dino carbetta

  • Portfolio
  • About
  • Galleries & Pricing
    • All Galleries
    • Search
    • Cart
    • Lightbox
    • Client Area
  • Art Services & Information
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
x

Search Results

Refine Search
Match all words
Match any word
Prints
Personal Use
Royalty-Free
Rights-Managed
(leave unchecked to
search all images)
Next
440 images found
twitterlinkedinfacebook

Loading ()...

  • “The mystical rainbow of God above the Cathedral of San Rufino Assisi”…<br />
<br />
This image is perhaps one of the most blessed and miraculous of my Italian journey. Upon arrival early that day in Assisi, I began taking photos the second I parked at Hotel Giotto just inside the walls in the foothills of Assisi. Perhaps Saint Francis arranged the dramatically perfect skies and coordinated every encounter. Beginning at the Basilica of Saint Francis, every second of the climb to the top of the mountain to the fortress Rocca Maggiore, a new surprise awaited around every corner. Upon my final steps to the top at almost sunset, the clouds parted and the low sun brightened as a slight mist of rain came down. Looking back over my shoulder, I was mesmerized at the appearance of this first of eventually two rainbows shining down behind the Duomo of Saint Rufino. I was able to capture a few horizontal and vertical images of the rainbows just as the sun began its descent below the horizon. My Italian journey was truly blessed by the hand of God.
    Il mistico arcobaleno di Dio sopra l..sisi
  • "Rainbow of God divides the sky between San Rufino and St. Clare of Assisi"...<br />
<br />
This image is perhaps the most blessed and miraculous of my Italian journey.  Upon arrival early that day in Assisi, I began taking photos the second I parked at Hotel Giotto just inside the walls in the foothills of Assisi. Perhaps Saint Francis arranged the dramatically perfect skies and coordinated every encounter. Beginning at the Basilica of Saint Francis, every second of the climb to the top of the mountain to the fortress Rocca Maggiore, a new surprise awaited around every corner.  Upon my final steps to the top at almost sunset, the clouds parted and the low sun brightened as a slight mist of rain came down.  Looking back over my shoulder, I was mesmerized at the appearance of a double rainbow from the heavens shining down between the Duomo of Saint Rufino, and the Basilica of Saint Clare. I was able to take a few horizontal and vertical images of the great length and depth of the rainbow just before the sun dropped down below the horizon...and, it slowly faded.  My Italian journey was now and forever blessed by the hand of God.
    Arcobaleno di Dio divide il cielo tr..sisi
  • "Double rainbow of God shines Between San Rufino and St. Clare of Assisi"...<br />
<br />
This image is perhaps the most blessed and miraculous of my Italian journey.  Upon arrival early that day in Assisi, I began taking photos the second I parked at Hotel Giotto just inside the walls in the foothills of Assisi. Perhaps Saint Francis arranged the dramatically perfect skies and coordinated every encounter. Beginning at the Basilica of Saint Francis, every second of the climb to the top of the mountain to the fortress Rocca Maggiore, a new surprise awaited around every corner.  Upon my final steps to the top at almost sunset, the clouds parted and the low sun brightened as a slight mist of rain came down.  Looking back over my shoulder, I was mesmerized at the appearance of a double rainbow from the heavens shining down between the Duomo of Saint Rufino, and the Basilica of Saint Clare. I was able to take a few horizontal and vertical images of the great length and depth of the rainbow just before the sun dropped down below the horizon...and, it slowly faded.  My Italian journey was now and forever blessed by the hand of God.
    Doppio arcobaleno di Dio risplende T..sisi
  • "Rainbow of God shines Between San Rufino and St. Clare of Assisi"...<br />
<br />
This image is perhaps one of the most blessed and miraculous of my Italian journey.  Upon arrival early that day in Assisi, I began taking photos the second I parked at Hotel Giotto just inside the walls in the foothills of Assisi. Perhaps Saint Francis arranged the dramatically perfect skies and coordinated every encounter. Beginning at the Basilica of Saint Francis, every second of the climb to the top of the mountain to the fortress Rocca Maggiore, a new surprise awaited around every corner.  Upon my final steps to the top at almost sunset, the clouds parted and the low sun brightened as a slight mist of rain came down.  Looking back over my shoulder, I was mesmerized at the appearance of a double rainbow from the heavens shining down between the Duomo of Saint Rufino, and the Basilica of Saint Clare. I was able to take this close-up horizontal image of the rainbow just before the sun dropped down below the horizon...and, it slowly faded.  My Italian journey was now and forever blessed by the hand of God.
    Arcobaleno di Dio risplende Tra San ..sisi
  • “Pentecost - Painting by Dino Carbetta”...<br />
<br />
As I neared completion of this painting called “Pentecost,” I became overwhelmed and replete with emotion. It was not the composition or finality of another symbolic artwork, but the actual memory of my extraordinary Pentecost when I received the blessings and Sacrament of Catholic Confirmation. Archbishop Donoghue anointed my forehead with oil on the Altar of the Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta in front of an overflowing church, and my Catholic Brother and childhood friend Bob Casey’s hand on my shoulder. The first example of Confirmation can be found in Acts 8:14-17. Confirmation sponsors “bring the candidates to receive the sacrament, present them to the minister for anointing, and will later help them fulfill their baptismal promises faithfully under the influence of the Holy Spirit whom they have received.” I was overwhelmed then, and feel the same as now. Confirmation is a Sacrament in the Catholic Church in which the one who is confirmed receives the gifts of the Holy Spirit through the imposition of hand and anointing with oils by the bishop. It’s considered a sacrament of initiation which means that it brings you deeper into communion with the Church. “Bishops are the successors of the apostles. They have received the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders. The administration of this sacrament demonstrates clearly that its effects are to unite those who receive it more closely to the Church, her apostolic origins, and her mission of bearing witness to Christ.” It is the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost. Confirmation brings Catholics a deepening of baptismal grace and unites us more firmly to Christ. It increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit and leaves an indelible mark on the soul just like baptism. Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.
    Pentecoste - Dipinto di Dino Carbetta
  • “Giving seed to the One who sows, Snow - Painting by Dino Carbetta”…<br />
<br />
[Isaiah 55:10-13] Yet just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down And do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, Giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, So shall my word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to me empty, but shall do what pleases me, achieving the end for which I sent it. Yes, in joy you shall go forth, in peace you shall be brought home; Mountains and hills shall break out in song before you, all trees of the field shall clap their hands. In place of the thornbush, the cypress shall grow, instead of nettles, the myrtle. This shall be to the LORD’s renown, as an everlasting sign that shall not fail.
    Dare seme a Colui che semina, Neve -..etta
  • “The New Church birthplace of St. Francis of Assisi”…<br />
<br />
This photograph was created while approaching Chiesa Nuova (New Church) at the same time an elderly Italian man was entering for worship and prayer. As I entered the beautiful small church, a Franciscan Monk working inside saw me and without reluctance, rose from his desk and graced me with a half-hour tour speaking entirely in Italian. He never hesitated and he never assumed that I was not fluent in Italian; yet, he continued to entrust me with every detail of what looked like a mini Basilica. As we ventured around, he explained every nuance, even the crypt where Saint Francis’ parents reside. Upon completion of the tour, he shook my hand, gave me a gentle embrace, and bestowed a blessing in Italian. While not understanding the language, I left with gratitude and amazement …yet, somehow, I understood his every word.
    La Chiesa Nuova luogo di nascita di ..sisi
  • “The morning fog disappears over the Sacred Convent and the Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi”…<br />
<br />
The Sacro Convento is a Franciscan friary in Assisi, Italy. The friary is connected as part of three buildings to the upper and lower church of the Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi, where the friar's custody with great reverence the body of Saint Francis. St. Francis wanted to be buried at this location outside of Assisi's city walls, called Hill of Hell (Collo d'Inferno - here were the gallows where criminals were put to death) because his master Jesus of Nazareth also was killed like a criminal outside of the city of Jerusalem. The Conventual Franciscans consider Assisi as the mother town and the monastery as the spiritual center of their order, while the operations center is located in Rome. Pope Gregory IX laid the cornerstone for the Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi and the friary on 17 July 1228, the day after the canonization of Saint Francis. In 1230, after two years the lower church was ready to uptake the bones of Saint Francis, who had died at Portiuncula in 1226 and had been transferred to the church San Gregorio, which later became the Basilica di Santa Chiara, after Santa Chiara's death. The original part of the Sacro Convento consisted of a refectory, dormitory, chapter hall, papal hall, and a scriptorium-library. For the first 200 years of its existence, the library rivaled the Sorbonne and Avignon with a comparable number of manuscripts. The façade of the upper basilica is perhaps the most photographed church in the world. It appears smallish and antiquated from the outside. However, the deceptive upper basilica is quite large but gives way to the grand lower basilica. One has no idea of the massive structure below supporting the Basilica of Saint Francis unless realizing the Sacred Convent is the monumental base. This image confirms the magnitude of the entirety of the Convent and the Basilica.
    La nebbia mattutina svanisce sul Sac..sisi
  • "Crucifixion above the altar of the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi"...<br />
<br />
The Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi is located outside the first city walls, in Piazza del Vescovado. It was the heart of the medieval bishop's citadel and center of religious power until the 11th century when it gave the title of the Cathedral to San Rufino. According to tradition, the first Cathedral of Assisi was built on this site close to the Roman city walls in the 4th century.  The crypt under the apse of the present church, which is the oldest surviving part of the structure, seems to date to the 9th or 10th century. St. Francis was baptized in the temple. The interior has a basilica plan with three naves, separated by pillars. In the early Middle Ages, it was an episcopal residence. In 1035, at the time of Bishop Ugone, the title of Cathedral was transferred from Santa Maria Maggiore to the church of San Rufino, where the relics of the patron saint were kept. San Francesco was a guest of Bishop Guido I several times in the adjacent Palazzo Vescovile, in front of which he stripped off his clothes, nurturing a special bond with the church of Santa Maria Maggiore. A stone outside the apse bears witness to works carried out at the time of Francis and Bishop Guido in the year 1216. I found the ancient church to be uncomplicated, yet comforting and reverent. The primitive and recently discovered catacombs below, reveal their age and status throughout history.
    Crocifissione sopra l'altare della C..sisi
  • "St. Jerome in front of the Miracle of St. Joseph of Cupertino - Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari Venezia”...<br />
<br />
Alessandro Vittoria sculpted the statue of St Jerome in 1564 and resembles the famous statues by Michelangelo in the sacristy of St. Lorenzo in Florence. St. Jerome was defined as “one of the most famous works of the 1500s,” imitating Michelangelo’s style. The expression, the realistic likeness to the human form, the strength, and finesse demonstrate the introspective talent of the artist. The Miracle of St. Joseph of Cupertino is by Giuseppe Nogari in the 18th century. Joseph of Cupertino is most famous for levitating at prayer. He painted mainly half-body portraits, either real or of historical and religious figures. They are striking for their emotional content, subdued decoration, and coloration, and often display aged individuals in somewhat homely or shabby attire with a dark background. The Basilica di Frari is one of my most favorite churches in all of Italy. Outwardly nondescript, walking through the doorway, one is instantly overwhelmed by its ancient beauty and grandeur. My imagination explodes with a fascinating impression of great history, artistic brilliance, and the “Holy” who have embarked upon this monumental “Basilica masterpiece!” “Frari,” is a very large Gothic church of the early 15th-century, initially built of brick (like many Franciscan churches designed for preaching to large crowds, but now filled with elaborate paintings and tombs.) The interior is light and spacious and claims are often made for the Frari being almost a museum of Venetian Renaissance art. Just like most former tourists of Italy, one yearns for the delectable anamnesis of Gelato. I agree with that memorable thought, but I also hunger and languish for Venice and all its hidden spirituality that most simply overlook.
    San Girolamo di fronte al Miracolo d..ezia
  • "The sun sets like fire in the sky above the Papal Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi"...<br />
<br />
The seventh morning of our Pilgrimage, we sorrowfully said goodbye to the majestic Sorrento and set out to find the spiritual mecca of Assisi. The excitement of Saint Francis' tiny mountaintop walled village perked our eyes toward the bus windows. Hotel Giotto welcomed all!  An evening Mass with Fr. Peek in the PAX Chapel (a small underground sanctuary in Saint Francis Basilica) hosted our celebration. Mass was celebrated in honor of the wedding anniversary of Bill and Bardeen Dunphy from Atlanta, GA. I cannot say enough about the wonderful quality of people and Catholics in which I had the honor to accompany on our Pilgrimage. A small group of only 12, but mighty in character, affection, spirituality, and compassion. Bill and Bardeen epitomized this nature and shared their love will all our Pilgrims and those who witnessed our gatherings. We were also blessed by a humble, yet charismatic Priest, Father Kevin Peek. He seemed to know every other person in Italy, and subsequently, we all found new friends at dinner time. I cannot honestly conclude a more perfect Pilgrimage Priest than Father, and he was the epitome of a Spiritual guide. He not only celebrated Mass each morning in the most beautiful and prestigious Basilica’s in the world, he also led nighttime rosary walks through the Italian Strada, offered confession, interjected stories of the Saints, discussed all Italian epicurean delights with great enthusiasm, and spread the word and love of God to anyone who would listen.  After Mass, the sun once again glowed as it set behind Saint Francis Basilica. There is probably not a more exteriorly photographed church in the world, and it always seems eager to please. The Basilica poses graciously night or day and proudly extends a loving welcome not only to those who are blessed to be there but all those who witness its image created by God and the fortunate artist of capture.
    Il sole tramonta attraverso la Basil..sisi
  • "The Crucifix - The Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli Assisi Museum - Painting by Dino Carbetta"...<br />
<br />
Portiuncula is a town and a parish situated about three-quarters of a mile from Assisi. The town has grown up around the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels. It was of this little church moved within the Basilica that St. Francis recognized his vocation in the year 1208, and it was where St. Francis spent most of his life. In 1211, the Benedictines gave him the little chapel of St. Mary of the Angels or the Portiuncula, which is a “little portion” of land. The first Franciscan convent was also formed nearby. The Portiuncula was also where St. Francis received the vows of St. Clare. St. Francis died here on October 3, 1226, and on his deathbed, he recommended the chapel to the faithful protection and care of his brothers. The Museo della Basilica is in another section of the convent. Among the most important works kept here are the "Crucifix “painted on wood by Giunta Pisano (1236-40). The return of Francis, a penitent man, contemplating his future in the Church... But God had other plans, and Francis did not travel far. His search for conversion led him to the ancient church at San Damiano. While he was praying there, he heard Christ on the crucifix speak to him, "Francis, repair my church." Francis assumed this meant the crumbling building he was in. He later realized it was his call to rebuild the entire Church. He read the command to the rich young man to sell all his good and give to the poor, the order to the apostles to take nothing on their journey, and the demand to take up the cross daily. "Here is our rule," Francis said -- as simple, and as seemingly impossible, as that. He was going to do what no one thought possible any more -- live by the Gospel.
    Il Crocifisso - La Basilica di Santa..etta
  • “Virgin Mary and newborn Jesus in Bethlehem - Painting by Dino Carbetta”…<br />
<br />
"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on his servant in her lowliness. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name: and his mercy is from age to age on those who fear him. He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud-hearted, he has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever." (Lk.1:46-55) “Now we are about to receive the Savior, Emmanuel, God with us. God's only-begotten Son, born of the Father before all time, God of God, light of light, true God of true God, one being with the Father, is about to be born in time. For the salvation of men, He has come down upon earth and is conceived by the Holy Ghost in a virgin. He shall be called God with us, and yet He will be one in nature with us. He is to be like to us in all things except sin. He wills to share our poverty and to pray and suffer with us; He assumes our guilt. He is God with us in every phase of our life; He even takes our place on the cross, He remains with us in Holy Communion, in our daily Mass, and in our tabernacles. At some time in the future, He will still be God with us in His beautiful heaven. All this He has done for us even though we have repeatedly turned our back on Him.”
