tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415269867796810849.comments2024-03-13T03:36:34.894-04:00Ad Imaginem DeiMargaret Duffyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03821836487895782384noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415269867796810849.post-50451356778939360012023-07-25T14:19:42.667-04:002023-07-25T14:19:42.667-04:00What a stunning post!! I've been studying St C...What a stunning post!! I've been studying St Catherine for a while now. This gives me a greater understanding of the early stages of her story spreading and I LOVE all the pictures. You must have worked hard to piece this together. Thank you so much for sharing! Sallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05051294065436695968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415269867796810849.post-44124215290921112192023-07-18T12:12:53.345-04:002023-07-18T12:12:53.345-04:00This is wonderful This is wonderful Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415269867796810849.post-67711970914260228532023-07-09T23:24:08.488-04:002023-07-09T23:24:08.488-04:00What a beautiful miracle! What a beautiful blog! I...What a beautiful miracle! What a beautiful blog! I can't wait to read all your posts. This is a treasure trove. May God bless you abundantly for the time, talent and love that you have dedicated to safeguard the beauty of our faith.Theresanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415269867796810849.post-3362185000802182122023-07-08T02:14:49.242-04:002023-07-08T02:14:49.242-04:00I too, identify with the woman bent in half. I onl...I too, identify with the woman bent in half. I only endured that for a few months in the beginning and then again when I went to the ER. I can't imagine living with it continually! I was totally consumed and levelled by the pain and limitations. My heart so went out to you reading about your dilemma. I always enjoyed your blog and admired your knowledge of art history in our Catholic faith. So I always dropped by to see what you posted. Usually exhaustive examples of Feast Days, Holy Days, and the big ones like Christmas, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, Pentecost.....When I found your mention of your serious problem I was feeling empathy for you before I got it myself! But still not as bad as you. So I hope you find St Gemma Calgani to be a great comfort. Thank you St Gemma Calgani! <br />And thank you for this great study on the Miracle of the Woman Bent Over, and your own experience being 'bent over'. I love your blog.<br />Christinechristinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00116852732212653340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415269867796810849.post-74834936942443830522023-07-08T02:11:46.807-04:002023-07-08T02:11:46.807-04:00I am happy to find you talking about your back pro...I am happy to find you talking about your back problems which I had followed from the beginning, before I had the same problem myself. I'm also happy to hear you are standing straight and have been since your surgery! I was appalled when you described waking one morning and not being able to stand erect and having to walk at a 90 degree angle. And the pain....I couldn't believe when I woke the same way one day at the end of October 21. With excruciating pain. I thought it was my hip. I went to the dr I saw for cervical discomfort. I could hardly get on the table. After rotating my hip he said I probably had in my lower back what I had in my neck. Pinching. I went for epidurals(3), PT, and found some relief with pain killers, but he told me I must see a surgeon. This was far worse than what I had in my neck. Like you- it was a crushed disc, the L4 slipping over the L5, stenosis as well, and the same spinal fusion surgery recommended. I was often crying and sobbing with pain. I dare not use any narcotic or opioids, but found diclofenac to be very helpful. My bone density was too poor for surgery so I was set on a bone building regime of daily injections. I thought it would never end. I did get relief from walking, which I made myself do every day, but sometimes I didn't. In August it became so bad I couldn't walk at all and none of the medications were touching it. I went to the ER under the advice of my primary. In retrospect I believe they thought I was a crank looking for meds as they treated me with tylenol and a shot in the back with what they called 'liquid advil'. Neither of which helped. Now I had to enroll a small army of friends to bring me groceries and prescriptions, and help me get to appts. I'm on a 4th floor walk-up so that eliminated half of my friends! I was sent to a dr by a neurologist I saw who also had some back problem. As he scooted around on his stool with wheels and I could see some deformity like a hunchback. He told me she would give me a shot, and he used her as well. I'll never forget that her office was at the end of the longest hall I ever had to try to walk down, even with the help of a friend. Walking as you described at a 90 degree angle. The first shot didn't help so much so I came for another about two weeks later. This one started to work, but slowly. I was desperate for surgery, but terrified of it too. Somewhere at this time I was introduced to St Gemma Calgani by a friend who made me a small folding holy card with her image in the middle and prayers to her on either side. She is the patron saint