Among the 12 disciples of Jesus, perhaps none has inspired more magnificent art--as well as political upheaval--than Saint James the Greater. Portrayed in the New Testament as part of Jesus' inner circle, he was the first apostle to be martyred. Eight centuries later, Saint James, or Santiago, became the de facto patron saint of Spain, believed to be a supernatural warrior who led the victorious Christian armies during the Iberian Reconquista. After 1492, the Santiago cult found its way to the New World, where it continued to exert influence. Today, he remains the patron saint of pilgrims to the shrine of Santiago de Compostela. His legacy has bequeathed a magnificent tradition of Western art over nearly two millennia.
Louisiana has sixty-four parishes, and many of them are as individual and different as the state itself is different from others in the Union. St. James Parish, a small parish of 249 square miles, is not only one of the oldest settlements in the state, but it is different in its population make-up and is important historically. Cabanocey . . . is a splendid history of the Parish of St. James. . . . Lillian C. Bourgeois captured the spirit that animates the population, which is descended from French, Spanish, Acadian, German, and Creole peoples. Bourgeois writes of the population's customs, beliefs, language differences, and folklore. Cabanocey is not a collection of dry facts and dates; rather, it vividly describes how, more than one hundred years ago, the people of St. James Parish lived, who they were, and what they contributed to their parish and their state. Before the Civil War, St. James Parish was the educational center of Louisiana, and Jefferson College was the first important college in the state. Founded in 1830, it had fine buildings, a well-equipped laboratory, and an impressive library. The Convent of the Sacred Heart (1835) for girls was well-known by prominent families in Louisiana, Mexico, and Central America, who sent their daughters there. Cabanocey contains St. James genealogies and thousands of names of early settlers, including the soldiers, taxpayers, officials, prominent families, and the first settlers and their children. From the early censuses and church and court records, descent is traced for many names. The censuses of 1766, 1769, and 1777 are complete and were obtained from the archives in Seville, Spain.
This book offers a companion volume to Italica's Pilgrim's Guide to Santiago de Compostela by William Melczer, with the complete text of Book II of the Codex Calixtinus, the twenty-two miracles associated with St. James, including the famous miracle of the hanged boy, who revives when his father returns from his pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. The introduction analyzes the types, places, and recipients of the miracles and discusses the appearances of St. James himself in these stories.
"'Give me Liberty, or give me Death'!" is a famous quotation attributed to Patrick Henry from a speech he made to the Virginia Convention. It was given March 23, 1775, at St. John's Church in Richmond, Virginia, ..
This ultimate reference to Kentucky's first chartered city is "an absolute must for anyone interested in Kentucky, regional, or urban history" (James C. Klotter). Readers learn about the inspiration for the city's name (King Louie XVI of France), its former famous residents (John James Audubon and Muhammad Ali), facts about the Kentucky Derby, and much more. 306 photos. 79 maps.
Nestled in the heart of Paris, the American Cathedral of the Holy Trinity today stands as one of the great buildings of this ancient city. The history of the church itself presents a rich portrait of lively men and women who made it their mission to serve God and the people of Paris with all their hearts. Meticulously researched, A History of the American Pro-Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, Paris, 1815-1980 delivers an impressive narrative on each period of growth and development within this church. Beginning with the American Episcopal Church's need to serve Americans living in Paris, author Cameron Allen traces the development of the foundational congregation, the building of the first church, and its organization over the years. Allen draws on diary entries, church documents, and other primary sources to reveal the personalities behind church leaders, including W. O. Lamson, who formally established the church, the pivotal role of J. P. Morgan, organist L. K. Whipp, and German Colonel Rudolph Damrath, a Lutheran minister who took over during the German Occupation of France during World War II. In addition, he discusses the church's role during major historical events and its present needs. This inspiring, well-written history provides an excellent resource for current and past church members, rectory libraries, and historians.