    Vergine Maria e Gesù neonato a Betle..etta
  • “A Million Faces of Jesus by Dino Carbetta – Resplendent”…<br />
<br />
“God of every nation and people, from the very beginning of creation you have made manifest your love: when our need for a Savior was great you sent your Son to be born of the Virgin Mary. To our lives, he brings joy and peace, justice, mercy, and love.” Since early childhood, my fascination with the face of Christ resulted in a multitude of sketches, drawings, and photographs. Today, my mind’s eye continues this perception in wonderment. I yearn to see, feel, and touch this beatific vision. Blessed with humble skills, this is my current vision after three years of introspection and change of the face of Christ. I know that in heaven the just will see God by direct intuition, clearly and distinctly. Scripture and theology tell us that the blessed see God face to face. And because this vision is immediate and direct, it is also exceedingly clear and distinct. Battle against Evil: Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on an evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all [the] flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  EPHESIANS, 6:10-17
    Un Milione di volti di Gesù di Dino ..ente
  • “Iridescent Venetian Sunset”…<br />
<br />
I am not sure if I am the first to describe Venice as “organic;” however, there has never been a more perfect description to define Venice’s ever-changing persona. Venice is perhaps the most uniquely iconic seaside city in the world, and its impression changes by the minute with the dynamic light and active tide coming in and out. Flying into Venice via the USA, I was met with torrential rains in the early morning, which finally gave way to afternoon sunshine. The creaky, wet, gloomy, old, decaying Venice sinking and soaking in the morning rain… opened like flower petals in the springtime at the first glimpse of sunlight. The organic lagoon began to blossom as if the decay became antique, the gloom became a passion, the creaky became sweet sounds, and the desperate island illuminated with life, color, and hope. Heading out the first afternoon with no sleep since leaving Atlanta the day before, I was exhausted yet had so much adrenaline and utter excitement emanating from my soul. My heart, eyes, and brain forced me to follow the light and take photos; thus, the first day of thirty began with number 1 of 6500 images. Not until I began writing these descriptions did I realize that many of these were taken the day I arrived in Venice…it was sensory overload. Canal sunsets became the norm of my three glorious days in Venice.
    Iridescente Veneziano Tramonto
  • “Madonna illuminates the altar of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, Assisi”…<br />
<br />
Santa Maria Sopra Minerva is the church dedicated to Mary which was built over a Roman temple to Minerva, the goddess of wisdom. Parts of the Roman temple which dates from the time of Augustus (63 BC-AD 14) remain. As Christianity became official in the Roman Empire, the Temple became abandoned. Benedictine monks restored the temple and eventually, the Italian Renaissance-inspired a newfound appreciation for classical art and architecture. In 1539, Pope Paolo III ordered the Temple of Minerva to be completely restored and dedicated to the Virgin Mary, queen of true wisdom. The temple then took the name of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. The six imposing Corinthian columns and the entire Roman façade are still intact after 2,000 years along with the towering Campanile. As the center of ancient Assisi, and still prominent today… this former Temple and now sacred church seems to be at the heart of the existence of Assisi. Additionally, the famous artist Giotto painted frescos of the life of Saint Francis which adorn the walls of the Saint’s Basilica including images of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. Ironically, Giotto’s placing of St. Francis in the local scenery was the first of its kind, thus the beginning of the Renaissance. In 1791 it was consecrated on the Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady. And, after the Apparition of Our Lady as the Immaculate Conception seen by St. Bernadette which took place in Lourdes, France…this statue of the Virgin Mary was erected in the hollowed earth behind the altar. As I hiked the steep grade upward to the top of Assisi, a respite seemed to arise from the ancient Roman era and took me back in time. The imposing columns gave way from the ancient exterior progressing inside discovering the serene and peaceful Virgin Mary, Queen of True Wisdom.
    Madonna illumina l'altare di Santa M..sisi
  • “Adoration of the Shepherds - Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament Duomo of Siena”...<br />
<br />
Located at the corner between the right transept and the presbytery, in a position corresponding to the Chapel of Sant'Ansano, the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament occupies this span. The altarpiece is a canvas depicting the Adoration of the Shepherds by Alessandro Casolani beginning in 1594. The Duomo in Siena lies in a piazza above the Piazza del Campo, a great Gothic building filled with treasures by Pisano, Donatello, Bernini, and Michelangelo as well as frescoes by Pinturicchio. Originally completed in 1263, the 14th century inspired an ambitious attempt to transform the cathedral into the largest temple in all of Christendom, which would dwarf even St. Peter's in Rome. The already-large Duomo would form just the transept of this huge cathedral. In 1348, the Black Death swept through the city and killed 4/5 of Siena's population. The giant cathedral was never completed, and the half-finished walls of the New Cathedral survive as a monument to Siena's ambition and one-time wealth. The magnificent complex of the Cathedral of Siena houses a series of some of the most important monuments of the European artistic panorama. If I was asked to choose only one place that represented the great history of art, architecture, culture, and faith in all of Italy…one would be hard-pressed to find a more complete portfolio than the Cathedral of Siena. I found myself awe-inspired just walking up and facing the elegant façade, striped walls and pillars, and massive size. Upon entering the nave, one is overwhelmed with a plethora of artistic expression and great beauty placed in every available space. From its dome, stained glass, frescos, sculptures, and to what is said to be the most magnificent marble floor in history…it is worth every minute.
    Adorazione dei Pastori - Cappella de..iena
  • “Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament - Adoration of the Shepherds Duomo di Siena”... <br />
<br />
Located at the corner between the right transept and the presbytery, in a position corresponding to the Chapel of Sant'Ansano, the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament occupies this span. The altarpiece is a canvas depicting the Adoration of the Shepherds by Alessandro Casolani beginning in 1594. The Duomo in Siena lies in a piazza above the Piazza del Campo, a great Gothic building filled with treasures by Pisano, Donatello, Bernini, and Michelangelo as well as frescoes by Pinturicchio. Originally completed in 1263, the 14th century inspired an ambitious attempt to transform the cathedral into the largest temple in all of Christendom, which would dwarf even St. Peter's in Rome. The already-large Duomo would form just the transept of this huge cathedral. In 1348, the Black Death swept through the city and killed 4/5 of Siena's population. The giant cathedral was never completed, and the half-finished walls of the New Cathedral survive as a monument to Siena's ambition and one-time wealth. The magnificent complex of the Cathedral of Siena houses a series of some of the most important monuments of the European artistic panorama. If I was asked to choose only one place that represented the great history of art, architecture, culture, and faith in all of Italy…one would be hard-pressed to find a more complete portfolio than the Cathedral of Siena. I found myself awe-inspired just walking up and facing the elegant façade, striped walls and pillars, and massive size. Upon entering the nave, one is overwhelmed with a plethora of artistic expression and great beauty placed in every available space. From its dome, stained glass, frescos, sculptures, and to what is said to be the most magnificent marble floor in history…it is worth every minute.
    Cappella del Santissimo Sacramento -..iena
  • "Midnight walk along Via Fontebella towards the Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi"... <br />
<br />
Upon arrival early that day in Assisi, I began taking photos the second I parked at Hotel Giotto just inside the walls in the foothills of Assisi. Perhaps Saint Francis arranged the dramatically perfect skies and coordinated every encounter. Beginning at the Basilica of Saint Frances, every second of the climb to the top of the mountain to the fortress Rocca Maggiore, a new surprise awaited around every corner. Never stopping for lunch or dinner, I continued to photograph new images well past sundown. Traversing the narrow steps and Strada back down to the bottom of the mountaintop to my hotel, the walk seemed a bit less strenuous and I felt a sense of gratitude and completion of my day-long journey. However, the very quiet Assisi seemed to have fallen into a deep slumber in the early nighttime leaving all the restaurants closed for the night. Pleading with the hotel manager, she desperately arranged a late dinner at one of the most iconic restaurants in Assisi, La Locanda Del Cardinale, which was built over an ancient Roman settlement dating from the first century B.C., with glass floors to view the mosaics below. Walking back at midnight to the hotel, the peaceful Assisi continued to call out. At first glance of this reverent dwelling, I perceived it to be a religious structure. However, in the typical fashion of the Assisi surroundings, it was just a simple abode with a very mystical red brick sidewalk leading upward toward the light. Clichés abound as the warm light draws one near as if a moth to the flame. I didn’t follow the sidewalk but captured this image to ponder on a later date. Drifting forward the serene, quiet Basilica of Saint Francis stood majestically and glowed in the distant midnight skies. One could not help but to acquiesce to its spiritual yearning for just a few more memorable portraits in the cool dew of the early morning air.
    Mezzanotte passeggiata lungo Via Fon..sisi
  • “I saw the Spirit descend like a Dove - Painting by Dino Carbetta”…<br />
<br />
Acts 2:1-4 “When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. Jn 20:19-23 “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”
    Ho visto lo Spirito scendere come un..etta
  • "Christ Crucified - Santa Maria della Salute Venice - BW"... <br />
<br />
The Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute (Basilica of St. Mary of Health), commonly known as La Salute, is one of the largest, most iconic, and prominent churches of Venice. It stands in a prominent position at the junction between the Grand Canal and the Bacino di San Marco on the lagoon. In October 1630, the Venetian Senate decreed that if the city was delivered from the raging Bubonic Plague, which decimated one third of the Venetian population, a new church would be constructed and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The Basilica is an ornate, massive structure in its exterior; however, it is quite small interiorly. I am not sure if it was ever an active parish but more of a shrine with little room for seating. The steps wrapping around the front and sides make a perfect destination for relaxation during warm Venetian days. Interior windows open to the sky which allows for a great deal of sunlight, and as I meandered around I noticed a beautiful crucifix near the confessional. The strong rays of sunshine illuminated the face of Christ just enough to encourage one to examine their conscience one last time before entering into Sacrament of Confession.
    Cristo Crocifisso - Santa Maria dell..- BW
  • “Red bricks lead to the Papal Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi”…<br />
<br />
This late afternoon image was captured while standing upon remnants atop the mountainside of Assisi viewing down to the resting Basilica of Saint Francis. Upon arrival early that day I began taking photos the second I parked at Hotel Giotto just inside the walls in the foothills of Assisi. Perhaps Saint Francis arranged the dramatically perfect skies and coordinated every encounter. Beginning at the Basilica of Saint Frances, every second of the climb to the top of the mountain to the fortress Rocca Maggiore, a new surprise awaited around every corner. Upon my final steps to the top at almost sunset, the clouds parted and the low sun brightened as a slight mist of rain came down. Looking back over my shoulder, the appearance of a rainbow shone down between the Duomo of Saint Rufino and the Basilica of Saint Clare. After the first small rainbow dissipated...I moved about 200 yards to the opposite view facing the setting sun over the Basilica of St. Francis. I was fortunate to capture several dramatic images just before another rainbow appeared behind me...a spectacular and blessed show by the hand of God. The Basilica, which was begun in 1228 honoring the life of Saint Francis, is probably the most exteriorly photographed church in the world, and it always seems eager to please. The Basilica poses graciously night or day and proudly extends a loving welcome not only to those who are blessed to be there but all those who witness its image created by God and the fortunate artist of capture.
    Mattoni rossi piombo alla Basilica P..sisi
  • “The Church of Santa Maddalena is surrounded by Roe Deer, both enjoying the sunset over the Dolomites in South Tyrol, Italy - Painting by Dino Carbetta”…<br />
<br />
The Church of St. Magdalene resides in a small village located in the Dolomites of Italy. Both, the village and the church, are symbols of the Val di Funes. This tiny picturesque village of just 377 people is located in the Trentino-Alto Adige region of Northern Italy. Historically, the church was built where the miraculous image of Santa Maddalena was washed up by the Fopal River. Saint Mary Magdalene church is mentioned beginning in 1394. The current form of the nave with a sloping base and a slightly grooved roof cornice, with pear and round bar on the pointed arch portal with a red chalk inscription, was complete in 1492. The mural exterior is the Crucifix on the gable in a niche with a donkey's back, weather-beaten, early XVI century. St. Christopher is lively and virtuoso in movement with a fluttering, wrinkled robe. Interiorly, the keystones on the vault, are bust portraits of Mary with the Christ Child and saints. The valley, as you can see, Val di Funes is stunningly beautiful. Summer, it’s very green and dotted with colorful flowers. Winter, it’s covered with snow, and the ragged Dolomite peaks, pierce the sky toward the heavens. Mary Magdalene is the first among the women following Jesus to proclaim Him as having overcome death. She is the first to announce the joyful message of Easter. But she also proved she was among those who loved Him most when she stood at the foot of the Cross on Mount Calvary together with Mary, His Mother, and the disciple, St. John. She did not deny him or run away in fear as the other disciples did, but remained close to Him every moment, up to and including the tomb. The Italian Roe Deer rejoice in the beauty of God’s creation.
    La Chiesa di Santa Maddalena e’ circ..etta
  • "Waiting along the canal near the parish of Santa Maria Gloriosa Dei Frari Venice"...<br />
<br />
 The last day of our Pilgrimage was spent in one of the most iconic locations on earth, Venice! Busing to the docks at the Venetian Lagoon from Padua to catch our private boat to the Basilica di San Marco, an exemplary spiritual treasure for a special Mass. Touring the crowded Doge’s Palace proceeded, then set free to breathe in as much of the Venetian Island as possible until our final farewell dinner and return flight home in the morning. As standard fare, my fellow Pilgrim Patrick and I took off out of the starting gate with the notion to capture the entirety of Venice in a half of a day on foot. We covered exactly 8.3 miles by foot, but with so much adrenaline, we could have doubled it into the nighttime. Our itinerary included Basilica’s, canals, bridges, gondolas, and anything resembling Venetian culture. Basilica dei Frari was foremost and Chiesa di San Geremia to visit St. Lucy. The maze Venice presents, GPS navigation only works occasionally on this crowded water complexity. The shutters on our cameras seemed permanently depressed as we desperately tried to capture everything we possibly could in such a short window of time, as we had to be at the waterside restaurant by 7:00 pm. It was a Bellissimo Spring day, and of course, we stopped for an Aperitivo which I also fell in love with on this replete journey. We artfully meandered the narrow walkways and canals with a keen rhythm and capture of all that was superior. Not a thought of distance occurred in our surreptitious mission of Venice. We finally made it by dusk to our waterway restaurant Ristorante Pizzería Da Alvise, which was authentic and excellent. The finest shrimp I have experienced, grateful speeches emanated the tiny venue. Melancholy gratification filled the ambiance as we said our final farewells to Italy and the wonderful new friendships and experiences we shared on this Pilgrimage of a lifetime!
    Aspettando lungo il canale vicino a ..ezia
  • “Assisi front door with a lot of Character”…<br />
<br />
Italy is famous for its display of fresh and beautiful flowers and foliage outside the windows and doors throughout the countryside, and Assisi was no different except for the perfection of their presentation. I am sure the Chamber of Commerce in Assisi is quite busy maintaining the continuity and beauty of Assisi, but perhaps there is no need as the residents all seem perfectly happy to respect and display all its beauty. The streets, walkways, and general environment were the most immaculate of any town I witnessed in Italy and the most religious of any place on my journey. The town became a mystic and peaceful shrine in the early darkness of night after all the tourists departed, and all the prayers offered that day reflected and echoed off the ancient walls. Even the vending machines contained Rosaries, and its residents strolled about dressed in their religious attire with permanent smiles upon their faces. I am sure there are many remarkable religious destinations in the world but this photographer’s opinion…Assisi has no spiritual equal on this earth.
    Assisi porta di casa con un molto di..tere
  • “Twilight Illuminates the piano steps to the Cathedral of Assisi”…<br />
<br />
Gospel Mt 7:6, 12-14 Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces. “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the Law and the Prophets. “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.” Upon arrival early that day in Assisi, I began taking photos the second I parked at Hotel Giotto just inside the walls in the foothills of Assisi. Perhaps Saint Francis arranged the dramatically perfect skies and coordinated every encounter. Beginning at the Basilica of Saint Francis, every second of the climb to the top of the mountain and the fortress of Rocca Maggiore was highlighted time after time by a vision of something more mystical and spiritual than the last. Upon my final steps to the top at almost sunset, the clouds parted and the low sun brightened as a slight mist of rain came down. The climb to the top was fraught with a multitude of very steep and exhaustive staircases, but the reward was always greater than the physical agony endured. "My soul can find no staircase to Heaven unless it be through Earth's loveliness." - Michelangelo.
    Crepuscolo Illumina al Pianoforte gr..sisi
  • “The Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute Venice radiates in the distance on the Grand Canal”…<br />
 <br />
Gospel MT 14:22-33 “After the crowd had eaten their fill, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile, the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. "It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter said to him in reply, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God." The Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, commonly known as La Salute, is one of the largest, most iconic, and prominent churches of Venice. It stands in a conspicuous position at the junction between the Grand Canal and the Bacino di San Marco on the lagoon. In October 1630, the Venetian Senate decreed that if the city was delivered from the raging Bubonic Plague, which decimated one-third of the Venetian population, a new church would be constructed and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The Basilica is an ornate, massive structure in its exterior; however, it is quite reverently quaint interiorly.
