Sacred Heart of Jesus (Prayer)

Merciful Jesus,

I consecrate myself today and always,
To your Most Sacred Heart.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
I implore that I may ever love You
More and more,

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
I trust in You!

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Have mercy on us!
Sacred Heart of Jesus
I believe in Your love for me,
Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
Make my heart like Your Heart. Amen.

Picture taken at the Immaculate Conception Church in Botkins.

Coat of Many Colors

The book of Genesis is full of many biblical stories that we learn in our youth. Joseph's Dream and Coat of Many Colors is one such story. While not a coat of many colors it was that story that came to mind when I found light reflecting from the stained glass windows onto the pews in the Immaculate Conception Church in Botkins.



King James Bible Genesis 37:3
Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colors.

Immaculate Conception (Botkins) Archive

Here are a few more from the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Botkins.



The Stations of the Cross in the church are bronze, I just liked it better in Black and White.





I used the PhotoShop Poster Edges filter on these last two.

Jesus Takes Up His Cross

SCRIPTURE READING Matthew 27:27-31
The procurator's soldiers took Jesus inside the praetorium and collected the whole cohort around him. They stripped off his clothes and wrapped him in a scarlet military cloak. Weaving a crown of thorns they fixed it on his head, and stuck a reed in his right hand. Then they began to mock him by dropping on their knees before him, saying, "All hail, king of the Jews!" They also spat at him. Afterwards they took hold of the reed and kept striking him on the head. Finally, when they had finished making a fool of him, they stripped him of the cloak, dressed him in his own clothes, and led him off to crucifixion.

REFLECTION
Most fortunate is the soul who walks by the way of Calvary, following Jesus our Redeemer, for if we suffer with Christ now with Christ we shall reign in the glory of the Father. --Saint Paul of the Cross

LET US PRAY
O God, through the sufferings of Your only-begotten Son, You have crushed the pride of the ancient enemy: grant us the grace to remember with great devotion all He has suffered for us, so that with tranquil soul we may bear all the sufferings and adversities which come upon us. Through Christ our Lord, AMEN.

The way of the Cross is the road which leads to Paradise; it is the sure way to holiness. The Passion of Christ is the greatest and most stupendous work of Divine Love. -- St. Paul of the Cross

Station of the Cross from the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Botkins, Ohio.

Sanctus Bells

As I tour and explore these wonderful historic churches in "The Land of the Cross Tipped Churches, I am always amazed at how something little can turn into something big. How looking up something you think to be a small thing can have such a long and rich history. Such was my surprised when I started coming across and taking note of the bells I found in the churches.

When I did a search on "Bells used in Catholic Mass" I was overwhelmed by the information I found. The text that I used for this post is Sanctus Bells History and Use in the Catholic Church by Matthew D. Herrera.

The bell pictured here is not a Sanctus bell but the one used to announce the priest. It was this bell that I researched and then discovered the Sanctus bells. I had seen them but did not know they were bells.

According to the article "The ringing of Sanctus bells is still required during the celebration of the Tridentine Mass (or Latin Mass) even today. Conversely the ringing of the Sanctus bells was made optional during the celebration of the Novus Ordo Missae (Latin for New Order Mass) -- also known as the new Mass which was introduced by Pope Paul VI in 1969"



The Sanctus bells (pictured above) are rung at three points during the celebration of the Novus Ordo Mass (New Mass):

1. Prior to the consecration at the epiclesis where the priestly celebrant prays to the Holy Spirt to change the gifts of bread and wine into the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ.

2. A second time as the priest elevates and presents the Body of Christ.

3. A third time as the celebrant elevates and presents the chalice filled with the Precious Blood.

There is a lot more than what I want to go into here, but if your truly interested in more click on the link above which will take you to the PDF article I used. I thought it made for an interesting read.

Door Bell picture taken at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cassella Ohio.
Scanctus Bell picture taken at the Immaculate Conception Church Botkins Ohio.