of back problems and spinal issues and suffered from them herself for years. She was finally relieved by her devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I put that card in my bathroom tucked into the corner of a mirror. I saw it every day. Soon I began praying to her everyday and putting holy water on my hip, back & backside, & down my right leg. (I continue to this day.) A full year had passed now. It was again the end of October. I began clearance for surgery. I had PT come to my house. I was able to get out a little here and there besides appts. As soon as I could I began getting out everyday and trying to resume my walking regime. My medications were working again and I was getting some relief. I made the appt for surgery mid January. By the end of December I felt much improved, enough to convince myself I should cancel the surgery, which I did. My best friend diclofenac had turned on me and I had to try doing without it. I credit my relief to St Gemma Calgani. As I continue to pray to her every day and pat my side & leg with holy water, & I add a big thank you for all the relief I have gotten so far. I don't regret my decision. My problem isn't fixed, only relieved enough to carry on. I may still need the surgery.<br /><br />Christinechristinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00116852732212653340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415269867796810849.post-8254206340837649072023-05-20T15:50:57.977-04:002023-05-20T15:50:57.977-04:00What a marvelous treasure trove of fantastic image...What a marvelous treasure trove of fantastic images and information. I spent nearly an hour reading the text and enlarging the images to see the wonderful details. Thank you so much for all your hard work! <br /><br />One potential correction: <br />The woman identified as Margaret in this painting: "Simone Martini, Saints Elizabeth, Margaret and Henry of Hungary<br />Italian, c. 1320-1325<br />Assisi, Basilica of San Francesco, Lower Church," is thought by several Franciscan scholars to be that of Saint Clare of Assisi. pioneercynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11697429852762048805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415269867796810849.post-26322865553897821032023-05-04T06:50:13.862-04:002023-05-04T06:50:13.862-04:00Thanks for this info. FmThanks for this info. <a href="https://digibrity.com" rel="nofollow">Fm</a>BSFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05745662594340198146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415269867796810849.post-30800616662382189922023-04-08T17:50:05.251-04:002023-04-08T17:50:05.251-04:00Thank you so much for posting this, I needed a chr...Thank you so much for posting this, I needed a chronological catalog of pictures of Saint Lucy for a school project and I could not find anything before the 1400s (the assignment was for 400-1400 c. images of saints). You saved my life.Lucashttp://bu.edunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415269867796810849.post-32928493041070290342023-03-13T12:47:57.408-04:002023-03-13T12:47:57.408-04:00Excellent! Thank you!Excellent! Thank you!KateNvahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15424370302223887797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415269867796810849.post-20627411136856080752023-02-21T11:18:56.572-05:002023-02-21T11:18:56.572-05:00"Nemini parco qui vivit in orbe" (not &q..."Nemini parco qui vivit in orbe" (not "pauco") means "I spare no one who lives in the world."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415269867796810849.post-64946620476950479432022-09-29T19:31:18.945-04:002022-09-29T19:31:18.945-04:00A very happy and blessed birthday! thank you for y...A very happy and blessed birthday! thank you for your Blog❤️Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415269867796810849.post-24111157747459509022022-09-14T02:06:34.524-04:002022-09-14T02:06:34.524-04:00Marion, I hope you see this as I have no other way...Marion, I hope you see this as I have no other way of replying to you.<br /><br />Thank you for the generous comment. And, in answer to your question, I am currently updating the essay on the Seven Sorrows. I will launch it for the feast day. It has lots of new pictures and, maybe more importantly, more up to date pictures of what I had already posted. <br /><br />Margaret Duffyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03821836487895782384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415269867796810849.post-48473100204292711032022-09-13T09:29:17.438-04:002022-09-13T09:29:17.438-04:00Dear Margaret,
