2/11: Media of the Month

It has been...months since I've done a "media of the month." I'm so consistent, don't you think? 


Anyways...I wanted to do something relating to Black History Month before February ran out. Now, I don't know if you guys are aware of this...but I went to several Catholic schools in my high school days. Before you jump to any conclusions, I am a devout atheist (and always will be) but my experiences with Catholics and the Catholic religion left a lasting impression on me. Some good. Some bad. But no regrets. I think it made me a more well-rounded person while reaffirming my secular position. 



However I don't want to wax philosophic about religion...there are plenty of blogs about that. But I DO want to talk about my love of Catholic arts. I adore the aesthetic of stained glass windows and religious icons. I love the architecture of gothic Catholic churches and just the overall "look." Whenever I go into a Catholic church, I am always filled with peace--they are always so beautiful. One thing I admire about Catholics is that they take pride in their churches and try to make their holy places beautiful. 




Just lovely, don't you think? Such intricate design and craftsmanship... I would love to have every window in my house look just like that! And I'm an atheist! (and a cannibal...so I'm probably going to hell for blasphemy or sacrilege...or...I dunno, lol!) 
I especially love medals. My favorite saint is Martin de Porres--the first "black" person in the Americas to be canonized. Now I realize he's probably only there for tokenism. I mean, he was born in the 1500s, beautified in the 1800s, but was canonized in 1962 for fuck's sake...! (Hmm...right around the time the Civil Rights Movement was in full swing...perhaps the Vatican had an "epiphany" or a savvy PR agent) But I always liked the idea of a black saint. And like me, he is a vegetarian! I looked high and low for a medal, and finally found one a few weeks ago online. I'm very proud of my medal. It's a rare find. The first photo shows the back side. It says: "Pray for us." 

This next photo is the front. It has Martin there with his iconic broom and the animals sharing the bowl of milk on the floor. It's a very relaxing image. I like it a great deal. He's the patron saint for harmonious race relations but hardly anyone acknowledges him...so I wanted to give a shout-out on my blog. For those of you who are interested in where I got my medal, check out this LINK. :)