Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

Speak no evil, hear no evil, and see no evil...

The ore mines of the Rammelsberg are the only mines in the world which were in uninterrupted operation for over 1000 years. It and the medieval Old Town of Goslar with the Imperial Palace were placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1992. Goslar … [Plus]

Trying out a new macro lens on an onion flower in our garden. This could be rather fun, I think! Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

"We acknowledge that what makes a man righteous is not obedience to the Law, but faith in Jesus Christ. We had to become believers in Christ Jesus no less than you had, and now we hold that faith in Christ rather than fidelity to the Law is what … [Plus]

The painted wooden ceiling (around 1230) of St Michael's basilica in Hildesheim shows the genealogical tree of Jesus Christ, and is said to have influenced many around the world including the Victorian ceiling of Ely Cathedral. Source: Lawrence OP … [Plus]

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

"The ancient Benedictine abbey church of St Michael, built between 1010 and 1022 by Bernward, Bishop of Hildesheim, is one of the key monuments of medieval art. Of basilical layout with opposed apses, the church is characterized by its symmetrical … [Plus]

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

This 11th-century bronze throne of the Holy Roman Emperor, just one of three in the Empire, stands in the Goslarer Dom. The throne comprises three sides (a backrest and two armrests), which were cast from bronze, and a stone plinth with a seat. The … [Plus]

Built around 1200, this was the north porch to the 11th-century Benedictine collegiate church of SS Simon & Jude, and was part of the Imperial Palace in the historic German town of Goslar. Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

The Blessed Virgin Mary flanked by angels, above a row of apostles and kings stand watch at the porch of the Goslarer Dom. They date from 1200, and this was part of a much larger collegiate church belonging to the imperial palace of Goslar. Source: … [Plus]

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

"If things created are so full of loveliness, how resplendent with beauty must be the One who made them!” – St Antony of Padua, whose memorial is kept on 13 June. Dated to 1433, this is part of a tableau of sculpture depicting the entombment of … [Plus]

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

The tower and spire over the west porch and entrance of the Hannover Marktkirche reaches 97.26 metres. This high western tower was built in the 14th century as a symbol for the power and the wealth of the citizens of the town. It is still one of the … [Plus]

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

This beautiful medieval reredos in the Hannover Marktkirche was carved of linden wood, around 1480, and it depicts scenes from the Holy Week, the final week of Christ's life. The altar was moved to the Aegidienkirche in 1663 to make room for a … [Plus]

The Marktkirche St. Georgii et Jacobi (Market Church of Sts. George and James), commonly known as Marktkirche ("The Church on the Marketplace"), is now the main Lutheran church in Hanover, Germany. It was built as a Catholic church in the 14th … [Plus]

"Since he is the Sun of Justice, he fittingly calls his disciples the light of the world. The reason for this is that through them, as through shining rays, he has poured out the light of the knowledge of himself upon the entire world. For by … [Plus]

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

A quiet spot in Warburg Castle overlooking the Outer Bailey. Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

An all-too-seldom family reunion in Germany with my mother, step-father, and my sisters.

The late 12th-century "Palas" in the Inner Bailey of Wartburg Castle is one of Europe's few surviving Romanesque palaces. Several structures were added in the Romantic style in the 19th century as part of a thorough restoration. Source: Lawrence OP … [Plus]

Fan-tail doves bask and bathe in the sun at Wartburg Castle; they seemed to bask in the attention of hordes of tourists too! Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

A modern-day minstrel was busking at the entrance to the 13th-century Wartburg Castle. It is believed that in 1207, a contest of minstels, the Sängerkrieg was held in this castle, and this became part of Wagner's Tannhäuser. Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

I've been away from my desk, and hence away from Flickr for the past week. I've had an amazing holiday with my family, visited several UNESCO World Heritage sites in Germany, and returned with over 800 photos! This is us in front of Wartburg Castle … [Plus]

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

"Blessed be God. Blessed be His Holy Name. Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man. Blessed be the name of Jesus. Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart. Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the … [Plus]

"O good shepherd, true bread, Jesus, have mercy on us. Shepherd us, defend us. Make us to see good things In the land of the living. You, who know everything and can do everything, Who shepherd us here as mortals, Make us your companions at table, … [Plus]

"Jesus this evening gives Himself to us in the Eucharist, shares our same journey – indeed, He becomes food, real food that sustains our life even at times when the going is rough, when obstacles slow down our steps. The Lord in the Eucharist … [Plus]

"I am the living bread which has come down from heaven, says the Lord. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever." – John 6:51. My sermon for today can be read here. This beautiful window is in Fribourg Cathedral. Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

"Melchizedek king of Salem brought bread and wine; he was a priest of God Most High. He pronounced this blessing: ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, creator of heaven and earth, and blessed be God Most High for handing over your enemies to you. … [Plus]

"This is what I received from the Lord, and in turn passed on to you: that on the same night that he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread, and thanked God for it and broke it, and he said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this as a … [Plus]

Arthurs Seat looms majestically over the Meadows as post-exam undergraduates unwind with a game of frisbee. Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