    La Basilica di Santa Maria della Sal..ande
  • "High altar crucifix from the back of the Papal Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua"... <br />
<br />
I consider this magnificent rear view of the High Altar in St. Anthony’s Basilica looking toward Donatello’s very famous “Crucifix in Padua” one of my few forbidden and miraculous images of my 2019 Pilgrimage to Italy. I was unaware of the mere size and ancient grandeur of the basilica begun in 1233 but found myself mystified by the aura surrounding it and especially the heavenly altar. The original arrangement is of a three-dimensional 'sacred conversation' with the six statues of the saints – Francis, Anthony, Justina, Daniel, Louis and Prosdocimus – positioned around the “Madonna with Child” under a dome supported by eight columns and arches, all bronzed by the famous Renaissance Tuscan sculptor Donatello. As with most prestigious Basilica’s, no photos are allowed, which mostly rendered this photographer reverent, but sad. We Pilgrims, paralyzed in capture and armed only with ‘whispers’ in our ears to hear the Italian tour guide, followed intently from brilliant chapel to chapel. Deceptively, I found myself directly behind the elevated “High Altar,” and as I curiously climbed the steps toward the locked Iron Gate, Donatello’s celestial bronze crucifix began to appear. My surreptitious movement kept me from being noticed by the security guards and our Italian guide. I covertly rested my lens through the iron bars, and quietly depressed the shutter on my camera. Often called “Il Santo” by the locals of Padua, one cannot escape feeling overwhelmed by its majesty, and emanation of spirituality and reverence. The Basilica is austere, mysterious, and solemn, yet capacious, monumental, and impossible to notice every grand detail. However, be emboldened that this Pilgrimage Church is one of the eight international shrines recognized by the Holy See. It is a symbol of faith and hope for all Christian believers. I believe Saint Anthony would be honored and proud to offer Mass here.
    Crocifisso altare maggiore dalla par..dova
  • “Macuteo Roman Obelisk in the Pantheon - Painting by Dino Carbetta”…<br />
<br />
Originally one of a pair at the Temple of Ra in Heliopolis, the other being the now much shorter Matteiano Obelisk. Moved to the Temple of Isis near Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. Found in 1373 near San Macuto. Moved to the front of the Pantheon by Pope Clement XI in 1711 over a fountain by Filippo Barigioni. The Aqua Virgo, one of the eleven aqueducts that supplied ancient Rome with drinking water, served the area of the Campus Martius, but had fallen into disrepair and disuse by the late Middle Ages. It was reconstructed under Pope Nicholas V and consecrated in 1453 as the Acqua Vergine. In 1570, Giacomo della Porta was commissioned under Pope Gregory XIII to oversee a major project to extend the distribution of water from the Vergine to eighteen new public fountains. The Obelisk was originally built by one of the most famous Egyptian Pharaohs about 1300 years before Christ, Ramses II. The cross of Jesus, through his death and resurrection, has conquered all evil and fulfilled the desires of every human person expressed through the diversity of religions that have existed throughout history. The ancient obelisk pointed upward toward the sun when built-in Heliopolis, but now it directs the attention of every pilgrim who views this and other Obelisk’s in Rome to the victorious cross of Christ, protecting them and dispersing any evil that approaches. The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross on Sept. 14 is a reminder for us to place the cross of Christ over everything that we are and do. Christ wants to claim each one of us entirely and invites us to surrender completely to him. The victory of Jesus on the cross informs everything in our lives and allows us to exclaim, “We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you because by your Cross you have redeemed the world.”
    Macuteo Obelisco Romana al Pantheon ..etta
  • “Jesus Weeps over Fractured America – Painting by Dino Carbetta”…<br />
<br />
“Know this, my dear brothers: everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, for the wrath of a man does not accomplish the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:4-9
    Gesù Piange sull'America Fratturata ..etta
  • "Sun hiding behind the Macuteo Obelisk - Roman Pantheon"...<br />
<br />
Eventually, one discovers that God finds a way where there is none. A very crowded Pantheon at 3:00 PM in the bright afternoon made creative photography impossible. However, getting on my knees and placing the sun behind the cross of the Obelisk created a phenomenal appeal. All are original, including the landing dove/pigeon and sun flare. The Obelisk was originally built by one of the most famous Egyptian Pharaohs about 1300 years before Christ by Pharaoh Ramses II for the Temple of Ra in Heliopolis and brought to Rome in ancient times. It was rediscovered in 1374 underneath the apse of the nearby Basilica of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. In the mid-15th century, the obelisk had been erected in the small Piazza di San Macuto some 200 meters east of the Pantheon, where it remained until its 1711 move to the Piazza della Rotonda. It is still called the Obelisco Macutèo after its previous location. Fontana del Pantheon was constructed by Giacomo Della Porta under Pope Gregory XIII in 1575, and the obelisk was added under Pope Clement XI. The city of Rome harbors the most obelisks in the world. There are eight ancient Egyptian and five ancient Roman obelisks. The Romans used special heavy cargo carriers called obelisk ships to transport the monuments down the Nile to Alexandria and from there across the Mediterranean Sea to Rome. On-site, large Roman cranes were employed to erect the monoliths. The obelisk is crowned by a bronze cross, the symbol of Jesus Christ. One idea that can be drawn from this is that Christianity—the cross of Jesus Christ—conquers paganism.  Another idea is that the obelisk represents the human desire for God which is only fulfilled in the Cross of Christ.
    Domenica di nascondersi dietro il Ma..heon
  • “The Pontifical Swiss Guard protects the bronze door of the Vatican – Rome”…<br />
<br />
My Roman tour guide at the Vatican, who knew all who worked there, made sure he presented every opportunity for me knowing I was a photographer/artist. For this and several other images, he talked with security allowing me to enter areas off-limits to photograph through doorways and windows. This huge bronze door has been the official entrance to the Apostolic Palace since 1663 and is permanently watched by three Swiss guards. The Pontifical Swiss Guard was founded in 1506 and in the 18th-century several Swiss soldiers were recruited from various European courts to form the close-quarter guards of the kings. Michelangelo designed the official--highly colorful--uniform, and guards also wear a long sword and a traditional halberd. The bronze door opens to a long corridor leading to the famous steps of the Scala Regia, which was designed by Bernini to appear longer and wider than in actuality. Unfortunately, this architectural wonder is closed to visitors, as is the rest of the Apostolic Palace where the Pope lives; only official visitors are admitted inside.
    La Pontificia Guardia Svizzera prote..Roma
  • “The Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute Venice radiates in the distance on the Grand Canal- Ultramarine blue”…<br />
<br />
Gospel MT 14:22-33 “After the crowd had eaten their fill, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile, the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. "It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter said to him in reply, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God." The Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, commonly known as La Salute, is one of the largest, most iconic, and prominent churches of Venice. It stands in a conspicuous position at the junction between the Grand Canal and the Bacino di San Marco on the lagoon. In October 1630, the Venetian Senate decreed that if the city was delivered from the raging Bubonic Plague, which decimated one-third of the Venetian population, a new church would be constructed and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The Basilica is an ornate, massive structure in its exterior; however, it is quite reverently quaint interiorly.
    La Basilica di Santa Maria della Sal..mare
  • “View from the Grand Canal of the church of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice”…<br />
<br />
The first church on the island was built about 790, and in 982 the island was given to the Benedictine order by the Doge Tribuno Memmo. The Benedictines founded a monastery there, but in 1223 all the buildings on the island were destroyed by an earthquake. Andrea Palladio, an Italian Renaissance architect active in the Venetian Republic was commissioned for the rebuild. Palladio, influenced by Roman and Greek architecture, is widely considered to be one of the most influential individuals in the history of architecture, began the rebuild in 1560 and made dramatic improvements. The campanile was rebuilt in neo-classic style and completed in 1791. It was ascended by ramps and now an elevator to the top for panoramic views of Venice. The facade is brilliantly white and represents Palladio's solution to the difficulty of adapting a classical temple facade to the form of the Catholic Basilica. Two very large paintings by Tintoretto relate to the institution of the Eucharist and are located on either side of the presbytery, where they can be seen from the altar rail. “The Last Supper” and “The Jews in the Desert” (collecting and eating the manna, a gift of God to the Israelites in the Desert after they escaped Egypt, which foretells the gift of the Eucharist). Claude Monet painted a series of paintings of the island Monastery of San Giorgio Maggiore in 1908 during the artist's only visit to the city. One of the best known is “San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk”, which exists in two versions. Monet completed his paintings of Venice at home in France and in 1912 showed them in Paris. Buyers included the Welsh collector Gwendoline Davies, who bought three paintings. This vision of the Church of San Giorgio is iconic and famous worldwide. My image capture while upon an evening boat excursion appears theatrical as if the majestic church is posing for yet another Venetian canvas.
    Vista dal Canal Grande della chiesa ..ezia
  • "San Maurizio Canal Venice"...<br />
<br />
The last day of our Pilgrimage was spent in one of the most iconic locations on earth, Venice! Busing to the docks at the Venetian Lagoon from Padua to catch our private boat to the Basilica di San Marco, an exemplary spiritual treasure for a special Mass in the sacristy. Touring the crowded Doge’s Palace proceeded, then set free to breathe in as much of the Venetian Island as possible until our final farewell dinner and return flight home in the morning. As standard fare, my fellow Pilgrim Patrick and I took off out of the starting gate with the notion to capture the entirety of Venice in a half of a day on foot. We covered exactly 8.3 miles by foot, but with so much adrenaline, we could have doubled it into the nighttime. Our itinerary included Basilica’s, canals, bridges, gondolas, and anything resembling Venetian culture, oh, and a stop for lunch. Basilica dei Frari was foremost and Chiesa di San Geremia to visit St. Lucy. The maze that Venice presents, GPS navigation only works occasionally on this crowded water complexity. The shutters on our cameras seemed permanently depressed as we desperately tried to capture everything we possibly could in such a short window of time, as we had to be at the waterside restaurant by 7:00 pm. It was a Bellissimo Spring day, and of course, we stopped for an Aperitivo which I also fell in love with on this replete journey. We artfully meandered the narrow walkways and canals with a keen rhythm and capture of all that was superior. Not a thought of distance occurred in our surreptitious mission of Venice. We finally made it by dusk to our waterway restaurant Ristorante Pizzería Da Alvise, which was authentic and excellent. The finest shrimp I have experienced, grateful speeches emanated the tiny venue. Melancholy gratification filled the ambiance as we said our final farewells to Italy and the wonderful new friendships and experiences we shared on this Pilgrimage of a lifetime!
    Canale di San Maurizio Venezia
  • “The Light of The Lamb - Painting by Dino Carbetta”…<br />
<br />
Throughout history, we have looked to the sun and moon to light the day and the night. Whether illuminating our path or providing the life-giving radiance for fruitful crops and the nutrients our bodies need, the sun and moon are part of God’s marvelous provision of light. Genesis tells us that God gave “God made the two great lights, the greater one to govern the day, and the lesser one to govern the night, and the stars.” (Gen. 1:16). But someday God will provide a different kind of illumination. Of the eternal heavenly city, John writes: “the city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gave it light, and its lamp was the Lamb.” (Rev. 21:23). The word translated “light” here is more accurately rendered as “lamp.” Christ in His glorified state will be the spiritual lamp that lights up that joyous new world. The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29). He is also the source of spiritual illumination that makes those who follow Him “You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.” (Matt. 5:14). The city did not need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gave it light, and its lamp was the Lamb (Rev. 21:23). Prayerfully, we will all live in the “Light of the Lamb.”
    La luce dell'agnello - Dipinto di Di..etta
  • "Riello Canal of Santa Sofia - Ca 'D'Oro, Venice"...<br />
<br />
The last day of our Pilgrimage was spent in one of the most iconic locations on earth, Venice! Busing to the docks at the Venetian Lagoon from Padua to catch our private boat to the Basilica di San Marco, an exemplary spiritual treasure for a special Mass in the sacristy. Touring the crowded Doge’s Palace proceeded, then set free to breathe in as much of the Venetian Island as possible until our final farewell dinner and return flight home in the morning. As standard fare, my fellow Pilgrim Patrick and I took off out of the starting gate with the notion to capture the entirety of Venice in half of a day on foot. We covered exactly 8.3 miles by foot, but with so much adrenaline, we could have doubled it into the nighttime. Our itinerary included Basilica’s, canals, bridges, gondolas, and anything resembling Venetian culture, and a stop for lunch. Basilica dei Frari was foremost and Chiesa di San Geremia to visit St. Lucy. The maze Venice presents, GPS navigation only works occasionally on this crowded water complexity. The shutters on our cameras seemed permanently depressed as we desperately tried to capture everything we possibly could in such a short window of time, as we had to be at the waterside restaurant by 7:00 pm. It was a Bellissimo Spring day, and of course, we stopped for an Aperitivo which I also fell in love with on this replete journey. We artfully meandered the narrow walkways and canals with a keen rhythm and capture of all that was superior. Not a thought of distance occurred in our surreptitious mission of Venice. We finally made it by dusk to our waterway restaurant Ristorante Pizzería Da Alvise, which was authentic and excellent. The finest shrimp I have experienced, grateful speeches emanated the tiny venue. Melancholy gratification filled the ambiance as we said our final farewells to Italy and the wonderful new friendships and experiences we shared on this Pilgrimage of a lifetime!
    Canale Riello de Santa Sofia - Ca 'D..ezia
  • "Saint Helena holding the cross - Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, Rome"...<br />
<br />
The Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem is located in Rome, in the Esquilino quarter, close to the Aurelian Walls and the Castrense Amphitheatre, between the Basilica of St. John Lateran and Porta Maggiore. The Basilica of the Holy Cross is part of the route of the “Seven Churches” that ancient pilgrims used to visit on foot. Several sources, including an inscription in the church, verify that the Sessorian Palace was owned by the empress St. Helen (c.255-330), Constantine's mother. From the end of the 4th century, it was said that St. Helen had made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, during which she discovered the True Cross on which Christ was crucified and many other relics. It was also said that she wished to set up a shrine in Rome for pilgrims who could not travel to Jerusalem. The first room of the chapel has a Roman-era statue of St. Helen holding the cross. Beneath the statue is a floor believed to contain soil from the Holy Land. Under the protective glass covering the soil are many paper prayers from the faithful. Fragments of the cross were circulating in the West by 348 AD. The earliest historical record of the church, dated to 501 AD, refers to it as "Hierusalem basilica Sessoriani palatii." Architecturally, it is notable that the 4th-century Chapel of St. Helen is quite similar in design to a martyrium that was erected by Constantine in Jerusalem to house a fragment of the True Cross. In 1492, a dramatic discovery was made in the course of repairs to a mosaic: a brick inscribed with the words TITULUS CRUCIS (Title of the Cross). Sealed behind the brick was a fragment of an inscription in wood, with the word "Nazarene" written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. The Title is mentioned in all four Gospel accounts. This was our first stop on our Pilgrimage of 2019 in Italy. A very propitious, historical, and spiritual beginning to a monumental journey in The Eternal City.
    Sant'Elena con in mano la croce - Sa..Roma
  • “The Sacred Heart of Jesus - Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina Rome - Painting by Dino Carbetta”…<br />
<br />
19 days after Pentecost, Catholics celebrate the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Catechism, quoting Pope Pius XII’s beautiful encyclical on the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, states, “Jesus has loved us all with a human heart. For this reason, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, pierced by our sins and for our salvation, ‘is quite rightly considered the chief sign and symbol of that… love with which the divine Redeemer continually loves the eternal Father and all human beings without exception. To appreciate this rich symbolism of the heart, we must remember in Judaism that the word heart represented the core of the person. While recognized as the principal life organ, the heart was also considered the center of all spiritual activity. Here was the seat of all emotion, especially love. As the psalms express, God speaks to a person in his heart and there probes him. This notion of the heart is clear in Deuteronomy 6:5-6: “Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today.” In 1675, Margaret Mary received the vision which came to be known as the “great apparition.” Jesus asked that the modern Feast of the Sacred Heart be celebrated each year on the Friday following Corpus Christi, in reparation for the ingratitude of men for the sacrifice which Christ had made for them. “O most holy heart of Jesus, the fountain of every blessing, I adore you, I love you, and with lively sorrow for my sins I offer you this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure, and wholly obedient to your will. Grant, Good Jesus that I may live in you and for you. Protect me in the midst of danger. Comfort me in my afflictions. Give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs, your blessing on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death. Amen.”
    Il Sacro Cuore di Gesù - Minore Basi..etta
  • “Night view through the arch of the Papal Basilica of San Francesco”…<br />
<br />
Upon arrival early that day in Assisi, I began taking photos the second I parked at Hotel Giotto just inside the walls in the foothills of Assisi. Perhaps Saint Francis arranged the dramatically perfect skies and coordinated every encounter. Beginning at the Basilica of Saint Francis, every second of the climb to the top of the mountain to the fortress Rocca Maggiore, a new surprise awaited around every corner. Never stopping for lunch or dinner, I continued to photograph new images well past sundown. Traversing the narrow steps and Strada back down to the bottom of the mountaintop to my hotel, the walk seemed a bit less strenuous and I felt a sense of gratitude and completion of my day-long journey. However, the very quiet Assisi seemed to have fallen into a deep slumber in the early nighttime leaving all the restaurants closed for the night. Pleading with the hotel manager, she desperately arranged a late dinner at one of the most iconic restaurants in Assisi, La Locanda Del Cardinale, which was built over an ancient Roman settlement dating from the first century B.C., with glass floors to view the mosaics below. Walking back at midnight to the hotel, the peaceful Assisi continued to call out. As the serene, quiet Basilica of Saint Francis stood majestically and glowed in the midnight skies, one could not help but to acquiesce to its mystical yearning for just a few more memorable portraits in the cool dew of the early morning air.
