9 June 2007
The walls of the chapel had many, many images of Mary
9 June 2007
A closer view of the altar.
The statue of Mary is a pose which is recognizable. It is from when the angel Gabriel appeared to her and told her that God wanted to knock her up.
At the very top of the altar is a heart on a shield. This heart may represent either the heart of Jesus or of Mary. Alas, I can never remember how to tell them apart.
From bottom left to right, the symbols on the little shields around the altar are: a gauntlet, a dress, something obscured by flowers, something I can't make out, a sword, an ear of corn, a broccoli, three nails, the face of Jesus on a cloth (in one of the stations of the cross, a woman wipes his face and his face turns into an image on the cloth, but this one shows him wearing a real crown, not one with thorns), a hammer, pliers, a spear?, don't know, a chicken, a ladder, and the final two I can't make out.
I can't remember if the flowers were real or not. There were certainly artificial ones in the chapel.
Belgium
9 June 2007
To the left of the altar were a bunch of plants and a place where praying folks could light candles.
I wish I could remember if the plants were real.
In Belgium
9 June 2007
The chapel also had a statue of St Rita, one of the patrons of lost causes.
9 June 2007
Outside the chapel, there was a statue. The base says "Hulde aan de boerenkrijg 1798 - 1998 'Voor Outer en Herd'" Which indicates that it's a rembrance of the Boer War
In the background, Nicole is giving water to Xena
Belgium
9 June 2007
Belgian castle gate
9 June 2007
This chapel to the Virgin Mary was locked, alas.
9 June 2007
The city hall in Mechelen, Belgium
10 June 2007
Art in the Mechelen cathedral.
Belgium
10 June 2007
A stained glass window in the Mechelen cathedral.
Belgium
10 June 2007
The altar in the Mechelen cathedral.
Belgium
10 June 2007
Art in the Mechelen cathedral.
Belgium
10 June 2007
A stained glass window in the Mechelen cathedral.
Belgium
10 June 2007
Art in the Mechelen cathedral.
Belgium
10 June 2007
A stained glass window in the Mechelen cathedral.
Belgium
10 June 2007
Relics in the Mechelen cathedral.
This cathedral had a large collection of relics. As you may recall, first class relics are pieces of dead saints. In this case, they appear to be bone fragments.
I can't make out who is in this reliquary (display case) because of the germanic lettering and also because it seems to be in Flemish.
Belgium
10 June 2007
Relics in the Mechelen cathedral.
This cathedral had a large collection of relics. As you may recall, first class relics are pieces of dead saints. In this case, they appear to be bone fragments.
I can't make out who is in this reliquary (display case) because of the germanic lettering and also because it seems to be in Flemish.
Belgium
10 June 2007
Relics in the Mechelen cathedral.
This cathedral had a large collection of relics. As you may recall, first class relics are pieces of dead saints. In this case, they appear to be bone fragments.
I can't make out who is in this reliquary (display case) because of the germanic lettering and also because it seems to be in Flemish.
Belgium
10 June 2007
Relics in the Mechelen cathedral.
This cathedral had a large collection of relics. As you may recall, first class relics are pieces of dead saints. In this case, they appear to be bone fragments.
I can't make out who is in this reliquary (display case) because of the germanic lettering and also because it seems to be in Flemish.
Belgium
10 June 2007
Relics in the Mechelen cathedral.
This cathedral had a large collection of relics. As you may recall, first class relics are pieces of dead saints. In this case, they appear to be bone fragments.
I can't make out who is in this reliquary (display case) because of the germanic lettering and also because it seems to be in Flemish.
Belgium
10 June 2007
Relics in the Mechelen cathedral.
This cathedral had a large collection of relics. As you may recall, first class relics are pieces of dead saints. In this case, they appear to be bone fragments.
I can't make out who is in this reliquary (display case) because of the germanic lettering and also because it seems to be in Flemish.
Belgium
10 June 2007
Relics in the Mechelen cathedral.
This cathedral had a large collection of relics. As you may recall, first class relics are pieces of dead saints. In this case, they appear to be bone fragments.
This reliquary contains my patron saint, St Celestin, but I'm not sure who else.
Belgium
10 June 2007
Relics in the Mechelen cathedral.
This cathedral had a large collection of relics. As you may recall, first class relics are pieces of dead saints. In this case, they appear to be bone fragments.
I can't make out who is in this reliquary (display case) because of the germanic lettering and also because it seems to be in Flemish.
Belgium
10 June 2007
Relics in the Mechelen cathedral.
This cathedral had a large collection of relics. As you may recall, first class relics are pieces of dead saints. In this case, they appear to be bone fragments.
I can't make out who is in this reliquary (display case) because of the germanic lettering and also because it seems to be in Flemish.
Belgium
10 June 2007
Relics in the Mechelen cathedral.
This cathedral had a large collection of relics. As you may recall, first class relics are pieces of dead saints. In this case, they appear to be bone fragments.
I can't make out who is in this reliquary (display case) because of the germanic lettering and also because it seems to be in Flemish.
Belgium
10 June 2007
A reliquary in the Mechelen cathedral.
You may recall that a reliquary is a display case for relics. This one seems to be empty.
Belgium
10 June 2007
A reliquary in the Mechelen cathedral.
You may recall that a reliquary is a display case for relics. This one seems to be empty. (Or is that something in the middle? I can't tell.)
Belgium
10 June 2007
A reliquary in the Mechelen cathedral.
You may recall that a reliquary is a display case for relics.
Belgium
10 June 2007
Stained glass windows in the Mechelen cathedral.
Belgium
