Princesses

When my sister and I were visiting the Monastery of the Barefoot Nuns in Madrid, we had a shared mystic experience involving a painting of Princesses Catalina Micaela and Clara Eugenia.

Here are the princesses:

Princesses Catalina Micaela and Clara Eugenia

 

If I have a daughter, I will call her Klara Eugenia. And if I have a son, N. will choose a name. Also, if I have a daughter, I will probably have to become Catholic (because of the mystic experience). So I hope Catholics get a semi-decent Pope this time around.

30 thoughts on “Princesses

    1. In English, it’s considered in bad form, in some circles, to use “Jew” as an adjective (and downright offensive to use it as a verb, but that’s another ball of whacks). Just a heads up, and that only if needed or wanted; not an editorial comment.

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  1. Theoretically, isn’t the Pope, if he weren’t heretical or schismatic, considered “first amongst equals” in Eastern Orthodoxy? Namely, that the pope is theoretically at a level somehow equivalent to but senior to the patriarchs of the other autocephalous churches (eg Patriarchate of Constantinople). If you are an Eastern Orthodox Christian (I ask this because you are from Ukraine), could this mystical experience still allow you to remain in your denomination while still accepting this mystical experience. I will concede that my reconciliation, if even correct, would probably be considered strained.

    And speaking of the conclave, a local rag ran an editorial saying not to expect much in the way of reforms, as the majority of cardinals are of the conservative sort (because the last few popes have been of the conservative sort).

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    1. “Theoretically, isn’t the Pope, if he weren’t heretical or schismatic, considered “first amongst equals” in Eastern Orthodoxy”

      – All I know is that my parents’ Orthodox priest hates the Catholics and likes nothing more than make fun of them.

      “If you are an Eastern Orthodox Christian (I ask this because you are from Ukraine)”

      – God forbid! 🙂

      “If you are an Eastern Orthodox Christian (I ask this because you are from Ukraine), could this mystical experience still allow you to remain in your denomination while still accepting this mystical experience. ”

      – I dislike the Russian Orthodox Church even more than I dislike all other denominations. This is such a scandalous organization.

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  2. I’m a non believer but aesthetically I love the Catholic Church (I also love the Eastern Orthdox Church from an aesthetic standpoint.) And I love that the Catholic Church has preserved books and knowledge and in some ways helped invent the University.

    That being said, the Catholic Church is so awful in so many ways: rabidly anti gay; rabidly anti abortion; even anti birth-control. Do you think you could convert and officially become a part of that institution? How would you reconcile what the Church stands for with your own beliefs?

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    1. “Do you think you could convert and officially become a part of that institution?”

      – I have nothing to convert from, since I’ve never even been baptized. 🙂 For me becoming Catholic would mean deciding that in my own mind and probably feeling a greater need to criticize the Catholic Church on my blog. 🙂 It’s not like I would inform any institution of my decision. 🙂

      “How would you reconcile what the Church stands for with your own beliefs?”

      – I’d just decide that they are all jerks who don’t practice it correctly. 🙂 I’m a terrible prospective convert.

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      1. “For me becoming Catholic would mean deciding that in my own mind and probably feeling a greater need to criticize the Catholic Church on my blog.”
        That makes sense to me now. For a second, I was worried. 😉 By the way, I think the name Klara is beautiful. 🙂

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  3. I usually describe myself as incapable of religious faith (that part of my brain/mind/soul/whatever is just plain missing). But I do have an attraction to a lot of religious imagery and/or practice.

    I also respect religion and religious belief and it’s clear that human societies function best when some religion is present for the majority. It’s easy for the religious authorities or dogma to become too powerful which is awful but in the other direction there’s no record of any successful society of athiests or mostly areligious people.

    I’ll also mention that the closest thing i’ve ever had to a religious experience was in a catholic church (in Oaxaca Mexico in front of the virgen de soledad).

    http://enfoqueoaxaca.com/el-reportaje/virgen-de-la-soledad-fe-e-identidad-de-oaxaca/
    http://www.wherewewalked.info/feasts/12-December/12-18.htm

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