Friday, December 9, 2011

Rosa Mystica Day 9

A Virgin a Day, Haiku My Heart
December 9, 2011



I am sharing A Virgin a Day with Haiku My Heart. Both of these memes were  created by my friend 
Rebecca who pens the recuerda mi corazon blog. From December 1st through December 12th, we celebrate Mary with our images, thoughts and stories. December 12th is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It has been a great exercise in drawing people together and sharing, making conections and new friends. Please have a look by clicking on the highlighted link in this paragraph.


Mary in glory

Sunlight makes her image glow

Great Peace and beauty




San Luis, Colorado is a small quaint town on Colorado highway 159, a little West of Walsenburg, which is located along I-25 South of Denver, and a little South of US Highway 160. It’s on the road that will eventually pass through Taos if you keep on heading South into New Mexico.
We were passing through and saw this monstrous building on a hill. It had a pair of turrets and was laced with gold. Our conversation had Mrs. Spadoman and I wondering what it was. Certainly some sort of religious palace. The design had us convinced it was not anything Catholic.
Stations of the Cross Shrine San Luis, CO

Then, as we got closer to the town and saw the informational signs, it turns out to be the epitome of Catholic as it was the Shrine of the Stations of the Cross. Had we noticed the crosses atop the towers, we would have had no doubt. We just missed seeing this small detail.
This monument was high on a hill with no visible road to get to it. We spotted a small sign and a walking path. If you wanted to visit this place, it was a hike up a hill at nearly 8000 feet above sea level. 

I was already exhibiting signs of breath shortness and fatigue so I passed on this one. I had no idea that these were the signs that signaled the prelude to my recent heart attack and heart related problems. We did opt to visit the beautiful church in town that sat directly across the road from the Cafe Rosa Mystica Coffee House.
The name of the church was unusual as I have never heard one quite like this before. Most Precious Blood Catholic Church. There was parking close by and we wandered over and found the doors unlocked and the church ready for visitors.

A small church as they go. After all, it was a small town. But very beautiful with a large carved wooden altar that seemed to extend across the entire width of the building. This altar was completely covered with statues with Jesus on the cross as a centerpiece. 


The walls were laden with stained glass images of The Blessed Virgin Mary and included Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, St. Rose of Lima and St. Therese, the Little Flower.




I’ve included photographs of the stained glass and also a few of the altar. The outside of the church had a traditional profile, and although this place is located in the Southwestern United States and the name of the town was in Spanish, the design seemed to look more Midwestern than the Mexican adobe style.

We then had to stop in for a cup of coffee. Mrs. S is addicted you know. Gotta have her caffeine fix. Not that she didn’t already have a few jolts of high test java that we made at the motel when we left Taos.
The Rosa Mystica was a unique place. The owner/operator was just pulling turnovers out of an oven, and the aroma mixed with the cinnamon rolls that were cooling on the counter under our noses.
We ordered coffee and wandered around the shop as she had displays and gift items here and there for sale. This is the place where we saw the Our Lady of Guadalupe door hanging for the first time. We knew we had to have one when we realized they existed.

The Rosa Mystica also had a small table set with a statue of Our Lady and candles to light. This was a mainstay in the church where both of us grew up. It was common to my mother’s vernacular to say, “I’ll light a candle for (so-and-so).” to someone that told you about a sick family member or a family that needed prayers.
These are not regularly in churches any longer that I’ve noticed. With my mother in mind, I asked the proprietor about lighting a candle and she told me to go ahead and help myself. I asked about paying for it, as we always made a donation at church in the old days, but she said, “No, there’s no charge.”
We ended up buying half the stock of cinnamon rolls and turnovers, a chore which we would have done anyway, just based on how good they looked and smelled.
That’s our visit to San Luis, Colorado. If you make the trip, let me know. And enjoy one of those turnovers, they wereb divine.
Peace

22 comments:

somepinkflowers said...

{{ these travels with you
take me to Marys
everywhere

whilst still drinking
my morning tea.


thank you for that
&
hope U R doing
More Than Fine }}

Soul Journeys said...

beautiful photos, of mary and beautiful words in your haiku!

carol l mckenna said...