Thank you so much for creating thi...Dear Margaret,<br /><br />Thank you so much for creating this wonderful blog. I'm a regular visitor and I have invited my friends to do the same. Are you currently updating your entry on the Seven Sorrows of Our Blessed Mother? I tried last year's link and the page seems to be missing. <br /><br />May God continue to bless you in your apostolate.<br />MarionMarionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10622617353677373356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415269867796810849.post-21729123873157050032022-08-31T13:40:53.366-04:002022-08-31T13:40:53.366-04:00Hi Margaret. I really love your blog and especial...Hi Margaret. I really love your blog and especially the details you provide about where the art images you post are from! Knowing of your interest in the miracle of the bent over woman, I thought I would send you this link https://www.pinterest.com/jhenkener/unnamed-women/bent-over-woman/ to the images that I have collected on Pinterest. I know you can't use them for your blog (neither can I), since most have no artist attributed. Also, they are alot more recent and of lower quality than the artworks you usually post. However, I thought that you might be interested in clicking on the website links connected to the images. There are a number of websites that have connectd the images to their blog posts and homilies that you might find interesting. See especially the painting by Barbara Schwarz OP where Jesus bends over to meet her and note that some of the images show the bent over woman standing up straight and rejoicing!<br /><br />Sending blessings of thanksgiving,<br />Julie<br />www.juliehenkener.com<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14009303811895380115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415269867796810849.post-78482386831735479302022-08-11T15:43:00.647-04:002022-08-11T15:43:00.647-04:00What a lovely overview of this miracle! Was lookin...What a lovely overview of this miracle! Was looking for an illustration of this event and came upon your site. Beautiful illustrations as well as writing. Thank you!Colleen Lewisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415269867796810849.post-33205209621240834382022-07-17T19:03:32.817-04:002022-07-17T19:03:32.817-04:00These pictures are astonishing. I hope I can organ...These pictures are astonishing. I hope I can organize myself to get there, certainly more than once. Grazie mille for sharing this.GraceAnne LadyHawkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18218782604391016011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415269867796810849.post-64663415567738064922022-01-21T03:34:21.473-05:002022-01-21T03:34:21.473-05:00I first read about your back troubles about two ye...I first read about your back troubles about two years ago. I was shocked! I remember thinking- how utterly horrible! That poor woman. I'm writing now, after looking up the posts I must have read to refresh my memory of what happened to you, to tell you something similar is happening to me. It's been three months of -well, pretty much of agony. Not constantly, thank goodness. I am walking at a 90 degree angle around my apartment AM & PM when I otherwise stay in bed in a cross-legged position I have favoured for the longest time. It is one of the few tolerable positions I can find. I didn't have a history of back problems like you. It was really all of a sudden. I mistook it for the usual stiffness, which I have plenty of getting older, and expected it would go away. When it didn't I thought it was my hip and I was becoming a candidate for hip replacement. Little did I know it was herniated lumbar discs squishing the nerve going down my right leg. Like you, I couldn't get to see my doctor for about 2 very long weeks. Followed by two more til my MRI appointment, followed by two more until an epidural. I am going next week for the third epidural. The last two gave some relief for about a week. I'm also advised to consult a surgeon. Today isn't too bad and I think it may be that I have a good attitude. Today. Other days I feel so sorry for myself or succumb to crying from the pain. I'm trying to get through the days til the next appointment.<br />I read all your further updates with great interest and sympathy. I couldn't believe it got worse! And breaking your leg. It seemed too unbearable. Your Thanksgiving story actually made me laugh! And of all the things that went wrong or broke, it was not your leg or back. I look forward to hearing that your recovery is going smoothly! And finally, I so love this blog, your thorough handling of topics, holy days, saints! To see all the examples of St Joseph, for example. Paintings, sculptures, images from manuscripts, frescoes, ivory carvings..unbelievable. I can't imagine how you find them all! So many more than I am familiar with....and so thrilled to find a place where they are compiled so smartly. I'm always happy when I find a great faith behind art historians, professors, lecturers... I've always been interested in art, and as time goes by, most especially of our great Catholic Christian patrimony. I think if one did not believe in God before studying the great religious art of the Renaissance for example, it would only be a matter of time before being 'converted by beauty'. <br />Thank you for your great blog. And here's to walking upright without pain!christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00116852732212653340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415269867796810849.post-54281471347457857782022-01-04T20:46:18.550-05:002022-01-04T20:46:18.550-05:00To whom it may concern,
