Toulouse

I went to Toulouse today.  I arrived shortly after 10am and headed directly for the tourism office.  I find that's a good way to travel: go to a city, go to the tourism office.  At the office ask for a map and what there is to see.  Proceed to what they say there is to see omitting museums, unless of course you like museums.  I find that the French are well educated in terms of politics, news, and art.  Maybe this is because of their long history and the amount of museums.

The first thing I went to see was city hall and there was a violet festival going on which basically means that people make stuff with violets and then sell it.  Later in the afternoon I think there was also some cultural performances of sorts.  I walked through the different huts set up and sampled violet crepes, cookies, and cake.  It's pretty good stuff.

My plan was to then head over to the main Cathedral in town but ended up stopping by the Carmelite chapel.  It was beautiful- the entire thing was covered in paintings.  One thing that saddened me though was that it seemed to be out of use, like it was more for tourists now than for the sisters, but maybe the impression I got was wrong.

Next St. Sernin Cathedral:  Wow.  I had been there once before for Mass but hadn't really had a chance to look around.  On the way there, I saw several people begging for money.  I entered and saw a picture of Blessed John Paul II.  I remembered his words, "Be not afraid."  I really wonder how much I live and act out of fear.  I've been reflecting on the homeless and the poor lately.  It seems to me that they don't need money that will last them one meal.  They need help, lasting help.  I also think of St. Francis of Assisi and how he gave something to everyone who asked of him.  If we all gave what we have to others- to the poor, that would make a difference.  But we don't.  For various reasons, I think mostly because we want to look out for ourselves because we fear not having enough.  If everyone looked out for others instead of themselves that could work.  Were the poor St. Francis encountered different than the poor of today?  I don't know.

With these thoughts in my mind I started walking around the Cathedral and first found a line of bust reliquaries.  The first saint: Saint Vincent de Paul.  The second: St. Benoit-Joseph Labre, patron saint of the homeless, outcast, and poor.  I think God's trying to show me something here...

Anyways, this Cathedral is full of relics of saints such as: St. John Vianney, St. Cecilia, St. John Bosco, St. Francis Assisi and St. Claire, and many more some whom I learned about for the first time.

Then, I headed out in direction to the Japanese Gardens, it started to rain so I ended up eating my packed lunch inside this mini-mall type building, actually next to a guy whom I'm pretty sure was homeless.  Before when seeing homeless people, I would ignore them out of fear.  Now I'm learning to look at them, smile and say hi.  Then I'm reminded of the scripture verse that's like, if you see a brother who's in need and you say go in peace that's not good, you need to help them (my paraphrasing).  I'm trying to learn how to help.

The gardens throughout town where all locked up today which was rather unfortunate as from the outside they looked very beautiful despite it being winter and already the tulips, crocuses, and daffodils are up.

Then, I went to the Jacobins Cathedral, where they have the remains of St. Thomas Aquinas.  I was like, "Oh my goodness, how blessed am I to have celebrated the feasts of St. John Bosco and St. Thomas Aquinas this past week and now to visit their relics."

I visited one more church before being so overwhelmed that I decided to take a walk down by the river.  The rest of the day I spent walking around, saw a couple other churches and they're all so beautiful.  I'm just like how can people not be practicing Catholics here?!  Yet I know, the churches are seen more as museums displaying art and history.  The tours and the information about the churches focus on the artists and history of the building of the church.  What is being portrayed in the art isn't the focus.  It's sad.  That being said right before leaving I popped into one church where Eucharistic Adoration was being held.  I was like, "How beautiful to come in from the busy street to this peace."

That was my day.  Good night.