    Vista notturna attraverso l'arco di ..esco
  • “Christus Patiens above the High Altar of the Franciscan Basilica of Santa Chiara d'Assisi”…<br />
<br />
Around sunset, the clouds shifted and the descending sun illuminated the Assisi mountaintop as a slight mist of rain mystified the landscape. The ascent was fraught with a multitude of very steep and exhaustive staircases, but the one consolation was the dramatic anticipation of the divine scenery emerging in the distance. As I approached the last two Churches after 7:00 pm; the Basilica of Saint Clare, and the Cathedral of Saint Rufino...I noticed the security guard locking Santa Chiara’s front door. I rushed forward anxiously and begged to just look quickly inside the Vestibule. He only spoke Italian and frustrated with me, said I had one minute inside. Aiming my camera and telephoto lens directly toward the High Altar which seemed a mile away, I clicked one picture as the guard hastily gestured me outside. Ironically, I found that no pictures are allowed in this Basilica. And, on my Pilgrimage of 2019, was frustrated during my tour of the historic and reverent church, still, no pictures were allowed. I always try to respect the rules and venerate every location, however, I did take two very surreptitious images in the Oratorio del Crocifisso (Oratory of the Crucifix), a peaceful chapel that preserves the venerable 12th-century crucifix that spoke to St. Francis at San Damiano. This abrupt photo of the painted crucifix still hangs above the high altar of Santa Chiara and was probably the first painting that was commissioned for the new church. The image was conceived shortly before Saint Clare’s death in 1260 and is attributed to the Maestro di Santa Chiara. The iconography of Christus Patiens (the dying Christ on the Cross) was widely used in early Franciscan churches. In this example, the Virgin and St John the Evangelist flank the Cross, with another figure of the Virgin (praying and flanked by angels) and Christ Pantocrator above.
    Christus Patiens sopra l'Altare Magg..sisi
  • “Angelic Woman Resting Under the Sun at the Cathedral of San Rufino in Assisi”…<br />
<br />
Upon arrival early that day in Assisi, I began taking photos the second I parked at Hotel Giotto just inside the walls in the foothills of Assisi. Perhaps Saint Francis arranged the dramatically perfect skies and coordinated every encounter. Beginning at the Basilica of Saint Francis, every second of the climb to the top of the mountain and the fortress of Rocca Maggiore was highlighted time after time by a vision of something more mystical and spiritual than the last. Upon my final steps to the top at almost sunset, the clouds parted and the low sun brightened as a slight mist of rain came down. The climb to the top was fraught with a multitude of very steep and exhaustive staircases, but the one consolation was the dramatic anticipation of the divine scenery emerging in the distance. Rising slowly up the Assisi hillside after a slow ascent to the highest peak, around the final corner awaited the Romanesque Duomo of Saint Rufino completed in the 12th century. In this church, Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Clare, and many of their original disciples were baptized among the many spiritual and historical missions of the Duomo. As I rose to the top and turned the corner, the low late evening sun shone brightly on the façade of the Duomo illuminating a singular woman resting in the sun by the side door. It had become damp and chilly outside, and the warm sun illuminated her angelic face so much so, I froze in my tracks and gazed in awe upon this ethereal vision. I honestly thought she might fade away as I lifted my camera for one quick photograph from about 40 yards away. Perhaps she heard the click of the camera shutter and opened her eyes because she smiled and walked away. I wished she would have stayed longer. At least I have this one photo; however, a photo will never be able to capture the true essence of this mystical and surreal moment in time.
    Donna Angelicata di Riposo Sotto il ..sisi
  • “Crucifixion beyond the entrance to the Abbey of Santa Giustina – Padua”…<br />
<br />
Our Pilgrimage finally arrived in Padua and after lunch, we discovered the Abbey of Santa Giustina attached to the Basilica built in the 6th century. It contains the relics of multiple saints (including those of St. Luke the Evangelist). Shaped in the form of a Latin cross, the prodigious Basilica of St. Giustina is one of the most colossal in all of Christianity. The grandeur of the building is enhanced by the Prato della Valle which it overlooks. There are 3 main chapels: the presbytery and 2 chapels for Saints Luke and Matthew that form the transepts and each aisle has six small chapels. The Abbey and the Basilica of St. Anthony were two of my foremost surprises and a must-see on a Pilgrimage to Italy. Unfortunately, pictures were allowed only in St. Giustina, but not in the latter. Initially, I was a bit overwhelmed at the imposing wide open space of the Basilica. The high altar seemed an eternity away. It is difficult to give one a perspective of just how spacious and immense many of these basilicas can be, not only in pictures but in words. The colorful geometric marble floor leads one to the main altar, but only adds to the great depth, size, and dimension of the Basilica. A curiously placed Crucifix standing about 6’ tall is located just inside the colossal nave and appears diminutive below the 26 pillars supporting the 8 cupolas. As most basilicas are traditionally dark depending on the sunlight, the Crucifix was almost a complete faint silhouette only lit by the dome windows above the altar. Standing as close as possible with a telephoto perspective, I was able to reverse the impression of size and portray the grandiosity Christ deserves, as well as the original artist. The distant window light bled over the body and illuminated the darkness. The glow of the original beauty has become radiant. Framed by the brilliant distant archways, the Crucifixion becomes transformed.
    Crocifissione oltre l'ingresso dell'..dova
  • “Angel with the Cross - Ponte Sant'Angelo – Rome”… <br />
<br />
This image was actualized just after sundown when the sky developed a beautiful blue hue, accenting the golden lighting of the Angels on the Bridge. The Bridge of Angels (in Italian, Ponte Sant'Angelo) spans the Tiber River in Rome. Only a few steps away from St. Peter's Basilica, the bridge reflects the psychological shift from secular to sacred that occurs when pilgrims crossed from the busy streets of Rome over to the churches of the Vatican. Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the famed Italian sculptor, originally designed the bridge's angel sculptures in the seventeenth century. Though few of the angels standing today were done by his hand, Bernini's vision for the bridge lives on. Five angel sculptures flank each side of the bridge, with statues of Saint Peter and Saint Paul on the eastern bank. At the base of each sculpture is a line from the Bible in Latin. Angel with the Cross - Inscription: "Cuius principatus super humerum eius" Translation: Dominion rests on his shoulders (Isaiah 9:6)
    Angelo con la Croce sul Ponte Sant'A..Roma
  • “Organic Venice - Perpetual Evolution of Splendor, Harmony, and Color” …<br />
<br />
I am not sure if I am the first to describe Venice as “organic;” however, there has never been a more perfect description to define Venice’s ever-changing persona. Venice is perhaps the most uniquely iconic seaside city in the world, and its impression changes by the minute with the dynamic light and active tide coming in and out. Flying into Venice via the USA, I was met with torrential rains in the early morning, which finally gave way to afternoon sunshine. The creaky, wet, gloomy, old, decaying Venice sinking and soaking in the morning rain… opened like flower petals in the springtime at the first glimpse of sunlight. The organic lagoon began to blossom as if the decay became antique, the gloom became a passion, the creaky became sweet sounds, and the desperate island illuminated with life, color, and hope. This image was captured along a small canal in front of The Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari (St. Mary of the Friars), known locally as Frari, one of the great churches of Venice. Ironically, before my Italian journey, I read Rick Steve’s travel book on Italy and watched all of his shows made in Italy. It seemed every American tourist had his book in their hands following closely every piece of advice he offered. As I pondered my impending images, I looked up and there was Rick about 20 feet in front of me. Sometimes one has moments of brilliance, and mine was to yell…"Hey, Rick” and snap a photo when he looked. He smiled as I walked up and shook his hand, and dumbfoundedly I shared how much he contributed to my tour. He was very gracious as we spoke for about five minutes and then he continued producing his next PBS show on the Venice Lagoon including his favorite church, The Frari. As I walked away shocked by my accidental meeting, the clouds parted and the light transformed a perfect ambiance along this tiny, yet majestic canal.
    Venezia organica - evoluzione perpet..lore
  • "Father Peek elevates the Host for Adoration - The Church of Santo Spirito in Sassia"...<br />
<br />
For me personally, this image is one of my favorites and most poignant of our 2019 Pilgrimage. Our 4th gentile morning in Roma before leaving for Sorrento, we walked from our hotel to the Bellissimo Santo Spirito for Mass. Located just steps from St. Peter’s Basilica, the church is the center of the Divine Mercy established by St. John Paul II. Each day at 3 p.m. the congregants assemble to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet in this reverent sanctuary containing relics of both St. Faustina Kowalska and St. John Paul II. The church is distinguished for its beautiful and pious artistic and aesthetic adornment, yet, also has a long history of bringing mercy to the human spirit and body. In the eighth century, there was a church in this place called Santa Maria in Sassia dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The name of the church comes from “the Saxon school,” where pilgrims from Northern Europe and Saxon nations received their first spiritual and material assistance. In 1198, at the request of Pope Innocent III, the first “Holy Spirit Hospital” in Europe was built adjacent to the church. The chapel on the right side is dedicated to The Divine Mercy and to Saint Faustina where the statue of “The Apostle of The Divine Mercy” resides with her reliquary donated by the Holy Father John Paul II. The reflection of Father Peek in “The Elevation of the Host” is after genuflection in adoration. The priest raises the Host so that the Faithful may also adore Jesus Christ, true God and true Man present on the altar. Look at the sacred Body of Jesus and then say with all your heart (interiorly): "I adore Thee, O Sacred Body of Jesus Christ, Thou art my Lord and my God; I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, I love Thee above all things."
    Padre Peek Eleva Consacrata l'ostia ..ssia
  • "A million faces of Jesus by Dino Carbetta - Spatola di metallo"...<br />
<br />
Daniel 10: 5-6 “As I looked up, I saw a man dressed in linen with a belt of fine gold around his waist. His body was like chrysolite, his face shone like lightning, his eyes were like fiery torches, his arms and feet looked like burnished bronze, and the sound of his voice was like the roar of a multitude.” Genesis 1:27 “God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Since early childhood, my fascination with the face of Christ resulted in a multitude of sketches, drawings, and photographs. Today, my mind’s eye continues this perception in wonderment. I yearn to see, feel and touch this beatific vision. Blessed with humble skills, this is my current vision after three years of introspection and change of the face of Christ. I know that in heaven the just will see God by direct intuition, clearly and distinctly. Scripture and theology tell us that the blessed see God face to face. And because this vision is immediate and direct, it is also exceedingly clear and distinct. The blessed see God, not merely according to the measure of His likeness imperfectly reflected in creation, but they see Him as He is, after the manner of His own Being. 1 Corinthians 13:12 “At present, we are looking at a confused reflection in a mirror; then, we shall see face to face; now, I have only glimpses of knowledge; then, I shall recognize God as he has recognized me.”
    Un milione di volti di Gesù di Dino ..allo
  • “The sun shines over the Papal Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi – Painting by Dino Carbetta”…<br />
<br />
On the seventh morning of our Pilgrimage, we sorrowfully said goodbye to the splendid Sorrento and set out to find the spiritual mecca of Assisi. The excitement of Saint Francis' tiny mountaintop village perked our eyes toward the windows and Hotel Giotto welcomed all!  An evening Mass with celebrant Fr. Peek in the PAX Chapel, a small underground sanctuary in Saint Francis Basilica hosted our celebration. Mass was also in honor of the wedding anniversary of Bill and Bardeen from Atlanta, GA. I cannot say enough about the wonderful quality of people and Catholics I had the honor to accompany on our Pilgrimage. A small group of only 12, but mighty, affectionate, spiritually, and compassionate. Bill and Bardeen epitomized this nature and shared their love will all our Pilgrims and those who witness our gatherings. We were also blessed by a humble, yet charismatic Priest, Father Kevin Peek. He seemed to know every other person in Italy, and subsequently, we all found new friends at dinner time. I cannot honestly conclude a more perfect Pilgrimage Priest than Father, and he was the embodiment of a Spiritual guide. He not only celebrated Mass each morning in the most beautiful and prestigious Basilica in the world, but he also led nighttime rosary walks through the Italian Strada, offered confession anytime, interjected stories of the Saints, discussed all Italian epicurean delights with great delight, and spread the word and love of God to anyone who would listen. After Mass, the sun once again glowed as it set behind Saint Francis Basilica. There is probably not a more exteriorly photographed church in the world, and it always seems eager to please. The Basilica poses graciously night or day and proudly extends a loving welcome not only to those who are blessed to be here but to all those who witness its image created by God and the fortunate artist of expression.
    Il sole splende sopra la Basilica Pa..etta
  • “Chapel of St. Maximilian Kolbe - Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari - Venice Italy”…<br />
<br />
As they were being marched away to the starvation bunkers, Number 16670 dared to step from the line. “I would like to take that man’s place. He has a wife and children.” “Who are you?”  “A priest.” No name, no mention of fame. Silence. The commandant, dumbfounded, perhaps with a fleeting thought of history, kicked Sergeant Francis Gajowniczek out of line and ordered Fr. Kolbe to go with the nine. In the “block of death,” they were ordered to strip naked, and their slow starvation began in darkness. But there was no screaming—the prisoners sang. By the eve of the Assumption, four were left alive. The jailer came to finish Kolbe off as he sat in a corner praying. He lifted his fleshless arm to receive the bite from the deadly hypodermic needle. They burned his body with all the others. Fr. Kolbe was beatified in 1971 and canonized in 1982. Saint Maximilian Kolbe, was a Polish Catholic priest and Conventual Franciscan friar who volunteered to die in place of a stranger in the German death camp of Auschwitz, located in German-occupied Poland during World War II. He had been active in promoting the veneration of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, founding and supervising the monastery near Warsaw, operating an amateur radio station, and founding or running several other organizations and publications. Kolbe composed the Immaculata prayer as a prayer of consecration to the Immaculata. The Basilica di Frari is one of my most favorite churches in all of Italy. Outwardly nondescript, walking through the doorway, one is instantly overwhelmed by its ancient beauty and grandeur. My imagination journeys with a fascinating impression of great history, aesthetic brilliance, and the “Holy” who have embarked upon this monumental “Basilica masterpiece!” This Chapel of St. Maximilian Kolbe is a familiar theme of all the dramatic chapels around Frari reconciling the devotion and sanctity of the faithful.
    Cappella di San Massimiliano Kolbe -..alia
  • “Agnus Dei - Dipinto di Dino Carbetta”…<br />
<br />
“The next day John was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God.” The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.” JN 1:35-37<br />
“So Jesus said to them, ‘Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” So they said to him, ‘Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.  JN 6:32-35
    Agnus Dei - Dipinto di Dino Carbetta
  • “Nativity of St. Francis with the Holy Family - The Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli Museum”…<br />
<br />
“After visiting Bethlehem, St. Francis wanted to imitate the humble setting of Christ’s birth. In 1221, St. Francis had a novel idea. To celebrate the birth of Jesus, Francis wanted to recreate the experience of the first Christmas. He didn’t want statues inside a church, but with animals in a humble hilltop grove. St. Francis’ inspiration came after traveling to the Holy Land and seeing the exact site of Christ’s birth. The poverty of it all deeply impacted Francis and was a particular element that he wanted to celebrate at Christmas. ‘About 15 days before the Nativity of the Lord, he said to a friend in Greccio, For I would make memorial of that Child who was born in Bethlehem, and in some sort behold with bodily eyes His infant hardships; how He lay in a manger on the hay, with the ox and the ass standing by.’ There Simplicity was honored, Poverty exalted, Humility commended, and of Greccio there was made as it were a new Bethlehem. The night was lit up as the day and was delightful to men and beasts… St. Francis stood before the manger, full of sighs, overcome with tenderness and filled with wondrous joy. The solemnities of Mass were celebrated over the manger, and the priest enjoyed a new consolation. According to St. Bonaventure, a miracle also occurred on that night and someone noticed St. Francis holding the Christ Child. A certain valiant and veracious soldier… affirmed that he beheld an Infant marvelously beautiful, sleeping in the manger, whom the blessed Father Francis embraced with both his arms as if he would awake Him from sleep. The idea caught on quickly and in 1291 the first Franciscan pope (Nicholas IV) commissioned statues to create the first permanent Nativity scene in the Roman Basilica of St. Mary Major. Nativity scenes in all shapes and sizes have been created throughout the world and they are one of the most popular Christmas traditions.”
