Thursday, May 13, 2010

Ascension


Today (Thursday) is a holiday in France because the Catholics are celebrating L'Ascension, the day - according to the Christian doctrine - where Jesus ascended to heaven following to his resurrection. It always takes place on a Thursday (that is exactly 40 days after easter Sunday) and most people take a day off on Friday to either go away of take some rest. I'm one of these people! I took this photo in Saint Sulpice and, well, I thought it was most appropriate for today.

25 comments:

  1. Always love the posts that teach a bit. Also, your photography style is very evident! I usually post something"sacred" on Sunday. Might have to find something for Thursday this week!

    Jan
    GDP

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  2. What a beauty! A jewel of a photograph. A 3-day weekend or is it a 4-day weekend. Pretty damn good! Now if we just could swing that in the US. ;-)

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  3. Happpy Assumption Day everyone. Now what to do with all extra that time? Well, guess what?! "Looking For Eric", the Ken Loach film Eric featured not long ago on PDP is here in the states! Its getting an 88 on Rotten Tomatoes, which is pretty good. : )

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  4. Your photo is most appropriate and rendered in a most excellent manner. Have a nice rest.

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  5. Eric,
    I love your picture. Thank you for reminding me of this very important celebration: L'Ascension"

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  6. Coltrane, you become so English! You know what I mean.

    Happy Assumption, everyone!

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  7. An excellent—and very appropriate—photo for l'Ascension! Enjoy your long weekend.

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  8. I am too Eric! & I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
    I encourage everyone to enlarge this photo, it is very impressive.

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  9. It must be the "recovering Catholic" in me that needs to point out that the Assumption is not the same thing as the Ascension. The Ascension, as M. PDP notes, is the ascent of Christ into heaven. The Assumption is the ascent of Mary, the mother of Christ, into heaven (August 15, I think).

    I recall a former girlfriend who was born on May 8, the birth of the Virgin. My girlfriend was a twin, and her mother named the identical sisters Mary. Imagine the identity data nightmares. Even photo i.d. cards didn't solve the problem: they were twins!

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  10. I'm with Lois. We Americans need to take more days off. Although I'm not Catholic I'd be happy to take this one.

    Wonderful photo, Eric. Enjoy your days off!

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  11. Well, it's a pity such a "catholic" country like Poland is not celebrating Ascension. I am at work ...

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  12. Thanks for this very appropriate photo, Eric.
    And Jeff, thanks for pointing the difference between these 2 important Catholic celebrations.

    Happy Ascension Day everyone, and happy long weekend for the lucky ones (I'm one of them!!)

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  13. Beautiful open arms for celebrating the Ascension today. I always love the way you know how to celebrate someone, something! The Ascension is very important to celebrate I think. Very appropriate, this is right :)

    @ Carrie : I recently saw 'Looking for Eric' and I really enjoyed this movie. Ken Loach is a full of genius Director. A 88 score is very well deserved, to me. I saw yesterday was the starting of the Festival de Cannes. Don't know much about this year selection but I know Ken Loach is presenting a movie.

    Happy long week end to the happy ones and a good work in progression to the others ;)

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  14. Another holiday?
    I thought France was supposed to be a secular society, but I guess that it's OK to be Catholic when you get a holiday!

    St. Sulpice is one of my favorite Paris churches. I remember someone commenting once that it was 'gloomy', I prefer 'atmospheric'

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  15. Beautiful shot.
    Yes Drummond another holiday. Stay tuned, others are even coming soon. You know this year our month of May has been much more worked than usually, for the 1st and 8th of May fell on Saturdays. What a pity!

    As I'm not really turned into the Catholic religion, I'd be prone, for my part, to take the word 'ascension' in its litteral sense 'progression'. But though this long week end will allow me to a 3 days trip to the Ocean of which I should be enthusiastic, curiously enough, it is a bit like if I was going far from a part of myself in terms of progression.

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  16. Cannot wait for Festum Sanctissimi Corporis Christi on June 3rd, then I will have a Thursday off ! :)

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  17. I'm not Catholic, but I find the churches decorated prettily, if a little over the top at times. This picture is really nice, Eric. I love stained glass windows and this one is beautiful in its simplicity.

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  18. Wonderful capture. I love composition: the open arms, the stained glass and the lighted candles. Well done.

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  19. This picture is a really nice support, Eric. I agree with other comments concerning this beautiful shot and this Thursday holiday but the Friday off would be nicer to me, instead ;)

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  20. A lovely angle for your beautiful shot, Eric. The candle glow and the light from the window illuminate the Christ so wonderfully. Hope you have a lovely, restful holiday weekend!
    -Kim

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  21. hi,
    I discovery today this blog.
    I love the pictures and the approach to talk about my "new" town .

    :)

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  22. Amazing photo!! I was in Sacré-Cœur, at the first Mass in the first pew...I'm such a good Catholic!! LOL!!

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