FRESCOES FROM THE BAPTISTRY OF AGIOS GREGORIOU, MOUNT ATHOS

Back in 2005 I made a pilgrimage to Mount Athos, Greece with two other friars. We were much moved by the experience. That was before I got a digital camera so I am only now getting around to the task of scanning some of the many photos I took. This 'Baptistry' (I think that's what it was) struck me as particularly beautiful. We witnessed a liturgy there that involved a blessing and drinking of water, presumably with a renewal of baptismal/monastic vows.

The Font is on the left of this outer courtyard at Gregoriou.

Christ the Great Angel or Holy Wisdom in the centre of the Cupola

The Theotokos as the Life-giving Fountain

Christ heals the paralytic at the pool of  Bethsaida

Christ and the Samaritan woman at the well

Christ's Baptism in the Jordan

1. Moses with the Theotokos as the Burning Bush. 2. St. Damian. 3. Assumption of Elijah in the firey chariot.

1. Assumption of Elijah. 2. St. St. Kosmos and the Grieving of the Israelites in Babylon (Ps. 137)

By the waters of Babylon (Ps137), St. Ermalaos, Christ heals the blind man.

St. Panteleimon, St. Nicholas calms the storm, St. Anastasia

St. Gregory, St. Tryphon and Athonite Saint with the Theotokos.

St. Aniketos, St. Akakios of Kavsokalyvia, St. Sampson.

OLD ROMAN CHANT: DOMINE QUINQUE TALENTI TRADISTI MICHI

I found this over at Gloria.tv: nice for a Sunday evening.

CANON MISSAE AD USUM EPISCOPORUM AC PRAELATORUM 1934

I was rooting around in one of our libraries and I found a copy of the Canon Missae ad usum Episcoporum ac Praelatorum solemniter vel private celebrantium from 1934. While examining this beautiful book that comes with it's own 'folder' I came across this page which is the beginning of the Canon itself, just after the preface. Why are our modern missals so drab and functional in comparison?

STAINED GLASS WINDDOWS: ST. PATRICK'S, TRIM, CO. MEATH

Further photos from St. Patrick's, Trim:

St. Brigid

St. Oliver Plunkett

Sacred Heart revealed to St. Margaret Mary

Immacualte Conception revealed to St. Bernadette

St. Columba

St. Anne and the Blessed Virgin

St. Loman

St. Therese of Lisieux

The Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin

The Holy Family

South transept: St. Patrick before the High King

Sacred Heart

ST. PATRICK'S, TRIM, CO. MEATH

I celebrated a wedding at St. Patrick's church in Trim co. Meath a few weeks back. The lovely couple should be on their back from sunnier climes by now. All went well and it didn't hurt that they picked this gem of a church for their wedding. St. Patrick's dates from 1891, when the first stone was laid and it was finished in 1902. It is a gothic style church with spectacular stained glass windows and beautiful moasiac work. The marble altars were made by Pearse Brothers, one of whom was the father of Padraig Pearse executed, along with his innocent brother Willie, for his involvement as a leader of the 1916 Easter Rising against the British.

The church is very close to the Castle (one can see one from the other) and is well worth a visit if you're in Trim.  I don't know who the architect was but he did a beautiful job.

sanctuary ceiling

reredos

to the left of the altar

behind the altar

front of the sanctuary at the bottom of the steps

the Font

Sanctuary Lamp

frontal view of altar and reredos

part of sanctuary floor mosaics