    Natività di San Francesco con la Sac..useo
  • "In the late afternoon the sun penetrates through ancient abandoned buildings along the Santa Fosca Canal in Venice"...<br />
<br />
The last day of our Pilgrimage was spent in one of the most iconic locations on earth, Venice! Busing to the docks at the Venetian Lagoon from Padua to catch our private boat to the Basilica di San Marco, an exemplary spiritual treasure for a special Mass in the sacristy. Touring the crowded Doge’s Palace proceeded, then set free to breathe in as much of the Venetian Island as possible until our final farewell dinner and return flight home in the morning. As standard fare, my fellow Pilgrim Patrick and I took off out of the starting gate with the notion to capture the entirety of Venice in a half of a day on foot. We covered exactly 8.3 miles by foot, but with so much adrenaline, we could have doubled it into the nighttime. Our itinerary included Basilica’s, canals, bridges, gondolas, and anything resembling Venetian culture, oh, and a stop for lunch. Basilica dei Frari was foremost and Chiesa di San Geremia to visit St. Lucy. The maze that Venice presents, GPS navigation only works occasionally on this crowded water complexity. The shutters on our cameras seemed permanently depressed as we desperately tried to capture everything we possibly could in such a short window of time, as we had to be at the waterside restaurant by 7:00 pm. It was a Bellissimo Spring day, and of course, we stopped for an Aperitivo which I also fell in love with on this replete journey. We artfully meandered the narrow walkways and canals with a keen rhythm and capture of all that was superior. Not a thought of distance occurred in our surreptitious mission of Venice. We finally made it by dusk to our waterway restaurant Ristorante Pizzería Da Alvise, which was authentic and excellent.
    Nel tardo pomeriggio il sole penetra..ezia
  • “Santa Chiara d'Assisi In front of San Damiano ... Painting by Dino Carbetta” …<br />
<br />
Clare of Assisi was an Italian saint and one of the first followers of Francis of Assisi. She founded the Order of Poor Clares, a monastic religious order for women in the Franciscan tradition. When she was 18, she heard St. Francis preaching in the town square during Lent and she knew at once that God wanted her to consecrate herself to Him. The next evening, Clare left her house at night, ran to meet St. Francis and his companions at the church, and shared her desire to follow him in his way of life. He received her, gave her his tunic, cut off her golden locks, and sent her to a Benedictine convent because she could not stay with the brothers. Her younger sister Agnes soon joined her and the two had to resist much pressure from their family to return home. Contemporary accounts glow with admiration of Clare's life in the convent of San Damiano in Assisi. She served the sick and washed the feet of the begging nuns. She came from prayer, with her face so shining it dazzled those about her. She suffered serious illness for the last 27 years of her life. Her influence was such that popes, cardinals, and bishops often came to consult her—Clare herself never left the walls of San Damiano. A well-known story concerns her prayer and trust. Clare had the Blessed Sacrament placed on the walls of the convent when it faced an attack by invading Saracens. “Does it please you, O God, to deliver into the hands of these beasts the defenseless children I have nourished with your love? I beseech you, dear Lord, protect these whom I am now unable to protect.” To her sisters, she said, “Don’t be afraid. Trust in Jesus.” The Saracens fled. Claire died in absolute tranquility, saying to one of the brothers at her side "Dear brother, ever since through His servant Francis I have known the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, I have never in my whole life found any pain or sickness that could trouble me."
    Santa Chiara d'Assisi Davanti a San ..etta
  • “The Venetian evening sun illuminates the winding waterway - Painting by Dino Carbetta”…<br />
<br />
I am not sure if I am the first to describe Venice as “organic;” however, there has never been a more perfect description to define Venice’s ever-changing persona. Venice is perhaps the most uniquely iconic seaside city in the world, and its impression changes by the minute with the dynamic light and active tide coming in and out. Flying into Venice via the USA, I was met with torrential rains in the early morning, which finally gave way to afternoon sunshine. The creaky, wet, gloomy, old, decaying Venice sinking and soaking in the morning rain… opened like flower petals in the springtime at the first glimpse of sunlight. The organic lagoon began to blossom as if the decay became antique, the gloom became a passion, the creaky became sweet sounds, and the desperate island illuminated with life, color, and hope. Heading out the first afternoon with no sleep since leaving Atlanta the day before, I was exhausted yet had so much adrenaline and utter excitement emanating from my soul. My heart, eyes, and brain forced me to follow the light and take photos; thus, the first day of thirty began with number 1 of 6500 images. Not until I began writing these descriptions did I realize that many of these were taken the day I arrived in Venice…it was sensory overload. Canal sunsets became the norm of my three glorious days in Venice.
    Il sole della sera Veneziano illumin..etta
  • “Michael the Archangel of Castel Sant'Angelo Rome - Painting by Dino Carbetta”…<br />
<br />
In 1224, two years before his death, Saint Francis of Assisi felt drawn to Mount La Verna and set out with a few of his closest brothers to spend a period of prayer and fasting on the mountain. Saint Bonaventure records in his biography; “when according to unto his won't he began to keep a Lent there, fasting, in honor of St. Michael Archangel, he was filled unto overflowing, and as never before, with the sweetness of heavenly contemplation.” Saint Francis to his brothers; “My sons, we are drawing nigh to our forty days’ fast of St. Michael the Archangel; and I firmly believe that it is the will of God that we keep this fast in the mountain of Alvernia, the which by Divine dispensation hath been made ready for us, to the end that we may, through penance, merit from Christ the consolation of consecrating that blessed mountain to the honor and glory of God and His glorious Mother, the Virgin Mary, and of the holy angels.” It was during this fast that St. Francis received the stigmata, the holy wounds of Jesus Christ. Francis’ experience reminds us of the importance of fasting and spending time alone with God. These practices shouldn’t be reserved for the 40 days of Lent before Easter, but are applicable throughout the calendar year. We are always invited to draw closer to God, and St. Michael the Archangel is a powerful intercessor who stands ready to defeat our spiritual enemies so that we can embrace the freedom that is found in Jesus Christ.
    Michele Arcangelo di Castel Sant'Ang..etta
  • “Angel with the Cross - Ponte Sant'Angelo - Celebration - Painting by Dino Carbetta”…<br />
<br />
“O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand Between their lov'd home and the war's desolation! Blest with vict'ry and peace may the heav'n rescued land Praise the power that hath made and preserv'd us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto - "In God is our trust," And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.” “The Star-Spangled Banner – Final Verse.”<br />
The Bridge of Angels (in Italian, Ponte Sant'Angelo) spans the Tiber River in Rome. Only a few steps away from St. Peter's Basilica, the bridge reflects the psychological shift from secular to sacred that occurs when pilgrims crossed from the busy streets of Rome over to the churches of the Vatican. Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the famed Italian sculptor, originally designed the bridge's angel sculptures in the seventeenth century. Though few of the angels standing today were done by his hand, Bernini's vision for the bridge lives on. Five angel sculptures flank each side of the bridge, with statues of Saint Peter and Saint Paul on the eastern bank. At the base of each sculpture is a line from the Bible in Latin. Angel with the Cross - Inscription: "Cuius principatus super humerum eius" Translation: Dominion rests on his shoulders (Isaiah 9:6)
    Angelo con la Croce - Ponte Sant'Ang..etta
  • “Monument of Madonna embracing the Cross in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome”…<br />
<br />
The first major stop on my first visit to Rome was The Patriarchal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, which reigns as an authentic jewel in the crown of Roman churches. Its beautiful treasures are of inestimable value and represent the Church's role as the cradle of Christian artistic civilization in Rome. For nearly sixteen centuries, Saint Mary Major has held its position as a Marian shrine par excellence and has been a magnet for pilgrims from all over the world who have come to the Eternal City to experience the beauty, grandeur, and holiness of the Basilica. I found Saint Mary in a spectacular monument to Cardinal Agostino Favoriti, 1685, by Filippo Carcani. The famous 17th-century cardinal is shown seated at a desk behind large allegorical figures of Fortitude (with the lion) and Saint Mary representing religion. Of the very large monument, Mother Mary stood out to me, as one cannot help feeling blessed by her compassionate presence, and the luminescent glow of light gently descending upon her face, revealing her abiding love for her precious son. Pope Benedict XVI, speaking about Pope John Paul II of suffering and his love of the Holy Mother; “in that last Easter Sunday of his life, the Holy Father, marked by suffering, came once more to the window of the Apostolic Palace and one last time gave his blessing Urbi et Orbi (‘to the city and the world’). “We can be sure that our beloved pope is standing today at the window of the Father’s house, that sees us and blesses us. Yes, bless us, Holy Father. We entrust your dear soul to the Mother of God, your Mother, who guided you each day and who will guide you now to the glory of her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”
    Monumento di Madonna abbracciando La..Roma
  • “Hail favored one! The Lord is with you.”- Painting by Dino Carbetta<br />
<br />
“In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom, there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived* a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. (Lk 1:26-38) An Extraordinary Event: the child was to be conceived by the Holy Spirit and would be called the Son of God. Mary makes an astonishing response: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Mary had remarkable faith! This was the moment that our God became flesh and was conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary. Thus, the realization and magnificence of divine grace, the blessing of God’s freely given love.
    “Hail favored one! The Lord is with ..etta
  • “Our Lady of Sorrows Radiant Blue - Cathedral of San Rufino, Assisi - Painting by Dino Carbetta”…<br />
<br />
The title, Our Lady of Sorrows, given to our Blessed Mother focuses on her intense suffering and grief during the passion and death of our Lord. Traditionally, this suffering was not limited to the passion and death event; rather, it comprised the seven sorrows of Mary, which were foretold by the Priest Simeon who proclaimed to Mary, This child [Jesus] is destined to be the downfall and the rise of many in Israel, a sign that will be opposed and you shall be pierced with a sword so that the thoughts of many hearts may be laid bare (Luke 2:34-35). These seven sorrows of our Blessed Mother included the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt; the loss and finding of the child Jesus in the Temple; Mary's meeting of Jesus on His way to Calvary; Mary's standing at the foot of the cross when our Lord was crucified; her holding of Jesus when He was taken down from the cross; and then our Lord's burial. In all, the prophecy of Simeon that a sword would pierce our Blessed Mother's heart was fulfilled in these events. For this reason, Mary is sometimes depicted with her heart exposed and with seven swords piercing it. More importantly, each new suffering was received with the courage, love, and trust that echoed her fiat, let it be done unto me according to thy word, first uttered at the Annunciation. Adoration of the Madonna as a participant in the Passion of Christ is the image of the iconographic tradition finished in 1672. Luke 2:34-35 "And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall and the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted; And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed."
    Madonna Addolorata Radiante Azzurre ..etta
  • “The Venice canal reflects the small bridge in the early evening light - Painting by Dino Carbetta”…<br />
<br />
I am not sure if I am the first to describe Venice as “organic;” however, there has never been a more perfect description to define its dynamic persona. Venice is perhaps the most uniquely iconic seaside city in the world, and its impression changes by the minute with the ever-changing light and active tide coming in and out. Flying into Venice via the USA, I was met with torrential rains in the early morning, which finally gave way to afternoon sunshine. The creaky, wet, gloomy, old, decaying Venice sinking and soaking in the morning rain… opened like flower petals in the springtime at the first glimpse of sunlight. The organic lagoon began to blossom as if the decay became antique, the gloom became a passion, the creaky became sweet sounds, and the desperate island illuminated with life, color, and hope. Heading out the first afternoon with no sleep since leaving Atlanta the day before, I was exhausted yet had so much adrenaline and utter excitement emanating from my soul. My heart, eyes, and brain forced me to follow the light and take photos; thus, the first day of thirty began with number 1 of 6500 images. Not until I began writing these descriptions did I realize that many of these were taken the day I arrived in Venice…it was sensory overload. Canal sunsets became the norm of my three days in Venice.
    Il canale di Venezia riflette il pic..etta
  • “Illuminating glow of the Grand Canal in Venice”…<br />
<br />
I am not sure if I am the first to describe Venice as “organic,” however, there has never been a more perfect description to define Venice’s ever changing persona. Venice is perhaps the most uniquely iconic seaside city in the world, and its impression changes by the minute with the ever changing light and active tide coming in and out. Flying into Venice via the USA, I was met with torrential rains in the early morning, which finally gave way to afternoon sunshine.  The creaky, wet, gloomy, old, decaying Venice sinking and soaking in the morning rain… opened like flower petals in the springtime at first glimpse of sunlight.  The organic lagoon began to blossom as if the decay became antique, the gloom became passion, the creaky became sweet sounds, and the desperate island illuminated with life, color, and hope. Venturing about the first afternoon with no sleep since leaving Atlanta the day before, I was exhausted yet had so much adrenaline and utter excitement emanating from my soul. My heart, eyes, and brain forced me to follow the light and take photos; thus, the first day of thirty began with number one of 6500 images. Not until I began writing these descriptions did I realize that many of these captures were taken the day I arrived in Venice…it was sensory overload.  Canal sunsets became the norm of my three days in Venice. This has always been one of my favorite images taken from a little alley behind the famous Rialto Bridge peering down the Grand Canal. One cannot help notice the towering Campanile of The Chiesa dei Santi Apostoli di Cristo (Church of the Holy Apostles of Christ). It is a 7th-century Roman Catholic Church, and one of the oldest churches in the city. Not imposing from the exterior, but sacred-elegant and austere interiorly, very much worthy of Mass or just a visit.
    Illuminando bagliore del Canal Grand..ezia
  • “The Blessed Virgin Mary - Painting by Dino Carbetta”… <br />
<br />
Upon completion of a new and original painting of the teenage Virgin Mary, I sit and stare into her eyes trying to imagine the complexity of the overwhelming magnitude of the future Mother of Christ. Her sincere and loving gaze, illuminating with the glow of the Holy Spirit within her very soul emanates outwardly representing all Mothers. I envision my wonderful Mother as I struggled to bring this two-dimensional representation to life. Again, my humble skills, yet meticulous manner combined to exhaust one complete month of trial and error. Irrevocably, a courageous young teenage Jewish girl is blessed beyond comprehension… “The Virgin Mother is constantly present on this journey of faith of the People of God towards the light. This is shown especially by the canticle of the "Magnificat," which, having welled up from the depths of Mary's faith at the Visitation, ceaselessly re-echoes in the heart of the Church down the centuries. This is proved by its daily recitation in the liturgy of Vespers and at many other moments of both personal and communal devotion.” (Saint John Paul II) "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on his servant in her lowliness. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name: and his mercy is from age to age on those who fear him. He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud-hearted, he has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever." (Lk.1:46-55)
    La Beata Vergine Maria - Dipinto di ..etta
  • “Father Peek raises the Chalice for Adoration – The New Church of San Francesco in Assisi”… <br />
<br />
The reflection of Father Peek in “The Elevation of the Host and Chalice” is after genuflection in adoration. The priest raises them both so that the Faithful may also adore Jesus Christ, true God, and true Man present on the altar. Look at the sacred Body and Blood of Jesus and then say with all your heart (interiorly): "I adore Thee, O Sacred Body of Jesus Christ, Thou art my Lord and my God; I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, I love Thee above all things." A more ancient elevation of Host and Chalice occurs in the Mass of the Roman Rite while the priest speaks the concluding doxology of the Eucharistic Prayer: Per ipsum et cum ipso et in ipso est tibi Deo Patri omnipotenti in unitate Spiritus Sancti omnis honor et gloria per omnia saecula saeculorum (Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour is yours, forever and ever). The presence in the Roman Rite of this elevation can be traced back at least to the ninth century. The Chiesa Nuova is a church in Assisi, Italy, built in 1615 on the site of the presumed birthplace of St. Francis, the house of Pietro di Bernardone. It was then called Chiesa Nuova because it was the last church to be built in Assisi at that time. This Church appears as a small basilica, and on our first morning in Assisi of my Pilgrimage of 2019, Father Peek offered a venerable Mass. Two of our Pilgrimage couples renewed their vows during the celebration and an abundance of blessings were bestowed upon the faithful. The specular window light from high above the altar once again illuminates the Body and Blood of Christ as the Holy Spirit descends.
