Belgium March 2006 - Bruges Part 2 THe churches and the Army

THE CHURCHES - Belgium is 95% Catholic so there are churches and cathedrals everywhere!!! Two of the main things I wanted to see while here were:

The Basilica of the Holy Blood - there is a fragment of cloth there with what is said to be the coagulated blodd of CHrist, wiped from his body after the crucifixtion. It is kept in rock-crystal vial in a a cynlindar with a gold crow at either end and then inside a tabernacle. It is brought out regularly so the faithful can kiss it and every May on Ascension Day there is an elaborate procession where it is carried through the town by the BIshop of Bruges accompanied by costumed residents acting out bilibical scences. Unfortunately, the two times that I went there, it was closed so I never got to see it.

CHurch of our Lady - now, if I didn't see anything else on this entire trip to Europe, it was worth it for this one church. There is a statue there of the Madonna and Child by Michelangelo - one of the few pieces of his work that resides outside of Italy and the only one that left Itlay during his lifetime. It was bought by a local family and donated to the church. I can't even begin to tell you how seeing this affected me. There just aren't words to describe what it felt like to stand in that beautiful church looking at something by Michelangelo. I had been to another museum the day before that had endless sculptures of Mary and Jesue, and I am by no means a connisuer of fine art, but the difference between all of the others and this one was amazing. In fact, I didn't really see anything in the museum that impressed me and it's supposedly one of the finest in the city. But, in addtion to the sculpture in the church, there was also some wonderful paintings.

ANd I was surprised, but you were allowed to take pictures. Even though it felt a little sacreligious, I did take a couple. If you want to see it, let me know and I will e-mail to all who request. (For those of you with Snapfish, I'll be putting all my Belgium pictures out there this week and let you know.)

Just walking around yesterday, I suddenly came upon a bunch of army guys with their jeeps right in the middle of the market square. I think it was the 21st regiment - they were doing some kind of exhibition, though I never did really find out what it was all about. Seemed kind of strange, though.