DAILY PHOTO: Christ Church Pro-Cathedral, Lucknow

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DAILY PHOTO: Chapel of St. Roch, Budapest

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“To Tirzah” by William Blake [w/ Audio]

Whate'er is Born of Mortal Birth
Must be consumed with the Earth
To rise from Generation free:
Then what have I to do with thee?

The Sexes sprung from Shame & Pride,
Blow'd in the morn; in evening died;
But Mercy chang'd Death to Sleep;
The Sexes rose to work & weep.

Thou, Mother of my Mortal part,
With cruelty didst mould my Heart,
And with false self-deceiving tears
Didst bind my Nostrils, Eyes, & Ears:

Didst close my Tongue in senseless clay,
And me to Mortal Life betray.
The Death of Jesus set me free:
Then what have I to do with thee?

DAILY PHOTO: Three Views of Holy Trinity Cathedral, Tbilisi

DAILY PHOTO: Immaculate Conception Church of Panjim

PROMPT: First Name

Daily writing prompt
Write about your first name: its meaning, significance, etymology, etc.

Having been raised in a Catholic household, I wouldn’t have this name if one or more saints hadn’t already. In my case, there are several Saint Bernards, and I don’t know that my parents had any particular one in mind. As far as I know, none were associated with Ireland, from whence my ancestry lies. [St. Bernard of Clairvaux seems to be the most famous St. Bernard – he’s “The St. Bernard,” if you will – excepting of course Chris the St. Bernard dog who starred in the 1992 movie “Beethoven” whose name was actually Chris and his breed was “St. Bernard” so, technically, Clairvaux is still king of the St. Bernards.] I also know that it’s not the first time this name appeared in my genealogical line, but don’t know much more than that.

I understand the etymology of the name is Germanic and that it means something like “Bear Hardy,” with which I’m pleased. (Could have been much worse — e.g. “Squirrel Brave” or “Bear Smelling.”)

DAILY PHOTO: St. Philomena’s Cathedral, Mysuru

DAILY PHOTO: Church of St. Paul, Malacca

Said to be the oldest European building east of India, these hollowed out ruins represent one of the oldest Christian Churches in Southeast Asia.
This statue of St. Francis Xavier stands in front of St. Paul’s Church. Francis Xavier did have his right hand amputated posthumously, and many like to tell the story that the statue’s hand was sheared off by lightning in an act of divine reckoning (though more likely the movers dropped the statue and the hand broke off. At any rate, that’s why they never got around to having it fixed.)

DAILY PHOTO: Views of Tatev Monastery

DAILY PHOTO: St. Andrew’s Church, Vasco da Gama

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