    Padre Peek solleva il Calice per L'a..sisi
  • "Madonna in the Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo Rome"... <br />
<br />
After a spiritual Mass at St. Peters Basilica and an intense tour of the Vatican, lunchtime with my friend and pilgrim, Patrick, proved inspirational. Forgoing the Coliseum, we aimed for Piazza del Popolo. Encompassed within its sacred walls is a variety of artwork unequaled in the world. Our eyes were on the famous Caravaggio paintings located in the Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo. The “Crucifixion of Peter” and the “Conversion of Saint Paul” were found to be elusive on my previous visit. The security guard blocked the doorway and turned off the lights to the small chapel inside the Basilica every time I came near. We found the Basilica under reconstruction, waiting for an opening, then rushed inside to find darkness and disarray everywhere. Finally, finding the dark chapel, our eyes could not focus enough to discover the paintings. Suddenly, the light arose and the Caravaggio’s were an arm’s length away. We expeditiously actuated our cameras and euphorically clicked away. Just as hastily, a mysterious guard clicked off the lights. As we calmed down and gathered benevolent thoughts, we aimed our startled eyes toward the exit. The fragmented sunlight streaming into the dark basilica from the vestibule and front doors appeared like a dream. As I vacillated forward, a dark, but luminous statue absorbed by sunlight appeared to gaze upon me with precocious compassion. Her motherly expression offered a perception of love and gratitude. Upon exit, the Eternal City awaited our next impassioned venture.
    Madonna nella Basilica di Santa Mari..Roma
  • “Father Peek Consecration Prayer - Private Mass in the Basilica of Sant'Antonio da Padova”…<br />
<br />
One wonderful element of our Pilgrimage of 2019 was our Mass schedule in the most distinguished Basilica’s, Cathedrals, and churches in Italy and in fact the world. Often we found ourselves at the Main Altars, Sacristies, or prestigious chapels. The reverent and holy auspicious with unseen views containing profound and historic approbation was at times overwhelming. Contemplating those divine and holy who came before, left us with the feeling of wonderment. The Basilica of Saint Anthony dated back to the early year of 1233. I found myself mystified by the mere size and aura surrounding it, and especially the heavenly altar. The original arrangement is of a three-dimensional 'sacred conversation' with the six statues of the saints – Francis, Anthony, Justina, Daniel, Louis, and Prosdocimus – positioned around the “Madonna with Child” under a dome supported by eight columns and arches, all bronzed by the famous Renaissance Tuscan sculptor Donatello. As with most prestigious Basilica’s, no photos are allowed, which mostly rendered this photographer reverent, but sad. We Pilgrims, paralyzed in capture and armed only with ‘whispers’ in our ears to hear the Italian tour guide, followed intently from brilliant chapel to chapel. The Basilica is austere, mysterious, and solemn, yet capacious, monumental, and impossible to notice every grand detail. However, be emboldened that this Pilgrimage Church is one of the eight international shrines recognized by the Holy See. It is a symbol of faith and hope for all Christian believers. I believe Saint Anthony would be honored and proud to offer Mass here.
    Padre Peek Preghiera della Consacraz..dova
  • “Madonna of Fatima at the Eucharistic Miracle of Siena - Basilica of San Francesco Siena - Painting by Dino Carbetta”… <br />
<br />
Our Lady of Fatima’s confident declaration was: “My Immaculate Heart will triumph”. Pope Benedict XVI has interpreted this utterance as follows: “The Heart open to God, purified by contemplation of God, is stronger than guns and weapons of every kind. The fiat of Mary, the word of her heart, has changed the history of the world, because it brought the Saviour into the world—because, thanks to her Yes, God could become man in our world and remains so for all time. The Evil One has power in this world, as we see and experience continually; he has power because our freedom continually lets itself be led away from God. But since God himself took a human heart and has thus steered human freedom towards what is good, the freedom to choose evil no longer has the last word. From that the word that prevails from that time forth in the world, you will have tribulation, but take heart; I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33). The message of Fatima invites us to trust in this promise. Siena is home to the Eucharistic Miracle, one of the world's longest ongoing miracles. On August 14, 1730, thieves broke into the Church of St. Francis and stole a ciborium containing consecrated hosts. However, since 1730, the hosts have remained fresh and sweet-smelling. The wall mechanically spun around and revealed the Eucharistic Miracle to us. After prayer, I moved to the back and abidingly captured this mystical, spiritual, and reverent manifestation. The Madonna of Fatima stood majestically guarding the precious Hosts.
    Madonna di Fatima al Miracolo Eucari..tiff
  • “Crucifix next to the Confessional - Santa Maria della Salute Venice - Painting by Dino Carbetta”…<br />
<br />
The Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute (Basilica of St. Mary of Health), commonly known as La Salute, is one of the largest, most iconic, and prominent churches of Venice. It stands in a prominent position at the junction between the Grand Canal and the Bacino di San Marco on the lagoon. In October 1630, the Venetian Senate decreed that if the city was delivered from the raging Bubonic Plague, which decimated one-third of the Venetian population, a new church would be constructed and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The Basilica is an ornate, massive structure in its exterior; however, it is quite small interiorly. I am not sure if it was ever an active parish but more of a shrine with little room for seating. The steps wrapping around the front and sides make a perfect destination for relaxation during warm Venetian days. Interior windows open to the sky which allows for a great deal of sunlight, and as I meandered around I noticed a beautiful crucifix near the confessional. The strong rays of sunshine illuminated the face of Christ just enough to encourage one to examine their conscience one last time before entering into Sacrament of Confession.
    Crocifisso accanto al Confessionale ..etta
  • “Ca 'Rezzonico Civic Museums Foundation of Venice and in the distance the watchful bell tower of the Church of San Samuele”…<br />
<br />
The last day of our Pilgrimage was spent in one of the most iconic locations on earth, Venice! Busing to the docks at the Venetian Lagoon from Padua to catch our private boat to the Basilica di San Marco, an exemplary spiritual treasure for a special Mass. Touring the crowded Doge’s Palace proceeded, then set free to breathe in as much of the Venetian Island as possible until our final farewell dinner and return flight home in the morning. As standard fare, my fellow Pilgrim Patrick and I took off out of the starting gate with the notion to capture the entirety of Venice in a half of a day on foot. We covered exactly 8.3 miles walking, but with so much adrenaline, we could have doubled it into the nighttime. Our itinerary included Basilica’s, canals, bridges, gondolas, and anything resembling Venetian culture. Basilica dei Frari was foremost and Chiesa di San Geremia to visit St. Lucy. The maze Venice presents, GPS navigation only works occasionally on this crowded water complexity. The shutters on our cameras seemed permanently depressed as we desperately tried to capture everything we possibly could in such a short window of time, as we had to be at the waterside restaurant by 7:00 pm. It was a Bellissimo Spring day and the atmosphere that is exclusively Venice was intoxicating.  We artfully meandered the narrow walkways and canals with a keen rhythm and capture of all that was superior. Not a thought of distance occurred in our surreptitious mission of Venice. We finally made it by dusk to our waterway restaurant Ristorante Pizzería Da Alvise, which was authentic and excellent.
    Ca' Rezzonico Fondazione Musei Civic..uele
  • "Light from Heaven - Sistine Chapel - Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore Rome"... <br />
<br />
After Mass in the Crucifix Chapel on the second morning of the inaugural Pilgrimage I organized, we were joined by our Roman tour guide for the day. As we listened and ventured around the glorious Basilica, my eyes and camera began to wander. I became stupefied by the grand chapel to the right of the main altar with the rising sun peering through the window just below the cupola. I discreetly wandered in and out in hopes it would shine upon the Holy Crib. On my 4th attempt, my judicious endeavor was rewarded. A young woman in a splendid white dress walked directly into the heavenly light. Her luminescence and celestial reverence gave the appearance of a wondrous and radiant angel in admiration of the sacred relic. The right transept is called the Sistine Chapel, containing the elaborate tomb of Pope Sixtus V (1521-90) and decorated with frescoes and reliefs of events from his reign. The chapel centers on a reliquary containing part of the Holy Crib, and the burial place of Saint Jerome, the 4th-century Doctor of the Church. The Patriarchal Basilica of St. Mary Major reigns as an authentic jewel in the crown of Roman churches. Its beautiful treasures are of inestimable value and represent the Church's role as the cradle of Christian artistic civilization in Rome. For nearly sixteen centuries, St. Mary Major has held its position as a Marian shrine par excellence and has been a magnet for pilgrims from all over the world who have come to the Eternal City to experience the beauty, grandeur, and holiness of the Basilica. The numerous treasures contained in the museum render St. Mary Major a place where art and spirituality combine in a perfect union, offering visitors a unique experience in contemplating the great works of man inspired by God.
    La luce dal Paradiso - Cappella Sist..Roma
  • “The Vatican Museums double helix spiral staircase”…<br />
<br />
This modern double helix staircase is located in the Vatican Museum, and commonly referred to as the "Bramante Staircase" after the original architect who built the first staircase in 1505.<br />
It is unlikely that the Vatican realized, when it commissioned Giuseppe Momo to build a staircase in 1932, that it would become one of the most photographed pieces in a museum that boasts 9 miles of art. The Spiral Staircase, also called the Momo Staircase or the Snail Staircase, is made up of two wrought iron stairways – one going up, one going down – that curve in a double helix. Ironically, it was created in a time before the double helix became a symbol for science, DNA, and subsequently, all human life.  While the staircase was once walked by every visitor to the Vatican Museum on their way in, it is no longer on the route and closed to the public. Fortunately, my Roman tour guide, once again speaking with the guards, allowed me under the ropes to take a rare image without visitors present.
    I Musei Vaticani doppia elica scala ..iola
  • “The Raven of Venice by Pietro Piccione - Painting and Verse by Dino Carbetta”…<br />
<br />
I sit and I stare, surrounded by l'acqua everywhere, waiting patiently for my bountiful, yet fair share. I own this place, every space, dark ambiguous feathers grant me this grace. It may be just supposition, the Father above has chosen my instinctive position. My most serene Venice, ancient and grey, bustling with humans most every day. No need to scuttle, my multi-colored brethren gather scraps with the repetitive climax of a Venetian Play. Steely eyes, a distant glare, diligent Pigeons begging, but I sit and I stare. Humans throw the foolish gull food, amused by the feathery brood. The shadow veil, a mysterious epicurean tale. I, no scurry or covet, I sit and I stare. Venezia, the island city, tourist dream in prose and verse of past glories masquerading, yet perverse. Surrounded by the luminous spectacle; ornate marble and frescoed palace, my world of bell towers, domes, azure waters under the Adriatic air, I sit and I stare. For I am the king of this basin, the Raven, mysterious violet ebony, no one questions my grace in. I am the romance and protector of my tiny canal, yet high enough above, my reflection dances in the water below, offering a Bellissimo prayer. I sit and I stare. The time is near, as I transport to bygone years, for I am the romantic Doge of this tiny island abode. I take what I desire, as the sunlight sets ablaze the waters with sparkling fire. Alas, for I am only the illusory purple Pigeon baptized Peter, yet I will forever dream as I sit and I stare.
    Il Corvo di Venezia di Pietro Piccio..etta
  • “Saint Catherine extends the Cross and the Olive Branch as Patron of Italy in front of her Sanctuary-home in Siena - Painting by Dino Carbetta”…<br />
<br />
The monumental statue of St. Catherine of Siena, created by Bruno Buracchini and donated to the Diocese of Siena, and stands in front of her home in Siena. Saint Catherine of Siena (1347-80) was a lay-affiliate of the Dominican Order famed for her intellect and mystical visions of Christ. She was the 23rd child of Jacopo and Lapa Benincasa and grew up as an intelligent, cheerful, and intensely religious person. What is most impressive about her is that she learns to view her surrender to her Lord as a goal to be reached through time. She entered the Dominican 3rd Order at 18 and spent the next three years in seclusion, prayer, and austerity. Her public influence reached great heights because of her evident holiness and the deep impression she made on the pope. She worked tirelessly for the crusade against the Turks and peace between Florence and the pope. In 1378, the Great Schism began, splitting the allegiance of Christendom between two, then three, popes and putting even saints on opposing sides. Catherine spent the last two years of her life in Rome, in prayer and pleading on behalf of the cause of Pope Urban VI and the unity of the Church. She offered herself as a victim for the Church in its agony. She died surrounded by her “children” and was canonized in 1461. Catherine ranks high among the mystics and spiritual writers of the Church. In 1939, she and Francis of Assisi were declared co-patrons of Italy. Pope Paul VI named her and Teresa of Avila doctors of the Church in 1970. The Shrine of Saint Catherine occupies the site of Catherine's family home, where she was born in 1347 and where she lived her austere early life as a Dominican affiliate. The house has been much adapted; it is now a series of chapels dedicated to the beloved saint. The monumental marble well in the courtyard dates to the 15th century.
    Santa Caterina si estende la Croce e..etta
  • “St Mark rises magnificently with the strength of a lion on top of St Mark's Basilica in Venice - Painting by Dino Carbetta”… <br />
<br />
The most famous of the many churches of Venice, and the world, and a fine example of Byzantine architecture. Located just off the Grand Canal, the majestic Basilica overlooks the Piazza San Marco and adjoins the Doge's Palace. St. Mark’s Square and the Basilica are the central tourist focal points and the most populous in Venice. The relics of the Biblical Gospel author, Saint Mark, have resided in the Basilica since 828 AD. There are more than 85,000 square feet of luminous mosaics in St. Mark’s Basilica. The mosaics were accomplished over 8 centuries, mostly in gold, and the result is astonishing. It's especially resplendent just before sunset when the sun's dying rays set the golden mosaics ablaze. As I headed for the exit, I noticed a very steep staircase and followed it upward. I was met at the top by a security guard charging to see the small Museum and visit the rooftop of the Basilica. In the museum, I did take a few veiled photos of the very famous original four horses dating from Classical Antiquity which are duplicated in front of the Basilica. They are very much worth viewing, and if you stare for a moment…they come to life. Meandering outside on the rooftop, I became mesmerized by the multitude of historic artwork residing on high. This image is a close-up captured of St Mark standing majestically atop his Basilica. Embedded within the orange sunset skies behind the Statue of San Marco, a Lion appeared briefly in my camera lens. Mysteriously and mystically, he only appeared again as I began to paint this image. Venetian tradition states that when Mark was traveling through Europe, he arrived at a lagoon in Venice, whereby an angel appeared to him and said, "Pax tibi Marce, evangelista meus. Hic requiescet corpus tuum." ("Peace be with thee, O Mark, my evangelist. Here thy body will rest.")
    San Marco sorge magnificamente con l..etta
  • “The Supreme Sacrifice remembered during Lent – Painting by Dino Carbetta”…<br />
<br />
Ashes Signify: “When God drove our first parents from the Garden, he reminded Adam, “you are dust, and to dust, you shall return” (Gn 3:19). We hear these words each year on Ash Wednesday, when the priest places ashes on our foreheads, a reminder of our mortality and the seriousness of the Lenten pilgrimage we are about to begin. Throughout the Old Testament ashes signify sorrow and repentance. Jeremiah commands Israel to mourn its impending doom when he says, “dress in on sackcloth, roll in ashes” (Jer 6:26). When Job emerges from his harrowing face-to-face encounter with God, he says, “I have spoken but did not understand.… Therefore I … repent in dust and ashes” (Jb 42:3-6). Jesus employs similar imagery when he criticizes his listeners’ hardness of heart: “Woe to you … if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes” (Mt 11:21). Ashes and dust amount to the same thing. Neither is particularly pleasant, and both remind us God used some pretty unattractive material when he created us. Lent reminds us how much Christ took on through the Incarnation and what he offered up to us on the cross.” Father Reginald Martin
    Il Supremo Sacrificio ricordato dura..etta
  • “Twilight ascent to Rocca Maggiore Assisi”… <br />
<br />
Gospel Mt 7:6, 12-14 Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces. “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the Law and the Prophets. “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.” Upon arrival early that day in Assisi, I began taking photos the second I parked at Hotel Giotto just inside the walls in the foothills of Assisi. Perhaps Saint Francis arranged the dramatically perfect skies and coordinated every encounter. Beginning at the Basilica of Saint Francis, every second of the climb to the top of the mountain and the fortress of Rocca Maggiore was highlighted time after time by a vision of something more mystical and spiritual than the last. Upon my final steps to the top at almost sunset, the clouds parted and the low sun brightened as a slight mist of rain came down. The climb to the top was fraught with a multitude of very steep and exhaustive staircases, but the reward was always greater than the physical agony endured. "My soul can find no staircase to Heaven unless it be through Earth's loveliness." - Michelangelo.
    Salita del crepuscolo fino a Rocca M..sisi
  • “The mystical evening sun's rays peeking over the hills of Assisi”…<br />
<br />
This image was captured as the hazy sun began to set behind the mountains and a light rain began. The combination of the low, brightly veiled evening sun with the mist of the rain displayed a spectacular prism effect that dazzled the senses and displayed a glorious light show above Assisi. The magnificent display lasted until dark and was one of the many mystical and blessed experiences of my perfect 24 hours in Assisi. Upon arrival early that day I began taking photos the second I parked at Hotel Giotto just inside the walls in the foothills of Assisi. Perhaps Saint Francis arranged the dramatically perfect skies and coordinated every encounter. Beginning at the Basilica of Saint Francis, every second of the climb to the top of the mountain to the fortress Rocca Maggiore, a new surprise awaited around every corner. Upon my final steps to the top at almost sunset, the clouds parted and the low sun brightened as a slight mist of rain came down. Looking back over my shoulder, the appearance of a rainbow shone down between the Duomo of Saint Rufino and the Basilica of Saint Clare. After the first small rainbow dissipated...I moved about 200 yards to the opposite view facing the setting sun over the Basilica of St. Francis. I was fortunate to capture several dramatic images just before another rainbow appeared behind me...a spectacular and blessed show by the hand of God.
