First Thaw

 


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Blue Bird

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My homage to Azulejos - the striking white and blue ceramic tiles of Portugal.  The name 'azulejos' is derived from the Arabic word 'al zuleique', which means “little polished stone”. The tiles were originally brought to Europe by invading Moors in the 13th century - a style that employs flowing lines, stars, flowers, foliage, fruits and sometimes animal and figural outlines to produce an intricate pattern of interlaced lines that can be tiled in endless combinations.   The art and history of azulejos have left an indelible mark on Portuguese culture and heritage. These vibrant and intricate tiles have adorned buildings, churches, and public spaces for centuries, captivating the eyes and hearts of locals and visitors alike.  The enduring legacy of Portuguese tile-making is a testament to the skill, creativity, and craftsmanship of the artisans who have dedicated themselves to this art form throughout history. This is one of my compositions inspired by a window decal at...
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Pope Leo

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  Pope Leo XIV On Thursday, May 8, 2025, the Conclave of 133 Roman Catholic Cardinals elected a new Pope for 1.4 billion faithful, the  267th in the line of Pontiffs that dates back to St Peter, who was handpicked by Jesus Christ himself. [ Matthew 16:18 ] Before he was elected Pope Leo XIV, Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Frost Prevost spent  much of his life outside the United States. Ordained in Rome in 1982 at age 27, he received a doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, also in Rome.  For the past two decades he was a missionary in Chilayco, Peru, serving as a parish priest, seminary teacher, and diocesan official.  Here he also became a naturalized citizen, then rose to lead his international religious community, the Order of St. Augustine. Under Pope Francis, he held one of the most influential Vatican posts, running the office that selects and manages bishops globally. His deep connection to Latin America helped him gain a...
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Pentecost

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 The Feast of Pentecost Think of the Feast of Pentecost as the first birthday of the Church ... because that's the day the Holy Spirit descended on the Faithful to remain permanently and unfailingly till the end of time, guiding the Faithful to carry the Gospel to the ends of the world as Christ's disciples. Liturgy of the Pentecost In Acts of the Apostles 1:4-8 , the risen Lord Jesus instructed the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit. Jesus explained that they would be baptised with the Holy Spirit not many days from now (1:5) and they would receive power to be Christ’s witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the Earth (1:8). In Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11 , St Luke, the author of Acts of the Apostles, methodically lists all the nations encircling Israel starting from the East to the West to show Jews from every nation had gathered (probably for the Festival of Harvest ) when th...
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