DOMINUS VOBISCUM

Gorla, Italy was the scene of a dramatic bombing by the Allies. The bombing was allegedly intended to strike industrial structures in Milan, but the bombing group went off course, even though the weather was exceptionally clear that day. Their commander, upon realizing the mistake, decided to release the bombs on the town anyway. Most of the 614 victims were innocent civilians, and one of the bombs hit a school, killing 184 children. The victims are now known as "the little martyrs of Gorla", but they still remain mostly ignored. No president has ever visited Gorla, and no school text speaks of the massacre. For the last 70 years the family members of the 184 dead children gather to pray at the memorial every 20 October where the words of a suffering Christ are carved in gold: "And I told you to love one another as brothers."

Inside the St Catherine's Church in Honfleur, France. It is the largest surviving wooden chapel in France. It has a seperate bell tower. It was built in the 15th century and it replaced the former stone-built church, destroyed the Hundred Years' War.

“Militia est vita hominis super terram, et sicut dies mercenarii, dies ejus.” (Iob VII,I)

Altarpiece of the Gustaf Vasa kyrka in Stockholm, Sweden's largest Baroque monument, built by Burchard Precht in 1728. It was hidden away in a museum until 1906.

"To know the mighty works of God, to comprehend His wisdom and majesty and power; to appreciate, in degree, the wonderful workings of His laws, surely all this must be a pleasing and acceptable mode of worship to the Most High, to whom ignorance cannot be more grateful than knowledge." - Nicolaus Copernicus

Reims after the First World War (1914-1918). Notre-Dame de Reims après les bombardements de 1914-1918.

History of the Scandinavian Cross Flag ("Nordic Cross") According to legend, the flag of Denmark originated during the Battle of Lyndanisse, part of the Northern Crusades, near modern-day Tallinn in Estonia, on June 15, 1219: The battle began when a group of pagans attacked Danish crusaders by surprise, killing Bishop Theoderich von Treyden. King Valdemar II of Denmark was nearing certain defeat when the Archbishop of Lund, Anders Sunesen, raised his arms in prayer to God; suddenly a flag (called the 'Dannebrog' in Danish) miraculously fell from the sky; taken as a sign of Christ's protection, the King took it and showed it to his troops; their hearts were filled with courage and the Danes won the battle. According to Swedish legend, the flag of Sweden originated when King St. Erik IX saw a golden cross in the sky during the First Swedish Crusade in 1157. He considered this a sign from God and adopted the golden cross on a blue background as his banner. Regardless of who had the flag first, the cross design, which represents Christianity, was adopted by Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, the Åland Islands, Scania, Shetland, Orkney and several other areas around northern Europe.

Holy water font in the entrance of Saint Mary of the Angels Catholic Church Chicago Illinois

Church of the 12 Apostles, one of the oldest in Rome. Built soon after Emperor Constantine's time by Pope Julius I

St. Francis de Sales church, Krakow, Poland built in 1692-1695

Chapel of Saint Ananias, Damascus,Syria, early example of a Christian house of worship; built in the 1st century AD

Victory of St. Michael by Raphael, 16th Century

Saint-Michel d'Aiguilhe: chapel in Aiguilhe, near Le Puy-en-Velay, France, built 969 on a volcanic plug 279 ft high.

Pope John Paul II at the Tomb of St. Andre Besset, founder St. Joseph's Oratory in Montreal