Pardon me while I play catchup: In celebration of the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, occurring in early October, services of worship are held internationally at local churches blessing animals ranging in size and species, from turtles to elephants. In the sleepy hamlet of Ivoryton, a series of canines were present as prayers were read, medals were placed over their necks and awarded treats for their new doggie souls.

There was something very heartwarming floating around in the air on that grassy knoll.

Symbols can be quite interesting – little masters of trickery wavering between the boundaries of the esoteric and exoteric. A well-known image of our time, to the untrained eye, appears so familiar, yet it could hold an unusual or hidden meaning. What is truly present, curious or commonplace, is for those with

…eyes to see and ears to hear…

Author’s note – Yes; contrary to popular belief and for those who have passion for Boondock Saints, symbology is, indeed, a real word.

Churchgoers pray before gilded shrines at Igreja da Trindade in Porto. Having gone to Catholic school for fourteen years and being generally detached from organized religion, it’s amazing to see what a stronghold one’s faith can have on a life. For these people, this is their mediation. Devoted, with heavy heads bowed slightly, not a single stir disrupted their stance.