Pax Vobiscum

 

 

 

In loving honor of Joe Spadoman, a man of peace and a friend to all.

No one could tell a story like our Joe, what better tribute than to hear his voice.

The world is a better place because you have lived among us.

xoxo

 

 

"I will start today with my childhood. I lived in a close-in suburb of Chicago called Melrose Park. Melrose had a very ethnic presence. There were 26 homes on the two sides of the street where we lived, 22nd Avenue. 19 of them had Italian surnames. Almost all were Catholic. The nearest Catholic church was Our Lady of Mount Carmel, just South about a half mile.

 

 

Our custom was to attend church services every Sunday. Of course my mother wanted us to attend Catholic school but my dad said, “No”. It was expensive and he didn’t want to pay for it. This meant that if we were to get the teachings and sacraments of the Catholic religion, we went to weekly mass and attended catechism classes.

 

I look back and what seemed to me as a child growing up to be a boring time to have to spend that hour per week in the oaken pew standing, sitting, kneeling, praying and listening to the choir singing in Latin along with the extra hour learning what being a Catholic is in a stuffy classroom, was actually a very cool and beautiful place. 

 

 

 Interior of the old Our Lady of Mount Carmel church in Melrose Park, IL

 

 

You see, the art work that I never paid heed to as a youngster turned out to be the most beautiful as I’ve seen in any church anywhere. The pomp of a high mass celebrated at Noon on Sunday could have been entertaining and I’d love to have the experience of the singing and prayers narrated in Latin, just as I loved attending a full gospel baptist service down in South Carolina when I went there to visit the family of a fallen soldier friend from Vietnam.

 

I’ve posted a photo of a statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and a photo of the inside of the church as It was in the 50’s and 60’s when I was growing up. My sister was married there and her children baptized. Each Summer in mid July a great celebration ensued with rides, games and the best Italian food anywhere. Our Lady of Mount Carmel has her Feast Day on July 16th. The Feast, as it was called, attracted people far and wide and lasted almost a full week in the hot and sultry Midwest Summer. The celebration still thrives today, and although I haven’t attended in over ten years, the prospect of trying to make it this next Summer might be a good idea as I am remembering the food.

 

When I look back at that interior photo, I see the cracks in the plaster and remember reading the words painted in gold leaf on the ceiling along with the images of that faith. Since they were in Latin, I always tried to pronounce them and wondered what they meant. Now, I know. It must have rubbed off as I use it as my sign-off on every letter and post I write."  

 

Pax Vobiscum

 

Joseph Spadoman

RoundCircle

 

 

Mister Linky's Magical Widgets -- Auto-Linky widget will appear right here!
This preview will disappear when the widget is displayed on your site.
For best results, use HTML mode to edit this section of the post.

Comments

[magicalmysticalteacher]

Bon voyage, Joe, bon voyage!

[gloria]

Rest In Peace Spadoman! I did my post Rebecca but can't link, sorry about that. Thanks Lisa for linking me up yesterday. Very sorry to hear about Joe. I visited his blog from time to time. Rebecca your post is a wonderful tribute.

[Lea]

Pax Vobiscum Joe Spado Spadoman. Artist extroidinaire, rider of the wind...

Thank you Rebecca for bringing us all together in so many ways... and again today in honoring Mary and Joe and the beauty of the feminine in us all...

I love you!

[Forest Dream Weaver]

Beautiful post Rebecca - thank you!
Thanks also for prompting me to take part. I was going to pass as I was "too busy",however Spirit has other ideas - so here I am,winging it again!!
I think this means "with angelic help".

Have a lovely day!
Ruby

[Delphyne]

I was very sorry to hear of Joe's passing - this is a lovely tribute to him, Rebecca.

[Fran aka Redondowriter]

A beautiful tribute to Joe. In the book I Never Sang for my Father there is a quote that Ira Progoff also used in his journal workshops. It is, "Death does not end a relationship." Though we have lost Joe he is still with us. My deepest condolences to his family and friends and to all of us in the cyber community where he enriched all our lives. It's so good to read his words here.

[gemma]

Thank you for this honor to Joe. Many of
us met and connected with him here at
Recuerda Mi Corazon. He is will be
greatly missed.

[annie]

What a perfect tribute to our friend, Joe. We will miss him so much. Pax Vobiscum, Joe. Always.

[peggy gatto]

I am so so sad--
I can't say more
maybe later
sending love

[Kim Mailhot]

I connected to Joe through the sweetness of Haiku my Heart. We became pen pals of sorts and I loved his friendship dearly! I will miss his presence here on Earth but his beautiful spirit lives on...
Love and peace, Man. Love and peace, Rebecca, and thank you for having created this place of connection. Xoxo

[Queenie]

Thoughts and prayers ascend for Joe's family and friends. May their heartache be comforted by happy memories and infinite love.

[Stephanie]

Barb, as you read these comments I am sure you will see how your Joe touched us all with his wit and wisdom.

Thank you Rebecca for bringing us together in honor of Joe.

You will be missed my friend...

peace

x...x

[Wabi Sabi]

Spadoman - you will be missed! I will remember Joe's family in my prayers. May they be comforted, knowing he touched so many people with his wonderful stories and his, always kind, words!

[Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio]

Saying goodbye is never easy, but we have no choice. Although I wish God had granted him more time here, he did give him all that he needed. My life is so much richer and meaningful because of Joe's mark.

Peace.

[Noelle]

Rebecca,
Thank you for this beautiful memorial to Joe whose life and friendship to each of us will always be remembered and for the loving energy that emanates from all of your words and actions and ties us all together as one family though we are far apart and some of us have traveled home.
xoxoxo,
Noelle

[Susan Fox]

To hold hands across the ocean is such a comfort at times like this...
although this is cyber-space it feels like we sit next to each other, which in reality we do.

Hugs xxx

[Reading Pleasure]

Joe touched our lives in more ways than one, Rebecca. It is indeed a tragic loss. May he find eternal peace in the Lord.

[debsaidit]

I simply can not find the words.

[Dawn @ AlterEgoMexicana]

I loved Joe without ever meeting him. May his soul rest in peace. May his family know how much he was loved!

[Grace]

I was so sad to hear of his passing ~ This is a lovely tribute to him ~