Photo by Sara B. Healy
Church Tours
While traveling, I enjoy visiting old churches. I’ve been known to linger behind the church tours we’ve taken to study and take pictures of the old tombs and gravestones.
While my kids and JC think this is a bit morbid, I find it fascinating because you can learn so much about the buried person from the gravestone or the tomb.
I took this picture at the Münster Cathedral in Basel, Switzerland. This is a wonderful place to visit with an extraordinary history and very impressive old tombs and gravestones.
Tombs
Everything about a church tomb is planned and tells you about the person. First of all, the very fact that the person has a tomb shows that they were not an ordinary person.
In addition, the placement of the tomb tells you about the social position and prestige of the buried person. The material used to build the tomb as well the image carved in it also tells you about the person’s life and accomplishments.
Picture Story Challenge
Today’s picture story challenge is to say something in the comment box about the person in this tomb. Here are some questions to consider. Remember, you can answer one, two or all of the questions. The choice is up to you.
- What’s the name of the person in this tomb and why did you pick this name?
- What words about this person are carved on the tomb?
- What secret did this person take to the grave?
- If none of these questions meets your fancy; make up your own and answer it.
Have fun, be creative and enjoy the challenge:~)
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{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m not sure about any of those questions but the Catholic churches in Mexico always draw me in. We had migrant workers on the farm and on Sat. nights my dad would gather the migrant workers and take them to Mass in Spanish on Sat. nights.
I would beg to go with and would be allowed to ride in the back of the pick up truck with them. Of course I’d fall a sleep during the Mass and have to be carried out for the ride home.
Maybe that’s why I love those churches. memories…
Tess The Bold Life´s last blog ..One Brave and Amazing Teenager
I love visiting graveyards and reading the headstones and seeing who’s been here before and imagine their loves and their lives…so I don’t think it’s morbid at all
Talon´s last blog ..In the leaf pile…
I don’t think this is morbid at all… though I haven’t had a strong interest in visiting grave sites… not even my own family’s. I do, however appreciate the artwork and sculpture involved. When I studied this tomb the name Josephine came to me. I have no idea where it came from though.
Davina´s last blog ..There’s An Artist In Our Midst
@ Tess — My ex-husband was Catholic and so we attended his church. I wasn’t all that into Mass, but one time we did go to a Spanish Mass and I loved it. Somehow, not speaking the language made it almost like a song. This falls under the category of “strange, but true” :~)
@ Talon — It’s nice to have company:~) It is amazing what you learn from tomb, gravestones and headstones. The ones in England are amazing to me because they are so old. I mean you can back to the 1300’s and before. The writings a bit hard to read and understand, but it’s still cool to me.
@ Davina — I like the name Josephine…it’s a strong and powerful name, don’t you think?
Okay, Sara, I think she was a nurse and healer. And she took to her grave the formula for a magic elixir. Her name? That one’s not so easy. Maybe Vitamors? That is a combination of the latin words for life and death (I didn’t know this but looked it up). Seems like she was a person who understood both.
Patty – Why Not Start Now?´s last blog ..A Large State of Fear
Hi Sara!
I love the history found in old graveyards as well. It is also a great brainstorming opportunity for a writer – rich opportunities, don’t you think?
I would name her Agatha – her “story” would be running an orphanage for homeless children who lost their parents in the Crusades, the religious slaughter!
Well, it’s the tomb of the Unknown Blogger, of course — one Heather Fairchild (’cause before she became addicted to blogging she used to spend all her days romping in the heather and collecting posies for her mom.)
She died last April at her computer face down in her porridge but with a most contented look up on her face.
Inscription on her tomb reads “She came. She blogged. She kicked the bucket.”
Jannie Funster´s last blog ..3 Photos I Took 3 days Ago & 3 Photos I Took 5 years Ago
@Sara, I do think that name is powerful… there’s also a gentle, womanly feeling about it (at least in my opinion).
@Jannie, you ARE hilarious!
And I bet she was buried with her laptop too right?
Davina´s last blog ..There’s An Artist In Our Midst
@ Patty — A nurse and a healer…that’s kind of cool. I wonder if she was glad she took the formula to her grave or sad about it? What a neat name, “Vitamors” and where you got is even better. I really like this comment, Patty…thanks:~)
@ SuZen — Agatha is one of my favorite names! I like the story of her running an orphanage for homeless children of the Crusades…now that was not a very time in history!
I haven’t used any of my gravestone pictures for stories, but you are right that reading the stones provides great fodder for a writer. There’s the right amount of things shared, as well as what you have read between the lines:~)
@ Jannie — LOL…only you could think of this one. I love her name and how she came by it as well as the inscription. I just so glad that you leave comments on my site because I know that any other reader who visits will be sure to get a good laugh…thanks, friend:~)
@ Davina – Yes. I think Josephine is a strong name, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be gentle and womanly as well! Maybe, I should have used the word “powerful,” rather than strong:~)
@Davina: Yes, buried with her laptop and her favorte coffee mug with a photo of Dooce on it.
@Sara:
now, let me go see if Ben returned to the beach…
Jannie Funster´s last blog ..3 Photos I Took 3 days Ago & 3 Photos I Took 5 years Ago
I don’t like visiting tombstones or graveyards myself, but thought it would be interesting to read what the other bloggers say. Jannie’s comment got me laughing!!!
Evelyn Lim´s last blog ..Feed has moved
@ Evelyn — AND WHEN DOES JANNIE NOT MAKE US LAUGH?????
Graveyards are about the least morbid places I can think of actually. A lot of contemplation could be done there. As for your questions…
Time may have stolen her name, but not who she is. Dust likewise may have stolen the words of her deeds etched into the tomb, but not who she was. The secret she has taken to her grave is the discovery of what lies beyond and who she’ll become when she gets there.
This image puts me in mind of a line from The Kiss of God’s Mouth (Part 1), a song that has moved me greatly whenever I have lost myself in despair: “All is dark, all is blackened, all but an upturned face.”
Tony Single´s last blog ..Taking the Other View
@ Tony — Wow…this was a very powerful comment. I loved the line, “The secret she has taken to her grave is the discovery of what lies beyond and who she’ll become when she gets there.” I tried to find a video of the song you mentioned, but could only find part two….I did read the lyrics and they are very moving. Thanks for your comment:~)