Thomas and friends

[zyzyly]

I left the hotel and headed toward the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. It wasn't far--maybe a few miles. The streets were almost empty, and I counted it as a good sign.

I got there early and had a seat beneath the tapestries of the saints that line the walls of the cathedral church. I knew where I wanted to sit--next to my old friends Thomas and Francis. Thomas, who I have related to ever since I joined the Church, and whose name I took when I was confirmed. The one who doubted--he had to see it with his own eyes and had to touch it with his own hands before he could believe. And Francis of Assisi, who accompanies me on this current journey, and who sometimes seems to be sitting on the steps of my destination.


Thomas, St. Monica, Clare of Assisi and Francis of Assisi

As I sat there this morning, looking up at my friends, I reflected that I seem in some ways to be journeying from Thomas to Francis--from complex doubt to simple faith. It is not an easy journey. Interesting that there are two women between the two.

Comments

[carocrow.livejournal.com]

Who is the last photo? I am a great fan of St. Francis, and also of Therese, the Little Flower. Nature makes faith much easier, I think.

[daisydumont.livejournal.com]

i have gone from thomas to francis and back to thomas. maybe along the way some magdalene. it's interesting, now that you've written about this, to think of how the various saints (and heretics) can be metaphors for us.

[stupid-freshman.livejournal.com]

cool, i've seen so many beautiful churches.

[yechezkiel.livejournal.com]

When you mentioned the Cathedral in your last post, I went online to check it out. Definitely a good use of modern architecture to make a faith space, much like Our Lady of the Woods (http://www1.bellarmine.edu/studentaffairs/campusministry/) at Bellarmine University. Living at BU for a year, I learned to love it.

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

The blue photograph is hypnotic. What a grave and beautiful face.

[sistermeg.livejournal.com]

I have always had devotions to Clare and Thomas - I will have to email that picture to my mom :)

[myasma.livejournal.com]

It is from a tondo of Mary and baby Jesus. It was in a garden outside the cathedral, and it is made of some sort of blue glass, so it glows.

[myasma.livejournal.com]

I go back and forth too sometimes. If you ever get out here, see the cathedral. Bot side walls are lined with these tapestries of all the saints, with a few anonymous people sprinkled in. The are all facing toward the focal point of the worship area, the altar. The artist used real people to model them, and they look like real people. It is a very powerful image of who we are--both saint and sinner.

[myasma.livejournal.com]

tell more!

[myasma.livejournal.com]

There was a lot of criticism of it when it was first built, but I think it is incredible. Everything flows toward the altar.

[myasma.livejournal.com]

It is some sort of blue glass, and it sits in a garden outside. The sun was hitting it in a certain way when I took the picture. I have to agree--it is hypnotic.

[myasma.livejournal.com]

I have another one of them on my computer at home--full length. I will try and remember to send it to you.

[daisydumont.livejournal.com]

that sounds wonderful!

[mizdandylynn.livejournal.com]

very nice... thank you for sharing those...