    Il mistico serata raggi del sole cap..sisi
  • “The Baptism of the Lord - Painting by Dino Carbetta”…<br />
<br />
Jesus descended into the River to sanctify its waters and to give them the power to beget sons of God. The event takes on the importance of a second creation in which the entire Trinity intervenes. In the Eastern Church, this feast is called Theophany because at the baptism of Christ in the River Jordan God appeared in three persons. The baptism of John was a sort of sacramental preparatory for the Baptism of Christ. It moved men to sentiments of repentance and induced them to confess their sins. Christ did not need the baptism of John. Although He appeared in the "substance of our flesh" and was recognized "outwardly like unto ourselves", He was sinless and impeccable. He conferred upon the water the power of the true Baptism which would remove all the sins of the world: "Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him Who takes away the sin of the world". Many of the incidents which accompanied Christ's baptism are symbolic of what happened at our Baptism. At Christ's baptism, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him; at our Baptism the Trinity took its abode in our soul. At His baptism Christ was proclaimed the "Beloved Son" of the Father; at our Baptism, we become the adopted sons of God. At Christ's baptism the heavens were opened; at our Baptism heaven was opened to us. Lk 3:15-16, 21-22: The people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
    Il Battesimo del Signore - Dipinto d..etta
  • ”Radiant Saint Teresa of Lisieux - the ‘Little Flower’ - Painting by Dino Carbetta”… <br />
<br />
Her sense of commitment led her to a profound experience of the love of God and neighbor. She never had an easy life, but she did live with a great sense of peace and joy. “I prefer the monotony of obscure sacrifice to all ecstasies. To pick up a pin for love can convert a soul.”   Saint Therese had a simple yet powerful message that still resonates in the hearts of millions today. She died at the age of 24, believing that her life was just beginning for God, promising to spend her heaven doing good on earth. Her promised “Shower of Roses” began and has become a torrent in the Church ever since. These are the words of Thérèse of Lisieux, a Carmelite nun called the “Little Flower,” who lived a cloistered life of obscurity in the convent of Lisieux, France. And her preference for hidden sacrifice did indeed convert souls. Few saints of God are more popular than this young nun. Her autobiography, The Story of a Soul, is read and loved throughout the world. Life in a Carmelite convent is indeed uneventful and consists mainly of prayer and hard domestic work. She saw in quiet suffering redemptive suffering, suffering that was indeed her apostolate. Thérèse said she came to the Carmel convent “to save souls and pray for priests.” Pope Pius X called her "the greatest saint of modern times.” Thérèse was canonized in 1925. In 1997, Pope John Paul II proclaimed her a Doctor of the Church, the third woman to be so recognized in light of her holiness and the influence of her teaching on spirituality in the Church. Her parents were also canonized in 2015. Pope John Paul II stated: Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face is the youngest of all the “Doctors of the Church”, but her ardent spiritual journey shows such maturity, and the insights of faith expressed in her writings are so vast and profound that they deserve a place among the great spiritual masters.
    Radiosa Santa Teresa di Lisieux - il..etta
  • “Statues on top of the facade of St. Peter's Basilica with Christ in the Center”…<br />
<br />
The facade of St Peter's Basilica is crowned with thirteen colossal statues. In the center stands Christ the Redeemer (20’ high), one may assume that he is flanked by his 12 apostles. However, this is not quite the case. The basilica might be dedicated to St Peter, but the 'Prince of the Apostles' is nowhere to be seen atop the facade of the church. The twelfth figure is, in fact, St John the Baptist, who stands in the place of honor on the right side of Christ. The statues were executed between 1612 and 1614 by an assortment of sculptors. From left to right they are St Thaddeus (Carlo Fancelli), St Matthew (Bernardino Cennini), St Philip (Simeon Drouin), St Thomas (Simeon Drouin), St James the Great (Egidio Moretti), St John the Baptist (Simeon Drouin), Christ the Redeemer (Cristoforo Stati), St Andrew (Carlo Fancelli), St John the Evangelist (Antonio Valsoldo), St James the Less (Cristoforo Stati), St Bartholomew (Egidio Moretti), St Simon (Bernardino Cennini), St Matthias (Giuseppe Fontana). The facade, which is (376.3 ft.) wide and (149.4 ft.) high, was designed by Carlo Maderno (1556-1629) and built between 1608 and 1612. The building of the facade was undertaken during the reign of Pope Paul V (r. 1605-21). It is emblazoned with the inscription, which proclaims, in letters: IN HONOREM PRINCIPIS APOST PAVLVS V BVRGHESIVS ROMANVS PONT MAX AN MDCXII PONT VII (In honor of the Prince of Apostles, Paul V, Borghese, Roman, Pontifex Maximus, the year 1612, the seventh of his pontificate). St Peter's Basilica was finally consecrated by Pope Urban VIII (r. 1623-44) on November 18th, 1626.
    Statue in cima alla facciata della B..ntro
  • "Sailing Cinque Terre with the late evening sun on Corniglia"...<br />
<br />
I began my daily journey at the northernmost town of Monterosso and took the train to the southernmost town of Riomaggiore. I sailed up the coast photographing each Cinque Terre town along the way aboard the Angelina Dada. Upon arriving back home in Monterosso, soft light illuminated the sky and azure sea of the Mediterranean convincing me to sail back to Riomaggiore with my gracious guides Claudio and Eddie of "Cinque Terre dal Mare" sailing excursions. We arrived just in time for a perfect sunset. After a nice dinner...I caught the last train at midnight back home to Monterosso. A very long day, but worth every minute! This panorama image of Corniglia, the only Cinque Terre town not directly on the sea…was taken on the journey back to Riomaggiore at dusk. The tiny village seems snuggled into the Cliffside soaking up the last bit of sunlight before nightfall. The ancient campanile of the church of Saint Peter, which was built in 1334, begins to peer over the cliff in the upper part of Corniglia.
    Vela Cinque Terre con la sera tarda ..glia
  • “Evening sun highlights the Gondolas under the Rialto Bridge in Venice”…<br />
<br />
The gondola is a traditional, flat-bottomed Venetian rowing boat, well suited to the conditions of the Venetian lagoon. The rowing oar, which is not fastened to the hull, is used in a sculling manner, also acting as the rudder. For centuries the gondola was the chief means of transportation and most common watercraft within Venice. It is propelled by a gondolier. In modern times the iconic boats still have a role in public transportation in the city, serving as traghetti (ferries) over the Grand Canal. There are just over four hundred gondolas in active service today, virtually all of them used for hire by tourists. To become a professional gondolier you need to obtain a license from the guild. Two hundred years ago, there were 10,000 gondolas in Venice. Although the aristocracy preferred horses to boats through the early Middle-Ages, beginning in the 14th century when horses were outlawed from the streets of Venice, the noble class embraced gondolas as a respectable form of transportation. They say if you are happy with the price of your gondola then you need to ask again as you probably didn’t understand him correctly. The Ponte di Rialto (Rialto Bridge) is the true heart of Venice. The iconic structure was completed in 1591 as a permanent replacement for various bridges that spanned the Grand Canal since the 12th Century.
    Sole di sera evidenzia le Gondole so..ezia
  • “Santa Teresa d'Avila - Painting by Dino Carbetta”…<br />
<br />
Teresa of Ávila (born March 1515), also called Saint Teresa of Jesus, was a Spanish noblewoman who felt called to convent life in the Catholic Church. Teresa lived in an age of exploration as well as political, social, and religious upheaval. It was the 16th century, a time of turmoil and reform. She was born before the Protestant Reformation and died almost 20 years after the closing of the Council of Trent. A Carmelite nun, a prominent Spanish mystic, religious reformer, author, theologian of the contemplative life and mental prayer, she earned the rare distinction of being declared a Doctor of the Church, but not until over four centuries after her death. Active during the Catholic Reformation, she reformed the Carmelite Orders of both women and men. The movement she initiated was later joined by the younger Spanish Carmelite friar and mystic John of the Cross. It led eventually to the establishment of the Discalced Carmelites. A formal papal decree adopting the split from the old order was issued in 1580. Teresa was a woman “for God,” a woman of prayer, discipline, and compassion. Her heart belonged to God. Her ongoing conversion was an arduous lifelong struggle, involving ongoing purification and suffering. She was misunderstood, misjudged, and opposed in her efforts at reform. Yet she struggled on, courageous and faithful; she struggled with her mediocrity, her illness, her opposition. And in the midst of all this, she clung to God in life and prayer. Her writings on prayer and contemplation are drawn from her experience: powerful, practical, and graceful. She founded many new monasteries, traveled, wrote, fought—always to renew, to reform. In herself, in her prayer, in her life, in her efforts to reform, in all the people she touched, she was a woman for others, a woman who inspired and gave life. Her writings, especially the Way of Perfection and The Interior Castle, have helped generations of believers.
    Santa Teresa d'Avila - Dipinto di Di..etta
  • “Apse Mosaic Triumphal Arch of Christ flanked by the Apostles - Basilica of San Paolo outside the walls of Rome”…<br />
<br />
Saint Peter and Saint Paul are celebrated together, the two saints are the founders of the See of Rome, through their preaching, ministry, and martyrdom there. Erected during the fourth century AD, the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls is one of the four major basilicas of Rome, and the second largest after St. Peter's Basilica. It was founded on the burial ground of St. Paul. Saint Paul is well-known for his epistle to the Ephesians, where he famously describes the “armor of God.” He uses the armor that was commonly worn by a Roman Solider to describe a spiritual armor that prepares a Christian to “stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” Ephesians 6:11-12. Peter makes his great confession of faith: “You are the Messiah” Mark 8:29. It was one of the many glorious moments in Peter’s life, beginning with the day he was called from his nets along the Sea of Galilee to become a fisher of men for Jesus. The New Testament clearly shows Peter as the leader of the apostles, chosen by Jesus to have a special relationship with him. With James and John, he was privileged to witness the Transfiguration, the raising of a dead child to life, and the agony in Gethsemane. In 395 A.D., St. Augustine said of Saints Peter and Paul: “Both apostles share the same feast day, for these two were one; and even though they suffered on different days, they were as one. Peter went first, and Paul followed. And so we celebrate this day made holy for us by the apostles' blood. Let us embrace what they believed, their life, their labors, their sufferings, their preaching, and their confession of faith.”
    Abside Mosaico Arco di trionfo di Cr..Roma
  • “The Star of Bethlehem shines brightly above the Papal Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi”…<br />
<br />
Luke 2:8-14 “Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David, a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
    La Stella di Betlemme brilla luminos..sisi
  • “The Glow of the New Church of St. Francis of Assisi”… <br />
<br />
John 8:12 “Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” This mystical image is one of several altars photographed while touring Chiesa Nuova (New Church)…the birthplace of St Francis. As I entered the beautiful small church, a Franciscan Monk working inside saw me and without reluctance, rose from his desk and graced me with a half-hour tour speaking entirely in Italian. He never hesitated and he never assumed that I was not fluent in Italian; yet, he continued to entrust me with every detail of what looked like a mini Basilica. As we ventured around, he explained every nuance, even the crypt where Saint Francis’ parents reside. Upon completion of the tour, he shook my hand, gave me a gentle embrace, and bestowed a blessing in Italian. While not understanding the language, I left with gratitude and amazement …yet, somehow, I understood his every word.
    Il bagliore Chiesa Nuova di San Fran..sisi
  • “The Arch Papal Basilica of St. John Lateran Mosaic Apse - Rome”…<br />
 <br />
The present mosaic, executed in 1878, is a copy of the destroyed original completed in 1291 by two Franciscan friars, Jacopo da Camerino and Jacopo Torriti, commissioned by Pope Nicholas IV who was also a Franciscan. The upper part depicts the bust of Christ in a dark blue empyrean with the red clouds of dawn, accompanied by four angels on each side and with a six-winged seraph above. Here, Christ is being depicted under his aspect of the Rising Sun (Malachi 4:2, Luke 1:78). It is thought that the seraph replaced a Hand of God which, with Christ and the Dove below him, would have given a Trinitarian iconography. A jeweled cross which is a depiction of the True Cross formerly venerated in Jerusalem and bears a central medallion showing The Baptism of Christ. The Dove of the Holy Spirit emits seven streams from its beak which are symbolic of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. These streams form a pool where the cross stands and from this flow the four rivers of the Garden of Eden, which also symbolize the four Gospels. Two deer (Ps 42:1) and six sheep drink from these, which run into the River Jordan, a symbol of Baptism. Heavenly Jerusalem, guarded by St Michael the Archangel and ruled over by SS Peter and Paul. In the city, the phoenix, a symbol of immortality, is perched on the Tree of Life. To the left of the central motif, and venerating it, stand the Blessed Virgin, St Francis of Assisi, and the Apostles Peter and Paul. To the right are SS John the Baptist, Anthony of Padua, John the Evangelist, and Andrew the Apostle. The pope kneeling close to the Blessed Virgin is the Franciscan Nicholas IV, who was praised for his work at the Lateran by Dante in Paradiso. The Virgin places her hand on his head, as a sign of her protection. St. John Lateran is the parish church of all Catholics because it is the pope’s cathedral. This church is the spiritual home of the people who are the Church.
    L'Arch Basilica Papale di San Giovan..Roma
  • “Mosaic facade of the Basilica of San Marco Venice”… <br />
<br />
St. Mark's Basilica (Basilica di San Marco) is the most famous of the many churches of Venice, and the world, and a fine example of Byzantine architecture. Located just off the Grand Canal, the majestic Basilica overlooks the Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square) and adjoins the Doge's Palace. St. Mark’s Square and the Basilica are the central tourist focal points and most crowded of Venice. The relics of the Biblical Gospel author, Saint Mark, has resided in the Basilica since 828 AD. After a long wait in line to enter the Basilica (with no photos allowed), the interior was unique. As I headed for the exit, I noticed a very steep staircase and followed it upward. I was met at the top by a security guard charging to see the small Museum and visit the rooftop of the Basilica. At the museum, I did take a few secret photos of the very famous original four horses which are duplicated in front of the Basilica. They are very much worth viewing, and if you stare for a moment…they come to life. This image is a close up captured of the very large mosaic over the front entrance to the Basilica. Mk 16:15-20: Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.
    Mosaico facciata Basilica di San Mar..ezia
  • Saint Anthony of Padua inside Santa Maria Sopra Minerva Assisi - Painting by Dino Carbetta<br />
<br />
Anthony was the most celebrated of St. Francis of Assisi’s followers and had the reputation of a miracle worker. On January 16, 1946, Pope Pius XII declared him a Doctor of the Church. In art, he is shown with a book, a heart, a flame, a lily, or the child Jesus. Among his authentic writings are sermons for Sundays and feast days, published at Padua in three volumes in 1979. The Gospel call to leave everything and follow Christ was the rule of Saint Anthony of Padua’s life. Over and over again, God called him to something new in His plan. Anthony always responded with renewed zeal and self-sacrifice to serve his Lord Jesus more completely. The call of God came again at an ordination where no one was prepared to speak. The humble and obedient Anthony hesitantly accepted the task. The years of searching for Jesus in prayer, reading sacred Scripture, and serving him in poverty, chastity, and obedience had prepared Anthony to allow the Spirit to use his talents. Anthony’s sermon was astounding to those who expected an unprepared speech and knew not the Spirit’s power to give people words. Recognized as an exceptional man of prayer, tremendous Scripture/theology scholar, and prolific orator, Anthony became the first friar to teach theology to the other friars. On June 13, he became very ill and asked to be taken back to Padua, where he died after receiving the last sacraments. He whom popular devotion has nominated as the finder of lost objects and causes found himself by losing himself totally to the providence of God.
