Saint Bernadette in Roermond and Tienray (The Netherlands)

Saint Bernadette’s reliquary in Roermond and Tienray (The Netherlands)

Currently, a relic of Bernadette Soubirous is traveling through the Netherlands. We visited "her" at the Munsterkerk in Roermond and at the "O.L. Vrouw Troosteres der Bedrukten" church in Tienray. This latter church is also known as "Little Lourdes" because a "grotto" has been installed there.

Bernadette Soubirous, born on January 7, 1844, in Lourdes, France, was a devout Catholic peasant girl who gained fame for her visions of the Virgin Mary. In 1858, at the age of 14, she claimed to have experienced a series of apparitions of a "beautiful lady" in a grotto near her home. The lady identified herself as the Immaculate Conception. Despite skepticism and scrutiny from both church authorities and locals, Bernadette remained steadfast in her testimony.

Following the apparitions, Bernadette became a nun and joined the Sisters of Charity in Nevers. She lived a humble and devout life, dedicated to prayer and serving others. She died at the age of 35 on April 16, 1879. Bernadette was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 1933.

Bernadette's visions and her humble life have inspired countless pilgrims to visit Lourdes seeking healing and spiritual solace, and she remains an enduring symbol of faith and devotion within the Catholic tradition.

In memory of Margareta Gysberts - Grietjens Gericht (Beesel, The Netherlands)

Grietjens Gericht, near Beesel.

East of Beesel (The Netherlands), near the border with Germany, atop a more than 4000-year-old burial mound, stands a wagon wheel on a pole. This wagon wheel is a reference to Beesel's execution site from the 17th century. At that time, a (Saint) Catherine('s) wheel and gallows stood at this location.

This execution site is known as the "Grietjens Gericht," named after Margareta Gysberts, or Grietje. In 1651, she was executed at this location as a maid and displayed on such a wheel as a deterrent example.

She worked for the secretary of the bench courts in the Montfort who lived in Beesel. She had been raped by a servant and her newborn child had died from suffocation. At first, she denied it, but under torture, she confessed. In a panic, after being sick in bed for a while and giving birth when she was alone at home, she had wrapped the child too tightly in cloths, causing it to suffocate.

The court found her guilty, and she was transported to the courthouse to undergo her death sentence.

Did justice happen here?

The Mystic Mill, Vézelay (France)

In the Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene in Vézelay, many column capitals are decorated with depictions of Christian stories. The representation shown in this picture visualizes the story of the Mystic Mill. It depicts two figures. One pours grain into a mill, and the other collects the processed flour in a bag. The image is unique in Romanesque sculpture and does not seem to depict any known biblical story. However, a stained glass window in the Abbey of Saint-Denis (France), created around 1140, identifies the figures in this representation as Moses and Saint Paul. This identification helps understand the image as an allegory of the transformation of the Old Laws from the Old Testament to the New Laws of the New Testament. The cross within the mill-wheel symbolizes the transformation process of the mill and Christ's journey to the cross.

Cathedrals and Churches, Medieval Internet hubs focused on Storytelling

Interior of Église Saint-Martin, Saint-Valery-sur-Somme (France).

Cathedrals and churches, adorned with statues of saints and imagery, functioned as medieval equivalents of internet sites, seamlessly connecting individuals to a vast network of stories and teachings. Just as one navigates through web pages, visitors to cathedrals could explore the narratives depicted in sculptures, paintings, and stained glass windows. Each saint or image served as a portal to a distinct storyline, offering moral lessons, accounts of miraculous deeds, and examples of piety. Pilgrims and worshippers had the opportunity to access this treasury of tales, fostering a connection with the spiritual and cultural legacy of their community. In essence, cathedrals served as pivotal centers of information and inspiration, granting entry to a rich reservoir of religious and moral wisdom, much akin to browsing the web for knowledge and enlightenment.

Altarpiece by Juan de Valmaseda (1524), Cathedral of León (Spain)

Almendro, Elorrio (Spain) 

Oh, almond blossom, in your blush of pure delight,
Dancing on the branches, in the soft and golden light.
Petals like confetti, a celebration in the air,
A tapestry of beauty, beyond compare.