My name is Fr. Stephen Ar...To whom it may concern,<br /><br />My name is Fr. Stephen Arabadjis. I am a member of the Society of St. Pius X. But I am in my 7th year of Sabbatical.<br />Therefore I was hoping your group could do a 54 day rosary novena for my intentions. But any prayers and sacrifices would be greatly appreciated. I know Our Lady will reward you generously for this.<br /><br />In Our Lady,<br />Fr. Arabadjis<br /><br />P.S. Thanking you in advance, since I don't always get all my communications.Stephen Arabadjisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415269867796810849.post-27763211187979566412021-10-05T12:28:48.204-04:002021-10-05T12:28:48.204-04:00Hi, I was reading up on Saint Corbinain and found ...Hi, I was reading up on Saint Corbinain and found your page. Do you know why he's represented in various German/Austrian coats of arms and black and usually wearing a crown? Its mentioned in a few places (e.g. Ratzinger's coat of arms) but I can't find an origin. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17977224555354969026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415269867796810849.post-83779225955812258002021-09-30T04:41:53.337-04:002021-09-30T04:41:53.337-04:00God bless you, Margaret, and may you receive some ...God bless you, Margaret, and may you receive some relief from pain and immobility as soon as possible. I thank you for your inspirational web site. I have gone to it often and should have thanked you long ago!<br /><br />Best wishes and a prayer for your recovery.<br /><br />MarkMark from Melbourne, Australianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415269867796810849.post-87505127848230736812021-07-04T05:52:00.293-04:002021-07-04T05:52:00.293-04:00I'd build, Madonna, love, for my belief,
An al... I'd build, Madonna, love, for my belief,<br />An altar in the dim crypt of my grief,<br />And in the darkest comer of my heart,<br />From mortal lust and mockery far apart,<br />Scoop you a niche, with gold and azure glaze,<br />Where you would stand in wonderment and gaze,<br />With my pure verses trellised, and all round<br />In constellated rhymes of crystal bound:<br />And with a huge tiara richly crowned.<br />Out of the Jealousy which rules my passion,<br />Mortal Madonna, I a cloak would fashion,<br />Barbarous, stiff, and heavy with my doubt,<br />Whereon as in a fourm you would fill out<br />And mould your lair. Of tears, not pearls, would be<br />The sparkle of its rich embroidery:<br />Your robe would be my lust, with waving flow,<br />Poising on tips, in valleys lying low,<br />And clothing, in one kiss, coral and snow.<br />In my Respect (for satin) you'll be shod<br />Which your white feet would humble to the clod,<br />While prisoning their flesh with tender hold<br />It kept their shape imprinted like a mould.<br />If for a footstool to support your shoon,<br />For all my art, I could not get the moon,<br />I'd throw the serpent, that devours my vitals<br />Under your trampling heels for his requitals,<br />Victorious queen, to spurn, bruise, and belittle<br />That monstrous worm blown-up with hate and spittle.<br />Round you my thoughts like candles should be seen<br />Around the flowered shrine of the virgins' Queen,<br />Reflected on a roof that's painted blue,<br />And aiming all their golden eyes at you.<br />Since nought is in me that you do not stir,<br />All will be incense, benjamin, and myrrh,<br />And up to you, white peak, in clouds will soar<br />My stormy soul, in rapture, to adore.<br /><br />In fine, your role of Mary to perfect<br />And mingle barbarism with respect —<br />Of seven deadly sins, O black delight!<br />Remorseful torturer, to show my sleight,<br />I'll forge and sharpen seven deadly swords<br />And like a callous juggler on the boards,<br />Taking it for my target, I would dart<br />Them deep into your streaming, sobbing heart.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415269867796810849.post-40413001408050837162021-05-31T11:03:29.870-04:002021-05-31T11:03:29.870-04:00Thank you for this great post! Yesterday at Tomar,...Thank you for this great post! Yesterday at Tomar, Portugal, I saw for the first time a panel with such representation of the Ascension: https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/ascensão-de-cristo/GQHcqaaceIthPw?hl=pt-PT&avm=4<br />I was delighted and searched for more information on the topic. You gave a great contribution to the subject!Cecíliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13468467853771938228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415269867796810849.post-42594259551128868472021-05-23T17:48:10.405-04:002021-05-23T17:48:10.405-04:00Wonderfully rich selection!Wonderfully rich selection!Eugen Loranthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03707387857531759480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415269867796810849.post-79071855291274685952021-04-30T11:08:57.881-04:002021-04-30T11:08:57.881-04:00Thank you so very much for this article! I pray so...Thank you so very much for this article! I pray someday I am able to visit this church and experience the beauty of the stain glass in person. <br />God bless you! SummerPearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04659430666099732689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415269867796810849.post-79959263758765523862021-02-08T11:33:52.469-05:002021-02-08T11:33:52.469-05:00Are familiar with the development of our Lord clot...Are familiar with the development of our Lord clothed simply in the gray/mauve tunic? <br /><br />The motif appears more often in Northern, late Medieval work and is not limited to Good Shepherd imagery. It might be presumed to have developed from the typical red tunic/chiton under a blue mantle/himation for Christ as there is range of red and blue used. <br /><br /><i>pax</i>Matthew Connerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08525933967336916153noreply@blogger.com