What’s this? A sex-abuse case that doesn’t involve the Catholic Church? Shocker! You mean that even Baptists can commit these heinous acts too? You mean that a music minister can also do this as well? You mean that a MARRIED man with TWO children can commit these crimes? But wait. I thought the reason why these things happened was because we don’t let our priests marry. Celibacy leads to molestation/rape. Right? Isn’t that what my Protestant classmates always told me from middle school to high school? I wonder what they’d say now? Sarcasm aside, this is horrible. What this man did isn’t a reflection of faith. It’s a reflection on the monster that he is. The truth is: celibacy doesn’t make you sex offender. Marriage isn’t a barrier against these things either. It’s the person that’s capable of these things. It’s not the faith. It’s not the position. It’s the person. Get it? The person is responsible.

^^ Reblogged for that very astute commentary. Stop blaming religion for what sinful individuals do.

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Sabbath: Saturday vs. Sunday

This past Sunday the priest giving the sermon said something that grabbed my attention and made me literally say under my breath "that isn't right."

It was a really great homily (if it had a few too many points and went a bit too long), but the part that struck me was when he was talking about taking a break from the cares of the world and such. He said something along the lines of "try this once- don't do any work or cook meals on Sunday and really rest. Even God rested on Sunday."

Well, actually, no. God rested on Saturday- the 7th day of the week. Even if you look at (most) calendars, Sunday is the FIRST day of the week and Saturday is the last. Ironically enough that tends to be one of the busiest days in our lives- trying to get everything done you didn't have time for during the regular work week.

It's something I thought about quite a bit last year as one of the Christianity seniors decided to do her paper on the development of Sabbath. I was unfortunately disappointed with the final quality of her paper, but at least her thesis provoked some interesting personal questions.

It is because through history Christians have placed more importance on Sunday and the celebration of the Eucharist, that many Christians have come to believe that Sunday is the Sabbath. As Christians, if we want to celebrate true Sabbath, we should rest starting Friday evening until Saturday evening. Then Sunday is the celebration of the Lord's Supper. Sabbath and the Supper (i.e. Eucharist) can be two totally different things.

But there is of course a "HOWEVER"... However, if the celebration of the Eucharist and the Sabbath can become the same day of celebrations for Christians if they make a conscious choice- and this is a choice society has unconsciously made for us in many ways. Monday can be thought of as the first day of the week. Many people already think of the week in this way because of work and business hours/weeks anyway. If Monday is considered the first day of the week, then Sunday can be the seventh and therefore the Sabbath. 

However (again), this must be a conscious choice on the part of the Christian or Christians. As it stands, most people aren't mindful of the Sabbath no matter what day it falls on (I myself am guilty of this). Traditionally Sabbath is Saturday, but for Christians, it can become Sunday. The problem is, you must make a choice and actually, mindfully practice Sabbath. That means setting aside the whole day: sundown to sundown and take a break from work (of all sorts) and turn your thoughts to the Lord.

Maybe I'll make this a Lenten challenge for myself someday...

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Breath-taking.

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Senior Year: Torn in Many Directions

This is my senior year in college. As a part of the Honor's program and seeking University and Major Departmental (Christianity) honors, I am required to complete a senior project.

For my department this means a 60-80 page paper.

My chosen subject is the Catholic Response to Martin Luther. This weekend I have to begin to narrow my focus.

I need three areas of focus, but there is a wealth of topics/issues to choose from. Right now the list I'm most focused on includes:

Faith v Works (Justification)

Sacraments (Baptism, Eucharist, Penance/Repentance)

Religious Instruction

Scripture v Tradition (Revelation)

I'm also beginning to plan for my life after college. I'm torn because my family (parents) are strongly encouraging me to attend grad school. But my heart is just not in it. I know I can get into grad school. I can also probably get a scholarship/grant to help further my education. But academia is wearing me down.

Not only do I just really want to get my feet wet and start working as a youth minister, I also really want the independence to make my own decisions that I don't have right now as a dependent of my parents. For the past two and a half years I have been burdened with the inner struggle that comes of wanting to make a decision to pursue a relationship my parents do not approve of. They are prejudiced against him and I am duty bound to obey them.

I am truly worried that this year is going to break me in some ways. For now I'm keeping my head above water. But I'm sure as I continue through the year this blog will bear witness some real struggles.

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Beautiful set of photos showing 30 abandoned churches: LINK

Makes you wonder why they've been abandoned. There must be a story for each one, a history marked in the weathering and dirt.

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The church by the hill of Tara. Last stop on my EuroJourney. I hope those of you who have seen have enjoyed the pictures. :)

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I've been gone for a while...

Hey all five of you. I will try to post more in the future. The past month has been crazy and someone found this tumblr who I didn't really want to (because I would like to post some personal things in the future). That kind of caused me to step back from this. But the next year is going to be full of discernment, so expect to see more in the future.

Until then :)

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Kilmartin Church, Scotland Stop #I Can't Remember on my EuroJourney.

This is the church where my ancestors are buried. In 1830 the family moved from Kilmartin to Canada and then down into Detroit, MI.

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When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.

— Henri J.M. Nouwen (via quote-lover)

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joecatholic:

Whoever bids other folks to do right, but gives an evil example by acting the opposite way, is like a foolish weaver who weaves quickly with one hand and unravels the cloth just as quickly with the other.

— Saint Thomas More

This portrait hangs in the Chaplaincy where I attend mass every Sunday... I'm going to miss Oxford.