inSPIREd Sunday

Sally and Beth host inSPIREd Sunday!  


2015 - Kinsale Ireland

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The moving statues (Irish: Bogadh na nDealbh) phenomenon occurred during the summer of 1985 in Ireland, where, in several different parts of the country, statues of the Virgin Mary were reported to move spontaneously.

In Ballinspittle, County Cork in July 1985, an observer claimed to have seen a roadside statue of the Virgin Mary move spontaneously. The site is about one kilometre along the Ballinspittle to Kinsale road. In a ravine the life-sized blue-and white painted plaster statue of a woman stands about 4 metres above the road, fronted by a balustrade of large blue concrete letters reading "I am The Immaculate Conception". The head of the statue is surrounded by small electric bulbs in the form of a halo. Across the ravine is an unfenced grassy slope with some benches. In front is a blue boilerplate box for donations, secured by two large padlocks.

Bernadette

As a side note, when the Virgin appeared in Lourdes to Bernadette she said she was the Immaculate Conception.

A printed notice beside the grotto states that its continual upkeep is designed to keep the people of Ballinspittle focused on their veneration of the Virgin Mary, and also to inspire faith in "mere passers by".

S

Around the Hotel

February 2015 - Bangkok Thailand


It was close to Lunar New Year when we arrived in Bangkok, we would end up in Ho Chi Minh City for the actual day.

On the surface Bangkok is a big cosmopolitan city, much like any big city in the west, with a thin Thai flavour to it. But unlike most big cities there are small altars with food and flower offerings at most businesses and have flower offerings for good fortune.

Outside our hotel people leave offerings as well.

 

Directly across the street from our hotel we spotted this rather large shrine.

 Bright golden marigold garlands and incense are for sale nearby.

Erawan Shrine in Bangkok is Brahman, not strictly Buddhist. And yet, this famous shrine attracts more visitors than many of the city's temples. It was erected during the mid 1950s, after the Thai government had decided to build the luxury Erawan Hotel on this location. However, the first stages of the construction were beset with so many problems that superstitious labourers refused to continue unless the land spirits were appeased.

After consultations with astrologers, the erection of a shrine to honour the four-faced Brahma God, Than Tao Mahaprom, was considered to be an auspicious solution. A magnificent image of the Brahma God was especially cast and gilded, and The Erawan Hotel opened to acclaims and worldwide fame for three decades. 

Towards the end, the property could not compete with more modern facilities, and was replaced by the privately owned Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok in 1991. As the shrine was originally constructed to grace the old Erawan Hotel, the location became known as the Erawan Shrine.

The shrine houses a statue of Phra Phrom, the Thai representation of the Hindu creation god Brahma. 

Lotus flowers

A popular tourist attraction, it often features performances by resident Thai dance troupes, who are hired by worshipers in return for seeing that their prayers at the shrine answered.