From Cork to Limerick, Feb. 26, '15
ST. MARY'S CHURCH, BUTTEVANT, IRELAND:
After purchasing gifts at the Blarney Castle gift shop we began our journey directly north to Limerick. The distance from Cork to Limerick is 101 km on highway N20. As we drive along we are always looking for interesting landscapes and potential places to see. And at the town of Buttevant we found one. Every town or village we went through seemed to feature a large church at it's center. When we saw this one, we decided to stop and check it out.
ST. MARY'S CHURCH, BUTTEVANT, IRELAND:
After purchasing gifts at the Blarney Castle gift shop we began our journey directly north to Limerick. The distance from Cork to Limerick is 101 km on highway N20. As we drive along we are always looking for interesting landscapes and potential places to see. And at the town of Buttevant we found one. Every town or village we went through seemed to feature a large church at it's center. When we saw this one, we decided to stop and check it out.
This is a sign we saw alongside the church.
We entered the church through a side door, the quiet grandour of this sacred place welcomed and enveloped us. We moved to the "cross" section and stood in awe of the amazing windows depicting all around us the story of Christ and the gospel story. In reverence we gazed the impulse of worship welling up in our souls. Larry, a singing at heart began humming a hymn enjoying the wonder at the sound of notes echoing serenely through the whole of the sanctuary. Then, launched into a rendition of Ave Maria in his operatic voice, echoing through every corner and expanse of the church.
When the notes of this beautiful song faded we simply stood again in silence and wonder. Then it was my turn. I moved slowly to the front, turned to face the empty pews and began reciting a passage I had memorized, "In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. He was in the beginning with God..." John 1:1...
The music and the words of the scripture echoed throughout the empty space rising up in agreement with all the exquisite stained glass windows, in tribute and worship of our God. We stood in silence transfixed.
I moved slowly down the Isle into lobby of the main entrance and exited the church, only to be surrounded by gravestones and the ruins of the same church form a much earlier time. Here was a history of faith.
When the notes of this beautiful song faded we simply stood again in silence and wonder. Then it was my turn. I moved slowly to the front, turned to face the empty pews and began reciting a passage I had memorized, "In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. He was in the beginning with God..." John 1:1...
The music and the words of the scripture echoed throughout the empty space rising up in agreement with all the exquisite stained glass windows, in tribute and worship of our God. We stood in silence transfixed.
I moved slowly down the Isle into lobby of the main entrance and exited the church, only to be surrounded by gravestones and the ruins of the same church form a much earlier time. Here was a history of faith.
"Worship is transcendent wonder."
Thomas Carlyle
Thomas Carlyle
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