Why This Thread?
In recent decades, that which has been 'accepted European culture' for centuries, has come under attack — both from without and from within. Whether such attacks are 'justified' and whether or not we deserve the increasing betrayal against those values and virtues which have undeniably shaped our society, is open to debate.
Those who know me, will also know that I am very much an 'internationalist' being a composite of more than one European nationality in respect of my genealogy, and having lived for many years in various far-flung corners of the globe. This has led to a genuine appreciation of our world's diversity and for the uniqueness of its various cultures.
This recognition has in turn encouraged an increasing appreciation for my own cultural heritage, which both historically and factually, is Christian — and for which I make no excuse but instead celebrate with increasing gratitude.
Hughes 500D P2-AHN outside Manam Island Catholic Church, Papua New Guinea, in 1988
This shot was taken in 1988 when I was flying a contract with Rotorwork for one of the volcanological observatories in Papua New Guinea.
When it came to Sunday I wanted to attend Mass, and this was quite literally the only place to park!
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"The splendour of creation, in all it's magnificent diversity, is one of God's signs to mankind. He is letting us know we are here by design and not by default." ― Frate Sebastiano Monticelli
Reyniskirkja Church, Vik, Iceland (Photo by Kevin McNeal)
https://accidentallywesanderson.com/...kirkja-church/
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"For the believer, in times of chaos, the cross of Christ is a sea of calm." ― Frate Luca Santamaria
La croce degli Schützen tirolesi Nago-torbole, Trentino
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nago%E2%80%93Torbole
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"In a reflection of His own nature, God endowed us with the capacity to create beauty; and the greatest beauty we have the ability to create, is the manner in which we love one another." ― Frate Giacomo Ambrosini
Ullensvang Church in Vestland County, Norway
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ullensvang_Church
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"Whatever you may fear about being in a relationship with God, cannot compare with the consequences of being distant from Him."
― Frate Sebastiano Monticelli
The Dormition Cathedral in Smolensk, Russia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dormit...al_in_Smolensk
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"People generally avoid climbing the mountain if what they need can be found in the valley. But there are times when the valley fails to deliver and there is no choice but to go higher. Today, God calls you to the higher ground, that place where He desires you to encounter Him." ― Frate Luca Santamaria
La Chiesetta di San Romerio in Val Poschiavo, Switzerland
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiesa_di_San_Romerio
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"We may ignore, but never evade the presence of God. This world is His creation and He is everywhere present." ― CS Lewis
Holy Trinity Church, Gergeti, Caucasus Mountains, Georgia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gergeti_Trinity_Church
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'The beauty which exists in this world, is not by coincidence but by design. Your life is the same, and has been given to you that you may discover God, and from that place of relationship with Him, bring His love into the lives of others.' ― Frate Giacomo Ambrosini
Chiesa di Colle Santa Lucia in Veneto
Chiesa di Colle Santa Lucia
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'That great father of the church, St. Augustine, once wrote "Our hearts are restless, until they find their rest in you O' Lord" and which I have found to be completely true.' ― Frate Sebastiano Monticelli
Chiesa di St. Primož and Felicijan in Jamnik, Slovenia
https://www.visitkranj.com/en/sights/jamnik/
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"If you determine to trust Him, then God will most assuredly sustain you when the trials of life come." ― Frate Luca Santamaria
Chiesa di Santa Maddalena, Versciaco di Sopra, Bolzano, Italia
https://www.pfarrei-innichen.com/it/...-maddalena.php
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"This life, is to a large extent, a test. And though it may be difficult for some to believe, if we pass this test, the rewards will far outweigh even the worst of our sufferings." ― Frate Giacomo Ambrosini
La Chiesetta di San Giovanni a Ranui, Alto Adige
La Chiesetta di San Giovanni
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"Because love is not something to be forced, God may seem aloof. But He waits each day to see if we will think upon Him or perhaps even search for Him. His promise, if we do, is that He will allow Himself to be found; and what joy awaits the soul that finds God."