Winter's slumber broken, by the almond's gentle kiss,
A promise of renewal, in each petal's bliss.
White and pink cascades, a floral ballet,
Nature's poetry unfolding, in the warmth of spring's array.

Covadonga (Spain)

Covadonga is an important historical site in Spain due to the symbolism it represents for Spanish identity and history. It is known as the place where the Reconquista, the Christian reconquest of Spain, began in 718.

According to legend, the Visigothic nobleman Pelayo led a group of Asturian warriors against the Moorish army of Tariq ibn Ziyad in the Battle of Covadonga. Despite being heavily outnumbered, Pelayo and his men managed to defeat the Moorish forces, marking the beginning of the Reconquista.

Pelayo's victory is considered a turning point in the history of Spain, as it was the first time that Moorish rule in Spain was challenged. The Asturian kingdom, emerging from Pelayo's triumph, became the first Christian state on the Iberian Peninsula and laid the foundation for the reconquest of Spain by the Christian kingdoms.

Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene, Vézelay (France)

Vézelay is a particularly historic place in Burgundy, France. Its significance stems from the Benedictine monastery founded there in the 9th century.

Right from the beginning of its existence, the site became important because it was claimed that the bones of Mary Magdalene were found there. This quickly turned the village into an important pilgrimage site and transformed the village into a town. The location also became an important starting point for the Camino de Santiago.

Around 1120, after a massive fire in which more than 1000 pilgrims perished, construction of the current basilica started.

In 1146, Vézelay briefly became the center of the World. Pope Eugene III had asked abbot Bernard of Clairvaux to call for the second crusade to the Holy Land on Easter Sunday. Louis VII (King of France), and his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine were there as well and supported the abbot.

In the 13th century, interest in Vézelay diminished considerably. The Catholic Church no longer embraced it as the place where Mary Magdalene was buried. This resulted in a decreasing flow of pilgrims. Over the centuries, Vézelay has retained its role as a starting point for the Camino to Santiago de Compostela.

Santiago Matamoros: St. James the Moor-slayer

Saint James, or Santiago in Spanish, is often referred to as "Santiago Matamoros" or "Saint James the Moor-slayer" in English. The history behind this nickname is rooted in medieval Christian traditions and the Reconquista, the period of time in which Christian kingdoms in the Iberian Peninsula sought to reclaim territories that had been conquered by Muslim Moors.

According to legend, during the Battle of Clavijo in the early 9th century, Christians under the leadership of King Ramiro I of Asturias were fighting against Muslim forces. The Christians were reportedly losing the battle when suddenly, a vision of Saint James on a white horse, wielding a sword, appeared to them.

As a result of this legend and the belief that Saint James played a role in the Christian victory over the Moors, he became a symbol of inspiration for the Christian soldiers during the Reconquista. St. James’ nickname reflects this role as the "Moor-slayer" or "Moor-killer."

Note: Historians never found any proof for the Battle of Clavijo. They are almost certain that this battle never took place.

Roman "Head", Museo Nacional de Arte Romano, Merida (Spain)

Sculpture of the head of a Roman man. - Museo Nacional de Arte Romano, Merida.

For two millennia, his gaze holds fast,
A Roman's likeness, sculpted to last.
Through epochs of change, his eyes still gleam,
A portrait of time, a silent dream.

In marble, he stands, a frozen glance,
Across centuries, his form enchants.
From ancient days to modern sight,
His presence bridges time with might.

Though ages pass, his essence endures,
A testament to art's timeless allure.

Saint Blase Procession, Bocairent (Spain), 2023 

Saint Blaise, patron of healers bold,
Your mercy and grace, a story untold.
Protector of throats, with gentle care,
Your blessings soothe, beyond compare.

In Bocairent's streets, your presence reigns,
A beacon of hope, where faith sustains.
With candles bright and prayers sincere,
Your love and guidance, ever near.

Oh, Saint Blaise, we sing your praise,
In awe of your miraculous ways.