Loren Paulsson

The Norman landscape is a tapestry of luxury accommodations, farmland, bed and breakfasts, medieval history, World War II memorials, and everyday life for its 1.4 million inhabitants. On the morning of 30 April 2011, I rolled out of bed at Hotel de la Gare , packed my camera, checked my map again, filled my water bottle, checked my bananas and granola bars, and headed downstairs for petit-dejeuner—a mug of French coffee and a toasted baguette with fruit jelly. I'd spent part of the previous afternoon photographing the Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Bayeux . While picking up a copy of "Notre Dame Cathedral Bayeux" by Francois Neveux with Claire Ruelle, I'd heard the staff at the Office de Tourisme say the  American Cemetery  was 18 kilometers away. So I gave myself three and a half hours to get there.  The cathedral's two towers reflect the original Romanesque style used when  Bishop  Odo de Conteville and his  predecessor first built the cathedral ...

Saint Patrick's Cathedral, New York, N.Y. (Public Domain) Saint Patrick was born on the edge of Roman civilization—in Britain—just before Rome recalled her legions.  When he was sixteen, Irish raiders took him to Ireland as a slave. And during his six years in slavery, he converted to the faith he had known in childhood. After his escape, historians believe he spent some time in Gaul, or what is now France, before returning to Britain where he received his call to Ireland. In the United States, Patrick has become a symbol of Irish culture, but he saw himself as an  unlearned sinner supernaturally called to spread Christianity among the Irish. He wrestled with whether he should write his c onfession.  His captivity apparently cut short his Latin education, and he dreaded misleading his readers and being criticized. But gradually, citing scripture after scripture, he concludes his lack of eloquence does not lie outside God’s call. “How much more should we earnestly str...