Eve of Assumption Day

Image by ConcordPastor
(Click on image for a larger version and glorious color!)

It's the custom in some parts of the world to pick flowers on Assumption Day and use them to decorate an image of the Blessed Virgin at home. In some places, the small bouquets are brought to church to be blessed. Here's a photo of some flowers in front of a home up the street from where I'm staying this week.

This is an Ave Maria composed by Giulio Cacinni who died in Florence in 1618. The only lyrics for the entire piece are the two words of the title, repeated over and over again. The vocalist here is 20 year old Hayley Westenra of New Zealand.