EUDOCIAN BASILICA

 

The site of the Eudocian basilica, erected to honour St Thomas, was identified some twenty years ago, and a new edifice has been erected on the old foundations by the Dominican Fathers.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – LOVE FOR CHRISTMAS (2012)

 

Bobby Alden (Rob Mayes) returns home after leaving the Navy and is ready to settle down in Belmont Shores.

Meanwhile Belmont Shores resident and Bobby’s former childhood sweetheart Heather Hartly (Shantel VanSanten) dreams of directing on Broadway, but a community theatre production of Dickens' Christmas Carol is keeping her gainfully employed at the time to couple meet.

The meeting comes about courtesy of one of the trio of golden retrievers at the centre of the story.

But the combination of a call from a New York producer and Heather’s “can’t take a hint” ex in waiting Roger (Mark Famiglietti) seem likely to snuff out the embers of romance.

But it is after all Christmas and strange things can happen especially with the help of the three golden retrievers and a group of dedicated and very pushy friends.

This is an easy to watch Christmas treat which gives the viewer by way of a bonus, Alley Mills, who starred in the first two “Golden” movies, putting in a cameo appearance sitting in the front row in the audience during the performance of “A Christmas Carol”.

REPRESENTING ST LUCY

 

St Lucy is represented by cord, eyes on a dish, lamp, swords, and as a woman hitched to a yoke of oxen

She is also represented as a woman in the company of Saint Agatha, or Saint Agnes of Rome, Barbara, Catherine of Alexandria, and Saint Thecla and finally as woman kneeling before the tomb of Saint Agatha.

NICHOLAS OF MYRA

 

Nicholas was the Bishop of Myra, Lycia modern day Turkey.

He was from a wealthy family and was known for his Generosity to the poor and a special protector of the innocent and the wronged.

He has spawned many stories such as giving three bags of gold to prevent a poor man from having to sell his three daughters into slavery or prostitution.

Many stories grew up around him prior to his becoming Santa Claus. Some examples:

He is also purported to have raised to life three young boys who had been murdered and then pickled in a barrel of brine to conceal the foul crime.

He Induced thieves to return their plunder and during a voyage to the Holy Lands when a fierce storm blew up which threatened the ship He prayed to calm the storm.

He died in 346 AD at Myra and his relics are held in Bari.

ST NICHOLAS ISLAND

 

There is an island off the coast of California used as a research and observation facility by NASA.

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS CAROL # 10 O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM

 

O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM

Words by Philips Brooks and Music by Ralph Vaughan Williams

 

O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee to-night.

 

O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth!
And praises sing to God the King,
And peace to men on earth.
For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above,
While mortals sleep the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.

 

How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His Heaven.
No ear may hear His coming;
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him, still
The dear Christ enters in.

 

Where children pure and happy
Pray to the blessed Child,
Where Misery cries out to Thee,
Son of the Mother mild;
Where Charity stands watching,
And Faith holds wide the door,
The dark night wakes, the glory breaks,
And Christmas comes once more.

 

O holy Child of Bethlehem!
Descend to us we pray!
Cast out our sin and enter in,
Be born in us to-day.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O, come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel!

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – LOVELY, STILL AT CHRISTMAS (2008)

This wonderful holiday fable tells the story of an elderly man Robert Malone (Martin Landau) discovering love for the first time.

In fact, something mysterious, new, unexpected and lovely is happening to Robert since he met Mary (Ellen Burstyn).

Burstyn and Landau are so natural together and gracefully manoeuvre and negotiate their way through their developing relationship and give fantastic performances in this charming Christmas offering.

Elizabeth Banks supports well as Marys daughter Alex and Adam Scott does similarly playing Roberts employer and relationship counsellor Mike.