TFTD - 06/08/2012

Thought for the day

“Think of the earth as a living organism that is being attacked by billions of bacteria whose numbers double every forty years. Either the host dies, or the virus dies, or both die.” – Gore Vidal

Take home- The Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida

The Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida is a prominent Roman Catholic Latin-rite Basilica located in Aparecida, Brazil. It is dedicated to the Our Lady of Aparecida, (a variant of the Immaculate Conception) as the principal Patroness of Brazil. Its official title in Portuguese is Nossa Senhora da Conceição Aparecida, roughly translated as Our Lady of Conception who Appeared. As of 2011, it enjoys the greatest Marian pilgrimage in the world, ranking above Our Lady of Guadalupe and Our Lady of Lourdes.

 In 1717 three fishermen were sent to catch fish in the Paraoba River for the governor of São Paulo because it was a religious day of abstinence and he wasn't allowed to eat meat. The three companions tried and tried, but no fish were entering their nets. When they were at the point of giving up, they caught in their net the headless body of a statue of the Blessed Mother. Bewildered they continued fishing and rowing down the stream. Soon they also caught the head of Our Lady. Now that the Mother of God was on board with them, they caught so many fish that their boat almost sank. This was reminiscent of the story in Luke 5, where the disciples couldn't catch any fish until Jesus appeared and told them where to cast their nets. Soon their boats filled almost to the point of sinking.

                                                                                                   

According to China Galland on the other hand, all the efforts of the Divine Mother in Brazil accomplished little to end slavery, though it did ensure her a great following among the oppressed to whom she is a symbol of liberation. Galland also retells a traditional story: "One day a slave was traveling with his master near the small shrine that had been constructed for Aparecida. The man entreated his master to stop the wagons and let him pray at the door of the shrine. As soon as he knelt down in the doorway, the heavy chains he wore fell off his hands and feet, and the wide iron collar around his neck broke apart. His master declared him free: the Virgin herself seemed to command it."

Galland paraphrases Archbishop Dom Aloysius Lorscheider's explanation of the Virgin's title 'Mother of the Excluded of Brazil': "All who have been marginalized by conventional society are upheld and revered in the figure of this Virgin - the poor, the broken, and the dark. She is their champion. She is black because she is the Mother of All." Brazilians call her Mari-ama. Ama to them is the black wet nurse who nurses black and white children without discriminating.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_the_National_Shrine_of_Our_Lady_of_Aparecida

Picture of the day – River House, Serbia

A house in the middle of the Drina River near the town of Bajina Basta, Serbia.  The long exposure and autumn colors make for a beautiful scene, but, of course, it’s the house that captures my imagination. I want to know more about this dwelling with the little red kayak: 

 

Website for the day – Pinterest

A content sharing service that allows members to "pin" images, videos and other objects to their pinboard.

 www.pinterest.com

Soup for the day – Creamy Asparagus soup with poached egg on toast

http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetarian-recipes/creamy-asparagus-soup-with-a-poached-egg