News
Jeronimos Monastery
By • Catholic Online • 9/12/2011
Visitors to Lisbon will be duly impressed with the Jeronimos Monastery. Founded in 1501 as a tribute to the Virgin Mary and the success of Portugal's early seafaring explorers, it remains as a stunning example of the era's architecture and stands as part of a larger World Heritage Site. Lisbon, ...
Cistercian Alcobaça Monastery remains the largest church in Portugal
By • Catholic Online • 9/9/2011
Facing the Moors in an important battle at Santarém in March 1147, Afonso Henríques vowed that he would build a great monastery if God granted him victory. After winning the battle and becoming the first Portuguese king, Afonso founded the Monastery of St. Mary at Alçobaca in 1153 and gave ...
Batalha Monastery stands as magnificent example of Gothic architecture
By • Catholic Online • 9/7/2011
In 1385, Portuguese King João I made a sacred vow. He offered petition to God that if his outnumbered army defeated the Castilians at the important Battle of Aljubarrota, he would build a magnificent monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The king was victorious. Portugal was freed from Spain, and ...
Holyrood Palace and Abbey remain a breathtaking ruin, steeped in history
By • Catholic Online • 8/31/2011
Holyrood Palace, which is also called the Palace of Holyroodhouse is in Edinburgh, and is the primary royal residence in Scotland. The palace was built next the Augustinian Holyrood Abbey. The palace itself has several fascinating historical sights, steeped in bloodshed and drama involving ...
Top 10 airlines striving to be the worst
By • Catholic Online • 8/29/2011
Airlines have worked hard to earn a bad reputation. Remember those veterans returning from Afghanistan who were charged extra just to haul their equipment? How about the passenger who reported his baggage soaked in urine? Even if you don't remember those horror stories from earlier this year, you ...
Iona Abbey influential in the spread of Celtic Christianity throughout Europe
By • Catholic Online • 8/24/2011
St. Columba founded the Iona Abbey in 6th century Scotland. Located on a small island less than four square miles, the abbey was highly influential in the spread of Celtic Christianity from its inception. It remains a popular pilgrimage site among the faithful. LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - ...
Scotland's Melrose Abbey lies in ruins after reformation
By • Catholic Online • 8/19/2011
Melrose Abbey, a Cistercian abbey in the Borders region of Scotland is now little more than picturesque ruins. Founded in 1136, it is said to enshrine the heart of Robert the Bruce. LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The abbey was originally founded at Melrose around the end of the 6th century ...
Ruins of St. Andrew's Cathedral tells history of Scotland
By • Catholic Online • 8/17/2011
The ruins of St. Andrew's Cathedral overlooks the North Sea in St. Andrews. In addition to the Norman and Gothic ruins of the medieval cathedral, the site also includes St. Rule's Tower and a museum containing an important Pictish sarcophagus. In many ways, the story of the cathedral is the story ...
The Convent of St. Teresa is a testament to the Spanish's nun reform, asceticism
By • Catholic Online • 8/12/2011
The Convent of St. Teresa is one of two main destinations for Catholic pilgrims to Ávila in Spain. The 17th-century convent was built after the canonization of St. Teresa over the house where she was born. It contains her relics in a small museum. LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - A major ...
The Shrine of Our Lady of Einsiedeln holds miraculous statue
By • Catholic Online • 8/12/2011
The Shrine of Our Lady of Einsiedeln is located about 20 miles southeast of Zürich, in the town of the same in Switzerland. The shrine is perhaps best known for its miraculous Black Madonna statue. The village itself is also home to the world's largest nativity scene, the Diorama Bethlehem. ...