Jesus Is Condemned To Death

SCRIPTURE READING Matthew 27:2-11
They bound Jesus and led him away to be handed over to the procurator Pilate. Then Judas who had handed him over, seeing that Jesus had been condemned, began to regret his action deeply. He took the thirty pieces of silver back to the chief priests and elders and said "I did wrong to deliver up an innocent man." They retorted, "What is that to us? It is your affair!" So Judas flung the money into the temple and left. He went off and hanged himself. The chief priests picked up the silver, observing, "It is not right to deposit this in the temple treasury since it is blood money." After consultation they used it to buy the potter's field as a cemetery for foreigners. That is why that field. even today, is called Blood Field. On that occasion what was said through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: "They took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of a man with a price on his head, a price set by the Israelites, and they paid it for the potter's field just as the Lord commanded me." Jesus was arraigned before the procurator who questioned him: "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus responded, "As you say."

REFLECTION
It is necessary that we accept the cross of tribulation willingly, at least with the higher part of our soul, as Jesus accepted His condemnation in perfect conformity to the will of the Father. --Saint Paul of the Cross

LET US PRAY
All powerful and eternal God, You have given as a model to us Christ your Son, our Savior, who became man and was humiliated unto death on the cross: grant that we may always keep present before us the lesson He taught us by His Passion, so that we may share in the glory of His resurrection, Who lives and reigns forever and ever, AMEN.

The way of the Cross is the road which leads to Paradise; it is the sure way to holiness. The Passion of Christ is the greatest and most stupendous work of Divine Love. -- St. Paul of the Cross

Station of the Cross from the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Botkins, Ohio.

Prayer to the Immaculate Conception

O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary,

did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we beseech You that,

as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain,

so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You.

Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,

who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God, world without end.

Amen.

Picture taken at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Botkins Ohio.

Immaculate Conception Church (Stations of the Cross) Botkins Ohio

The Church had a great set of the Stations of the Cross. These were large bronze reliefs lining the side walls of the sanctuary. I was able to photograph all of them from about the same distance and in the same light. Wow, that hardly ever happens. I like them in Black and White but the bronze doesn't look bad either. I was planning on posting all 14 stations but somehow I missed one. Just another excuse to go back I know....Once I do manage to get all 14 look for "A Way of the Cross" post featuring them. Not sure if I will go with Black and White or the Natural Bronze. I went with BW on the collage because I was having a problem getting the bronze to match in all the pictures. The collage is made up of the last six Stations of the Cross. The pictures are not major crops as you will see pictured below these pictures are just minus the frame. After looking at them some more I think the Bronze is growing on me.



Yep, definitely going with the Bronze. (After a Little More Careful and Selective Editing).

Immaculate Conception Church Stained Glass Windows (Botkins Ohio)

I thought I was very fortunate to capture this reflection of the light coming through the stained glass windows onto the floor and pews. I just love it when am able to get an artistic shot.

The stained glass windows in this church are the first modern ones that I have seen. I myself like the detail you find in the multiple glazing's of the more traditional windows. However, they do fit the art and decor of the church. They are very simplistic and mosaic in design.

All the Windows were of saints as shown in the below three collages or Christian symbols as you can see on the back wall on both sides of the full portrait of Mary in the last picture.

You can left click on any picture to get a much larger view.



Pictured below are Saint Bernadette and Our Lady of Guadalupe.



Next we have La Salette the 1846 Mary apparition in France. This may be the two children to whom she gave her message and Our Lady of Fatima.



Pictured below are Saint Simon Stock on the left and Saint Dominic on the right.





Related Links:
Saint Dominic
Saint Simon Stock
Our Lady of Fatima
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Saint Bernadette
Our Lady of La Salette

Immaculate Conception Church Easter Altar (Botkins Ohio)

While on my way back home from taking pictures of the Radio Maria broadcasting tower in Botkins I came across the Immaculate Conception Church in Botkins. The church was built in the 60's and is very modern. The church was decorated for the Saturday evening Easter Vigil and Sunday Easter Morning Service.

While this church is not on the National Historical Registry and not listed as one of the churches in The Land of the Cross Tipped Churches, I find it a very fitting church to include here.

I found it to be a beautiful place of worship. All though I must admit I find myself becoming increasingly partial to the old style architecture and art of the Roman/Gothic Churches that first drew me to this project.



Look for more post on this beautiful modern church through out the upcoming week.