A Wholly See's Rarebit and Reliquary from the Star

On our annual pilgrimage to our local mall we just had to pay a visit to the immaculately white shrine of Mary See. All of her attendants were dressed in white and black and wore plastic gloves. As usual there was a line of "pigrims" with quite a wait. I was allowed to purchase one box of Wholly Peanut Brittle...my heart's/stomach's favorite. My wife had the maiden attendants hand-pack a special pound of Wholly Dark Chocolate Truffles from the Elixir of the gods. What a gustatorial thrill. We felt we had fulfilled our annual quest and contentedly made our journey home to partake in these offerings. We are so devoted to this ritual each year at this time. My parents made my sister and I initiates to this ritual way back in our childhood.

And what to my wondering eyes should appear... but a miniature "rarebit", yes, an icon of another holiday, right there in my box. I'm just sure it was a wholly relic so I immediately took a picture of it above...before I bit its head off in ritual satisfaction. Can you spy the tiny eyes, wiggly nose and mouth? I must now resist the temptation of this ritual more than once a day. I am so dedicated. I've even thought of inviting friends over or alerting the media to come an witness this wholly delicious event.

Today is also the day we start our annual countdown to that Special Day on the 25th of this December. Our dear friends, the Buck's, from the Star, have made it oh so easy and delicious this year by providing a little grouping of red boxes in the shape of a coniferous tree. Each day, starting today, you open a box and take out a chocolate treat and then turn the little box around to form a festive scene on which to meditate. This is called a reliquary box and it holds only the very wondrous of delights in wholly anticipation of that glorious event on the 25th (more gluttonous feasts). It is also customary to imbibe in the guaff of the aromatic bean during these daily rituals. Ah such fun!

Yes, I'm having fun with my Art History Class this year. We have just studied the Romanesque Period and Byzantine Period where it was quite normal to "worship" Icons and then into the Gothic Period where wholly religious pilgrimages and Crusades were taken to the Holy Land to rid it of the "infadel". Along the way, cathedrals would charge a fee to see Holy Relics ie. a Saint's toe, a fingernail, a lock of hair kept in a box (reliquary). In this way they were able to build bigger and better churches and altars for the Saint's glory. Then there arose those who banned the worship of Icons and Relics because of the 2nd Commandmnet ie. "Thou shalt not make any graven image..." That is why the "Blue Mosque" today, which was once the "Hagia Sophia"(Eastern Orthidox Christian) has no "images" on display...only very intricate designs and calligraphy in gold leaf. We saw the picture of Pope Benedict visiting there today and praying with the religious leaders about bettering relationships. I'm wondering if he got down on his knee, as they do, and raised his bottom in the air? I wonder if he took off his shoes, as we did? Did he smell the awful stinch of smelly feet/socks, as we did?

I'm truly sorry to be so "iconoclastic" here but it just seems to me that everytime in the news we see some "new holy image" on a shower curtain or shiny building or water-seapage spot in the sewer that we just have to "alert the media". Here's to the "true meaning of the season"...New Life and the Giving of Love! Bob!