You always have the most fascinating posts ~ i have traveled to Taos, Santa Fe and Alburgue ~ Loved Taos ~ We saw an adobe Catholic Church with a Native American woman washing the adobe and adding straw ~ Love all your images and hope you are taking care of your special heart ~ ~ thanks, namaste, Carol (A Creative Harbor)

Priti Lisa said...

I am so glad you shared all of those pictures...breath-taking. And the story...I enjoyed it all, but the "chore" of buying all those sweets made me laugh♥♥♥

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

San Luis has been on my 'target' list-just added it to the list this year and I am aching to go. Glad you got to see it! Thanks for taking me there-it further fuels my desire to go.

Fran aka Redondowriter said...

Lovely way to start my morning. I have never been to this town in Colorado that I recall. That big old church had to be a site to see from the outside. The cafe and the church you did go to in town were amazing. Travels with the Spadomans should be the title of the book you are going to write.

Hettienne Grobler said...

My wandering feet are itching at the sight of your post!! I really enjoy your posts and love your comments on my blog! May the road rise to meet you!! om shanty! (peace)

Unknown said...

Beautiful post as always. When you get yourself that Mary statue to paint - we all want to see it!!!

Annie Jeffries said...

Spadoman, what a treasure of a post this is. I'm adding this town to the list of places I want to visit on our travels.

Miss Robyn said...

oh I love this! my skin tingles as I read about the Most Precious Blood catholic church - what a divine name - one i have never, ever heard.. and a coffee shop.. I want to go there.. seems our next visit over will be quite a long one!
St. Therese of the Little Flower is my chosen Saint. She was with me each moment of my cancer journey 10 years ago - which ended with me actually being in the presence of her relics - i am blessed

miss pie said...

it is good to see you up and about continuing your treking ways... i am so hungry can you pass one of those cinnamon rolls and the mrs. i take coffe too... xoxoxoxo miss pie

rebecca said...

it seems i am bring up the rear on this day of blog hopping yet again. another crazy long day. may i sing out with each here in gratitude for your most fragrant and inspirational post!

Noelle Clearwater said...

Taking these armchair travels with you has made me think about how comforting it is to walk into a Catholic Church. I am not sure everyone feels that way certainly, and I have not been to mass in years, but you know what you will find when you enter one. YOu know where the altar will be, the statues, the tabernacle and the monstrance if they still have that. All the elements that were central to childhood are still there. I like your Mary and the cafe you visited does sound divine. I love a good cinnamon roll and a cup of JOE :)
Peace and Love,
Noelle

Magical Mystical Teacher said...

Lighting a candle is a great way to pray when words fail.


Mary the Wonder

Cheryl said...

With all your travels, I don't have to leave my chair. LOL. I hope you are getting better.

LAURIE BETH ZUCKERMAN said...

Hi Spadoman, thanks for the wonderful tour to San Luis. I love that little town. I have once walked the Stations of the Cross, years back. I don't think I've ever been in the church down in town, so I am thrilled to see your photos in this post. Love that coffee shop as it is the best stop on the way to Taos.

Lenora said...

Wonderfully enlightening - adds to my armchair travel!

foxysue said...

Hi Joe, have you considered taking up a new occupation - photo journalism?! We get to visit the most beautiful places....

Thank you,

Ms Foxy

Marit said...

Reading your blogpost, it was like going on a trip with you (excursion? like we did with art class when I was young) I much enjoyed it, especially the glass mosaic windows are beautiful! Thanks for this enjoyable time you gave me! (this sounds like a weird sentence, but I'm sure you know what I mean)

Kathleen Barnes said...

I love that name "Rosa Mystica". There were tales of the mystical rose in Scotland,also....they inspired my heart to create more cins. these windows are gorgeous. thank you for sharing.

Mel said...

*laughing* SOMEone had to relieve the proprietor of those turnovers--bless your hearts. ;-)

OH my gosh--I loved the virtual tour of the church. The stained glass windows, the altar--the wonderful statues.....I love to just sit, wander and touch--the rooms envelope me and I somehow feel closer to my G-d.

I'm all about candle lighting and rituals, too.

*happy sigh*
What a wonderful experience at just the right time, yaknow?

mig said...

I was brought up as a Catholic and I still light candles whenever I visit a church.
I love the photos of churches and Mary statues. There is something special about any place dedicated to peace and prayer.