    Sant'Antonio da Padova all'interno d..etta
  • “Church of Santa Fosca bell tower above the canal of Santa Fosca Venice - Painting by Dino Carbetta”…<br />
<br />
The last day of our Pilgrimage was spent in one of the most iconic locations on earth, Venice! Busing to the docks at the Venetian Lagoon from Padua to catch our private boat to the Basilica di San Marco, an exemplary spiritual treasure for a special Mass. Touring the crowded Doge’s Palace proceeded, then set free to breathe in as much of the Venetian Island as possible until our final farewell dinner and return flight home in the morning. My fellow Pilgrim Patrick and I took off out of the starting gate with the notion of capturing the entirety of Venice in half of a day on foot. We covered exactly 8.3 miles by foot, but with so much adrenaline, we could have doubled it into the nighttime. Our itinerary included Basilica, canals, bridges, gondolas, and anything resembling Venetian culture. Basilica dei Frari was foremost and Chiesa di San Geremia to visit St. Lucy. In the maze Venice presents, GPS navigation only works occasionally on this crowded water complexity. The shutters on our cameras seemed permanently depressed as we desperately tried to capture everything we possibly could in such a short window of time, as we had to be at the waterside restaurant by 7:00 pm. It was a Bellissimo Spring day, and of course, we stopped for an Aperitivo which I also fell in love with on this replete journey. We artfully meandered the narrow walkways and canals with a keen rhythm and capture of all that was superior. Not a thought of distance occurred in our surreptitious mission to Venice. We finally made it by dusk to our waterway restaurant Ristorante Pizzería Da Alvise, which was authentic and excellent. The finest shrimp I have experienced, grateful speeches emanated from the tiny venue. Melancholy gratification filled the ambiance as we said our final farewells to Italy and the wonderful new friendships and experiences we shared on this Pilgrimage of a lifetime!
    Chiesa di Santa Fosca campanile sopr..etta
  • “Rio de le Romite, in the Dorsoduro district of Venice”… <br />
<br />
As standard fare, my fellow Pilgrim Patrick and I took off out of the starting gate with the notion to capture the entirety of Venice in half of a day on foot. We covered exactly 8.3 miles walking, but with so much adrenaline, we could have doubled it into the nighttime. Our itinerary included Basilica’s, canals, bridges, gondolas, and anything resembling Venetian culture, oh, and a stop for lunch. Basilica dei Frari was foremost and Chiesa di San Geremia to visit St. Lucy. In the maze that Venice presents, GPS navigation only works occasionally on this crowded water complexity. The shutters on our cameras seemed permanently depressed as we desperately tried to capture everything we possibly could in such a short window of time, as we had to be at the waterside restaurant by 7:00 pm. The description of this image begins in 1693 when the Romite Hermits erected a small church dedicated to Jesus, Joseph, and Mary, with an adjacent convent. Father Cavanis later installed a ‘female school of charity,’ entrusted in 1863 to the Canossian nuns who are still present on the spot. Always the destination of painters and artists, the Rio delle Romite preserves its original and evocative atmosphere which remains unchanged. It was a Bellissimo Spring day, and of course, we stopped for an Aperitivo which I also fell in love with on this replete journey. We artfully meandered the narrow walkways and canals with a keen rhythm and capture of all that was superior. Not a thought of distance occurred in our surreptitious mission of Venice. We finally made it by dusk to our waterway restaurant Ristorante Pizzería Da Alvise, which was authentic and excellent. The finest shrimp I have experienced, grateful speeches emanated the tiny venue. Melancholy gratification filled the ambiance as we said our final farewells to Italy and the wonderful new friendships and experiences we shared on this Pilgrimage of a lifetime!
    Rio de le Romite, nel Sestiere di Do..ezia
  • “The evening descends on the church of San Nicolò da Tolentino Venice - Painting by Dino Carbetta”…<br />
<br />
My second evening enjoying the mystical aura of the Veneziano light and color, I once again found myself meandering about without ever having a good idea of my destination. Leaving the hotel every morning, I always had a semblance of an idea of what I wanted to do, see, and photograph. However, Italy always seemed to change my plans turning the first corner of the day, only to fall in love once again with the cultural brilliance and colorful antiquity which personifies the Italian landscape. This was just the beginning of many mornings, days, and evenings of my Italian inauguration. As I stood gazing down the Tolentini Canal, the evening sun shone perfectly upon the campanile and tower of the Church of St. Nicholas of Tolentino. And once again, a flying seagull posed perfectly for the photo. This photograph is beautiful in its own right, but taking the time to finally capture the Venetian essence in a painting, added to the intoxicating appeal of the total allure of  Venice.
    La sera scende sulla chiesa di San N..etta
  • “Madonna and Child next to Chiesa Nuova - Birthplace of Saint Francis of Assisi”…<br />
<br />
This image was realized while approaching Chiesa Nuova (New Church), of the angelic shrine nearby. As I entered the quaint Bellissimo church, a Franciscan Monk working inside saw me and without reluctance, rose from his desk and graced me with a half-hour tour speaking entirely in Italian. He never hesitated and he never assumed that I was not fluent; yet, he continued to entrust me with every detail. This diminutive church appeared as a mighty Basilica found in the grand populations of Roma, Milano, and Firenze Italia. As we ventured about, he explained every nuance, even the crypt where Saint Francis’ parents reside. Upon completion of the tour, he graciously shook my hand, extended a gentle embrace, and bestowed a blessing in Italian. While not completely understanding his expression of the Italian language, I parted with gratitude and amazement …yet, somehow, I understood his every word. “Three things are too wonderful for me, yes, four I cannot understand.” Proverbs 30:18
    Madonna e Bambino accanto a chiesa N..sisi
  • "The return of Francis, a penitent man, contemplating his future in the Church"...<br />
<br />
Francis of Assisi was a poor little man who astounded and inspired the Church by taking the gospel literally—not in a narrow fundamentalist sense, but by actually following all that Jesus said and did, joyfully, without limit, and without a sense of self-importance. The first change Francis experienced was his discovery of the value of the human person, irrespective of wealth, or social standing. He began to feel a deep inner kinship with the whole of humanity, but especially with the poor and the outcast. This new understanding of the human person is fundamentally identical to that found in the Gospels. So in the spring of 1205, he enlisted in Walter's army and set forth for Puglia, in southern Italy. But God had other plans, and Francis did not travel far. As soon as he reached the nearby city of Spoleto, Francis had a very strange dream. God appeared to him and ordered him to return home. Amid the bewilderment of his friends, Francis left all and made his way back to Assisi. This image of Francis on his horse in front of his eventual Basilica represents the contemplation of his growing faith. His search for conversion led him to the ancient church at San Damiano. While he was praying there, he heard Christ on the crucifix speak to him, "Francis, repair my church." Francis assumed this meant the crumbling building he was in. He later realized it was his call to rebuild the entire Church.  He read the command to the rich young man to sell all his good and give to the poor, the order to the apostles to take nothing on their journey, and the demand to take up the cross daily. "Here is our rule," Francis said -- as simple, and as seemingly impossible, as that. He was going to do what no one thought possible anymore -- live by the Gospel.
    Il ritorno di Francesco uomo peniten..iesa
  • “A million faces of Jesus by Dino Carbetta”…<br />
<br />
Daniel 10: 5-6 “As I looked up, I saw a man dressed in linen with a belt of fine gold around his waist. His body was like chrysolite, his face shone like lightning, his eyes were like fiery torches, his arms and feet looked like burnished bronze, and the sound of his voice was like the roar of a multitude.” Genesis 1:27 “God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Since early childhood, my fascination with the face of Christ resulted in a multitude of sketches, drawings, and photographs. Today, my mind’s eye continues this perception in wonderment. I yearn to see, feel, and touch this beatific vision. Blessed with humble skills, this is my current vision after three years of introspection and change of the face of Christ. I know that in heaven the just will see God by direct intuition, clearly and distinctly. Scripture and theology tell us that the blessed see God face to face. And because this vision is immediate and direct, it is also exceedingly clear and distinct. The blessed see God, not merely according to the measure of His likeness imperfectly reflected in creation, but they see Him as He is, after the manner of His Being. 1 Corinthians 13:12 “At present, we are looking at a confused reflection in a mirror; then, we shall see face to face; now, I have only glimpses of knowledge; then, I shall recognize God as he has recognized me.”
    Un milione di volti di Gesù di Dino ..etta
  • "Guardian Angel Helps to Illuminate the Altar of the Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina Rome - Painting by Dino Carbetta"... <br />
<br />
After a spiritual Mass at St. Peters Basilica and an intense tour of the Vatican, lunchtime with my friend and pilgrim, Patrick, proved inspirational. Forgoing the Coliseum, we aimed for Piazza del Popolo. Our eyes were on the famous Caravaggio paintings located in the Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo. The “Crucifixion of Peter” and the “Conversion of Saint Paul” were found to be elusive on my previous visit. The security guard blocked the doorway and turned off the lights to the small chapel inside the Basilica every time I came near. We found the Basilica under reconstruction, waiting for an opening, then rushed inside to find darkness and disarray everywhere. Finally, finding the dark chapel, our eyes could not focus enough to discover the paintings. Suddenly, the light arose and the Caravaggio’s were an arm’s length away. We expeditiously actuated our cameras and euphorically clicked away. Just as hastily, a mysterious guard clicked off the lights. Waltzing out in an adrenalin rush having stood so close to the priceless paintings… we decided to take on the bustling Roma. We stumbled into a Bellissimo neighborhood called Lucina and settled at a bistro for an aperitivo. The ancient Basilica of St. Lawrence built in 366 AD, was adjacent to our table and required a visit. As I walked in, I was startled by the brilliant sunlight coming through the window directly upon the majestic angel. The vision reminded me of our precious life and how disappointment sometimes leads to great respite and understanding. The Angel was reaching out touching the hand of Christ becoming illuminated. I know the same happened on this very day for a couple of wide-eyed exploring Pilgrims who metaphorically reached out and were blessed by an uncharacteristic joy and an unexpected grace.
    Angelo custode aiuta a illuminare l'..etta
  • “A million faces of Jesus by Dino Carbetta – Ethereal”…<br />
<br />
Daniel 10: 5-6 “As I looked up, I saw a man dressed in linen with a belt of fine gold around his waist. His body was like chrysolite, his face shone like lightning, his eyes were like fiery torches, his arms and feet looked like burnished bronze, and the sound of his voice was like the roar of a multitude.” Genesis 1:27 “God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Since early childhood, my fascination with the face of Christ resulted in a multitude of sketches, drawings, and photographs. Today, my mind’s eye continues this perception in wonderment. I yearn to see, feel, and touch this beatific vision. Blessed with humble skills, this is my current vision after three years of introspection and change of the face of Christ. I know that in heaven the just will see God by direct intuition, clearly and distinctly. Scripture and theology tell us that the blessed see God face to face. And because this vision is immediate and direct, it is also exceedingly clear and distinct. The blessed see God, not merely according to the measure of His likeness imperfectly reflected in creation, but they see Him as He is, after the manner of His Being. 1 Corinthians 13:12 “At present, we are looking at a confused reflection in a mirror; then, we shall see face to face; now, I have only glimpses of knowledge; then, I shall recognize God as he has recognized me.”
    Un milione di volti di Gesù di Dino ..ereo
  • “Monument to St. Francis of Assisi in Rome - Snow - Painting by Dino Carbetta”…<br />
<br />
In 1209 Saint Francis composed a simple rule for his friars, the "Primitive Rule," which came from verses in the Bible. The rule was "To follow the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and to walk in his footsteps.” This large monument of Italy’s Patron Saint (St. Francis of Assisi) is visually recognizable between the Basilicas of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme where we began our pilgrimage and San Giovanni in Laterano where we later enjoyed Mass. It was inaugurated in 1927 to commemorate the seventh centenary of his death. The statue portrays the visit of St Francis to Rome, leading his first eleven followers to seek permission from Pope Innocent III to found a new religious Order. A number of the Pope's counselors considered the mode of life proposed by Francis as unsafe and impractical. However, the Pope dreamt he saw Francis holding up the Basilica of St. John Lateran (the cathedral of Rome, thus the 'home church' of all Christendom) and decided to endorse Francis' Order. This occurred, according to tradition, on April 16, 1210, and constituted the official founding of the Franciscan Order. The bronze monument was sculpted by artist Giuseppe Tonnini. An inscription is taken from the eleventh canto, of Paradise of the Divine Comedy, can be seen at the base, in which Dante makes references to Saint Francis: “Between Topino's stream and that which flows down from the hill the blessed Ubaldo chose, from a high peak there hangs a fertile slope; from there Perugia feels both heat and cold at Porta Sole, while behind it sorrow Nocera and Gualdo under their hard yoke. From this hillside, where it abates its rise, a sun was born into the world, much like this sun when it is climbing from the Ganges. Therefore let him who names this site not say, Assisi, which would be to say too little, but Orient, if he would name it rightly.”
    Monumento a San Francesco d'assisi a..etta
  • “The Swiss Pontifical Guard protects the corridor inside the Vatican Bronze Doors”…<br />
<br />
My Roman tour guide at the Vatican, who knew all who worked there, made sure he presented every opportunity for me knowing I was a photographer. For this and several other images, he talked with security allowing me to enter areas off-limits to photograph through doorways and windows. This huge bronze door has been the official entrance to the apostolic palace since 1663 and is permanently watched by three Swiss guards. The Pontifical Swiss Guard was founded in 1506 and in the 18th century several Swiss soldiers were recruited from various European courts to form the close-quarter guards of the kings. Michelangelo designed the official--highly colorful--uniform, and guards also wear a long sword and a traditional halberd. The bronze door opens to a long corridor leading to the famous steps of the Scala Regia, which was designed by Bernini to appear longer and wider than in actuality. Unfortunately, this architectural wonder is closed to visitors, as is the rest of the apostolic palace where the pope lives; only official visitors are admitted inside. As I followed my exceptional tour guide who knew all shortcuts around the Vatican, I found myself behind the steps of the Scala Regia for one more historically amazing view.
    La Guardia Pontificia svizzera prote..cane
  • “Central bronze doors of Saint Paul Outside the Walls with inlaid silver Cross and Stations of Saints Peter and Paul”…<br />
<br />
There are three main doors. At the center, is the monumental door in green bronze made by Antonio Maraini, which was placed here in 1931; to its right is the new Holy Door, made of golden bronze, created by the sculptor Enrico Manfrini and erected for the Jubilee of the year 2000. The central door shows episodes relating to the lives and preaching’s of Saints Peter and Paul. A large cross with inlaid silver and embellished with stones of lapis lazuli overlays the door from side to side. The cross on the drawing represents a cross motif in curlicued silver, and this has on its plaques in lapis lazuli. Four on the horizontal bar show the symbols of the Evangelists, and on the vertical bar are the symbols of the Apostles. The reliefs (left to right) on the door show scenes from the lives, apostolates, and martyrdoms of Saints Peter and Paul, according to the wishes of the abbot of the monastery. Apart from the two central scenes, all of the events depicted took place in Rome. The reliefs depict: <br />
1)	Coat of arms of the Church <br />
2)	Coat of arms of Rome <br />
3)	The Crucifixion of St Peter <br />
4)	"Domine, Quo Vadis?" <br />
5)	Christ Giving the Keys to St Peter <br />
6)	Foundation of the Papal See <br />
7)	St Peter Baptizing in the Catacombs <br />
8)	The Beheading of St Paul <br />
9)	The Conversion of the Centurion <br />
10)	St Paul's Conversion <br />
11)	St Paul Teaching in Rome <br />
12)	St Paul Reaches Rome and is Welcomed by the Faithful
    Porte centrali in bronzo di San Paol..aolo
  • “Christ in front of Paradise - the Basilica of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari Venezia – Painting by Dino Carbetta”…<br />
<br />
A view toward the Altar and Titian’s great painting, peering toward an extraordinary bestowment of artistic reverent beauty of Heaven. The complexity and aggregate of all the artwork involved in this presentation are a bit overwhelming. It is surely not the norm for the simplistic stylings of the Franciscans. However, the Basilica di Frari is one of my most favorite churches in all of Italy. Outwardly nondescript, walking through the doorway, one is instantly overwhelmed by its ancient beauty and grandeur. My imagination explodes with a fascinating impression of great history, aesthetic brilliance, and the “Holy” who have embarked upon this monumental “Basilica masterpiece!” Although I managed a few images, photography was restricted on my first visit. However, on our Pilgrimage of 2019, a small entrance fee allowed for unlimited actuations. “Frari,” is a large Gothic church of the early 15th-century now filled with elaborate paintings and tombs. The interior is light and spacious and claims are often made for the Frari being almost a museum of Venetian Renaissance art. The Assumption of the Virgin is a brilliant large altarpiece painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Titian. It is the largest altarpiece in the city and is necessitated by a very large church. The wood crucifix from 1468, hangs over the entrance of the choir. Traditionally, a Calvary was hanging above the choir and beside the Crucifix, there are the sculptures of the Madonna and Saint John the Evangelist. It is very likely that – thanks to His beauty and relevance – this crucifix was taken as a pattern for many others in Venezia and the Veneto region. Just like most former tourists of Italy, one yearns for the delectable anamnesis of Gelato. I agree with that memorable thought, but I also hunger and languish for Venice and all its hidden spirituality that most simply overlook.
    Cristo di fronte il Paradiso - la Ba..etta
Next