A beautiful and tranquil late Spring evening in the Meadows, Edinburgh. Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

Cherry blossom in various shades, nicely complemented by the evening sky made pink by the setting sun. Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

"Most honourable Queen of the world, Mary ever virgin, who bore Christ the Lord, Saviour of mankind: intercede for our peace and well-being". – Benedictus antiphon for the feast of Mary's Queenship, which is kept on 31 May in the Extraordinary … [Plus]

May is traditionally the month of Mary, and today we celebrate the feast of the Visitation, when the Virgin Mary, carrying Jesus in her womb, went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth. This event, which we know well because we commemorate it as the fourth … [Plus]

"Lord Jesus Christ, you gave us the Eucharist as the memorial of your suffering and death. May our worship of this sacrament of your body and blood help us to experience the salvation you won for us and the peace of the kingdom where you live with … [Plus]

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

"The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (Jn 1:14). Think of the humility of it: humans have eaten the bread of angels, as Scripture says: He gave them bread from heaven; mortals ate the bread of angels (Ps 77(78):24-25). The eternal Word on … [Plus]

"At the moment of Adoration, we are all equal, kneeling before the Sacrament of Love. The common priesthood and the ministerial priesthood are brought together in Eucharistic worship... To be all together in prolonged silence before the Lord present … [Plus]

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

"The offering of a righteous man anoints the altar, and its pleasing odour rises before the Most High. The sacrifice of a righteous man is acceptable, and the memory of it will not be forgotten. Glorify the Lord generously,and do not stint the first … [Plus]

"Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and … [Plus]

The Sainte Chapelle of St Louis in Paris was built as a reliquary for the Crown of Thorns. It's walls of glass glimmer like jewels, and the sunlight filtered through these expansive windows renders the air iridescent with light and colour, symbols … [Plus]

"Believed to have been a pupil of Felix, bishop of Messana, [St Augustine] became a monk and later Prior of St Andrew's in Rome. He was sent by Pope Gregory to lead a party of around 30 monks to bring England (such as it was) under the influence of … [Plus]

"The contemplation of the great mystery of the Incarnation, in which the Eternal Word chose the holy and immaculate Virgin, that from her womb He should clothe Himself with flesh, has drawn all Christian nations to venerate her from whom come the … [Plus]

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

St Bede, known as the ‘Venerable Bede’, was born in Monkton, Jarrow in the year 673. At the age of seven he was sent to live at St Peter’s monastery in Wearmouth and later moved to the new foundation of St Paul in Jarrow. He remained there for … [Plus]

The Venerable Bede’s bones have been in Durham Cathedral since 1022. They were brought from Jarrow by a monk called Alfred who had them buried alongside Cuthbert’s relics, where they remained until they were moved to the Cathedral’s Galilee … [Plus]

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

"The closer something gets to a principle, the more it participates in that principle's effects... Now, Christ is the principle of grace, authoritatively in his divinity and instrumentally in his humanity... But the Blessed Virgin was the closest to … [Plus]

The monumental twin towers of Durham Cathedral were build around 1200. Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

Originally built in the late 12th century by Bishop Hugh Le Puiset as part of an enlargement of Durham Cathedral and its monastic buildings, these cloisters were remodelled to their present form in the early fifteenth century, and the tracery later … [Plus]

Simeon prophesied that a sword would piece Our Lady's heart (cf Lk 2:35), hence this is a medieval heraldic device for the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is one of the bosses in the medieval gatehouse leading into the close of Durham Cathedral. Source: … [Plus]

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

A cheering sign of Spring! Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

An avenue of cherry trees which runs across the Meadows in Edinburgh is now in bloom. Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

"O most august and blessed Virgin Mary! Holy Mother of God! Glorious Queen of heaven and earth! Powerful protectress of those who love thee, and unfailing advocate of all who invoke thee! Look down, I beseech thee, from thy throne of glory on thy … [Plus]

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

Evocative of the Pentecostal tongues of fire, these red leaves turn to green, just as the liturgical colours return to the green of 'Ordinary Time' this week. Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

"The Virgin Mary teaches us what it means to live in the Holy Spirit and what it means to welcome the newness of God in our life. She conceived Jesus by the work of the Spirit, and every Christian, each one of us, is called to welcome the Word of … [Plus]

"The dove descending breaks the air With flame of incandescent terror Of which the tongues declare The one discharge from sin and error. The only hope, or else despair Lies in the choice of pyre or pyre- To be redeemed from fire by fire. Who then … [Plus]

"Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. And they were amazed and … [Plus]

"When Pentecost day came round, they had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed … [Plus]

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

"From the beginning till now the entire creation, as we know, has been groaning in one great act of giving birth; and not only creation, but all of us who possess the first-fruits of the Spirit, we too groan inwardly as we wait for our bodies to be … [Plus]

Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

The tower of St Nicolas' cathedral in Fribourg is 74 metres high, nicely framed here by maple trees in the bas ville. Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr

Looking across the valley of the Sarine that runs through the 'basse ville", the picturesque medieval town of Fribourg, Switzerland. Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr