There is an Eucharistic Chapel at St. Jerome in Cleveland. It is dedicated to St. Joan of Arc. Joan was not recognised as a saint because of her rôle as Saviour of France, but as a faithful christian under extreme duress and trial. The former bishop of Beauvais, Peter Cauchon was her persecutor.
St. Jerome used to have two tabernacles, one was on the high altar, and one was to the side by the Joan windows. After a time, it was decided that the parish church should only have the one, the one in the chapel. At the time, a comparison was made with St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. It is unfortunate that people have gone to Mass regularly for years and some have not sat there and 'communed' with God in that spot. At about the time, a man of very modest means, used to sit there for Mass. He turned his chair and faced the congregation. Then, if memory serves well, his life was taken by a snowplow. He travelled without a car.
St. Jerome is still open. They had feared closure. Years before, about the time of the tabernacle change, the church was consecrated. Candles were placed on the nave walls. The current pastor, who had been an associate then, joyfully explained the significance of those candles. A consecrated church had to remain. Unfortunately, that has proven to be a mediæval right, now abrogated.
The story of Saint Joan appeals to many. A peasant girl who stood against occupying England and their quisling french clerics, whom declared they spoke for God, as they promoted english supremacy.
Another essay, presented on the web, on her day, can be clicked on here.
The windows are presented in pairs. The camera did not process the blue correctly, the blue should be deeply, solidly, truly blue and should not have faded to a sky blue. The red sometimes fades toward yellow.
No comments:
Post a Comment