― Frate Sebastiano Monticelli
Holy Trinity and St. Jonah's Monastery in Kiev
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinit...y_of_St._Jonas
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"The wise will understand that this life, from beginning to end, is a war, and that some of the battles we face can never be won outside of a relationship with God." ― Frate Luca Santamaria
Austrian mountain chapel
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"A new year awaits, doubtless filled with joys and sorrows, with triumphs and trials, for such is the nature of this life. But when you embrace Christ, your joys will endure and your sorrows be lightened, your triumphs viewed with humility and your trials endured by His grace." ― Frate Giacomo Ambrosini
Salzburg Cathedral in Austria
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salzburg_Cathedral
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"This Christmas, know that you are not only dearly loved, but also truly cherished by God, whose arms are open wide and ready to receive all who come to Him." ― Frate Sebastiano Monticelli
Chiesa in Friuli-Venezia Giulia (Foto di Margherita Del Piero)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friuli-Venezia_Giulia
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"For those with faith, connecting with God is just a prayer away, but if you struggle with faith, you may ask God for the gift of faith; then exercise this gift by reading the Bible using the faith you have received." ― Frate Luca Santamaria
St. Martin's Church, in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria (Photo by Monika Müthing)
https://zugspitze.com/en/service-inf...rtin_isd_12305
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"That every man should seek what is best for himself and his kin, is understandable, and if that is so, then every man would do well to seek God above all." ― Frate Giacomo Ambrosini
The Dormition Cathedral in Smolensk, Russia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dormit...al_in_Smolensk
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"The cross represents the highest price ever paid for anything; it points to an act of unequalled sacrifice never again to be repeated. This price was paid for you, that should your heart ever be agreeable towards God, and should you choose to accept the gift purchased through this cross, you may receive it. I encourage you to discover this gift for yourself, and the first chapter of the Gospel of John is a good place to begin." ― Frate Sebastiano Monticelli
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"A child sitting close to a loud television may not hear their parent's call. Likewise, we can permit the noise of this world to drown out the voice of our heavenly Father, who daily calls us to have fellowship with Him." ― Frate Luca Santamaria
Eidsbygda Church in Rauma, Norway
https://nn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_kyrkje_i_Romsdal
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"The year in which you read these words, is counted from the birth of Christ, the man who changed the world; He can change your world too, if you let Him in." ― Frate Giacomo
St. Coloman's Church in Bavaria
https://cityseeker.com/schwangau/1044481-st-coloman
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"It is human nature to put off, avoid and ignore those things we find awkward, difficult or do not understand. We must beware though, not to permit such attitudes to affect our relationship with God." ― Frate Sebastiano Monticelli
Chiesetta di San Silvestro, Passo della Gobbera in Imer, Trentino
Chiesetta di San Silvestro
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"Oh woman, great is thy faith" was the remark made by Christ to a Canaanite woman, one of only two people He commended for having great faith. Great faith is most certainly possible, because we believe in a truly great God! ― Frate Luca Santamaria
Zenkov Cathedral in Almaty, Kazakhstan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascens...hedral,_Almaty
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"While it may seem as if we can survive without God in this life, the same is not true of the next." ― Frate Giacomo
The Church of St. Nicholas in Troekurovo, Russia (Photo by Dmitrij Andreev)
https://orthochristian.com/118021.html
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"No eye has seen, no ear has heard and no heart has conceived, that which God has prepared for those who love Him."
― St. Paul the Apostle
St. Luzius Chapel, Siat, Switzerland
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siat
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"The light of God is able to penetrate every willing heart, and for those who receive this light, there is no darkness, even in times of darkness." ― Frate Sebastiano Monticelli
Rural chapel in Bavaria, Germany (Photo by Uwe Kolb)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bavaria
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"We have many purposes, but the greatest of all is to be reconciled with the One who created us." ― Frate Luca Santamaria
New Jerusalem Monastery in Istra, Russia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jerusalem_Monastery
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"The sunset of our years comes soon enough, but for those who embrace Christ, a new dawn awaits." ― Frate Giacomo
Church bell arch in Greece (Photo by Xi Jin)
https://www.the-travel-insiders.com/...hurches-greece
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"Many of life's treasures are hidden, including God, but He has left numerous signs which point to Him and provided us with a treasure map which leads directly to Him, and that map is the Bible." ― Frate Sebastiano Monticelli
La Chiesetta del Carmelo in Braila, Arco, Trento (Photo by Tobias Keller)
La Chiessetta del Carmelo
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"Christ has promised never to reject those who turn to Him, which when you consider how steeped in sin some of us were, is an astonishingly generous promise." ― Frate Luca Santamaria
Monastery of Agios Savvas above Pothia on Kalymnos Island, Greece
https://www.kalispera.se/greece/kaly...ve-pothia.html
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"For the majority of people, this life is tough; but God promises rest in the hereafter as well as help for each day." ― Frate Giacomo
Chapelle de Roselend en Beaufort, France
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapelle_de_Roselend
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