… and I just liked the design!

Today we went to Mass at the church where Clare & I were married 33 years + 2 days ago, the National Shrine of the Little Flower Roman Catholic Church:
» http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Shrine_of_the_Little_Flower
» http://www.shrinechurch.com/
» http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-07-29
» http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2010-12-29

The National Shrine of the Little Flower Church is one of only five sites named “national shrines” in the United States by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. It was built in the 1920s and ’30s and dedicated to Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, or Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face. Born Marie-Françoise-Thérèse Martin, Saint Thérèse became a French Carmelite nun and is also known as “The Little Flower of Jesus” or simply, “The Little Flower,” hence the name of this church.

After I shot some photos of this grill-work in the railing around the altar, I learned something interesting from Clare’s mom, who used to lead tours of this beautiful stone church. This “four-part” design was common many centuries ago when most people were not literate. Images of the four apostles — Matthew, Mark, Luke and John — would have been placed in the outer “sections” of this design.

Before the ball drops in Times Square tonight, Clare and I have to pack. Tomorrow we drive home.

One year ago (“Please watch over us all in 2012…”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-12-31
Two years ago (“New Year’s Eve 2010”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2010-12-31

31st December 2012 31st Dec 12