HOLY SMOKE! They need some aquatic tart with a sword to rise out of the lake to extinguish the fire.
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CB - you mean, that isn't what we're seeing? hahaha
Wow.
I can almost hear the voices of the choir singing like they do in those horror shows with devils and demons wreaking havoc on the innocent and unsuspecting. Very scary!
Great photo. Excellent composition and exposure.
Fire & religon. Where was this at in Texas? Wacko??
Nothing against Catholics, but that is the most beautiful picture of fire I've ever seen. To me it's the near perfect alignment of the ladder and stream with the steeple and the darkness of the billowing smoke; the invisibility of the structural damage and seeming impervious-ness of the stone to the fire's calligraphy as it backlights the statue of Mary. It's framed on the bottom by lush greens untouched at that point as far as we can see. Wow.
Luther?! Ha! That's ironic.
This is my school, and it deeply saddens the whole community to see this happpen!
Excellent image!
Hugo - It might indeed be wacko, but I think you mean Waco... *chuckling* jjerod - there is nothing against Catholics in anything you said. The picture IS beautiful, very striking. Like you, I especially the back-lighting of the statue of Mary and the flames & smoke against the blue sky. I think it may also have something to do with the archetecture. A few years back, there was a horrible fire at the rectory Our Lady of LaSallette shrine here in Mass. The building, a beautiful Gothic-style, was totally gutted. It was tragic, but pics of the fire - like this one - were stunningly beautiful. Even the burned-out shell was striking.
Another beautiful photograph of a horrible event.
No offense to anyone.... and I belive in peace...but this would be considered a 'bad' omen in my religion...a church on fire...errrrmm.. not that its anything new in this day and age... ermmm.... I still like the happy picture of the dog... :D
OMG, it's the martian heat ray! (War of the Worlds)
I'm with justjerod on this one. No disrespect intended, but the picture is incredibly engaging. It has a couple focal points; the spire in the foreground perfectly enclosed in near parallel lines by the ladder and stream, and the hot-glow-backlit Mary. Not much news on this story yet (May 7), but it looks like at least all were evacuated and no injuries.
Ooooo....FIRE!!!!! Makes you wonder...were the sprinkler systems up to par, did they have any smoke detectors, did they check into automatic extinguishing systems? Where were the fire alarms? Sorry...my business sense just kicked in. Like the multi million dollar oil companies...they like their money, but won't spend it on upgrading fire systems...some would rather lose everything than spending a couple of thousand to save their investments...not to mention lives!
WOW! Justjarod... I said it louder. (re: the Progressive commercial -LOL) Seriously, you said it beautifully... I won't even try to top that! What a shame... Jump, Mary!!! The firefighters are there to catch you, have no fear!
What a shame, beautiful building has been lost.
Irony: Fire is so beautiful, and yet it can be so destructive.
Valerie - sorry for your loss. SL - "Jump,Mary"....:o) It's amazing that something so beautiful (fire) can be so destructive.
What allegorical meaning could this fire project? This: Our traditional institutions and believes are caught in fire. Mary, our beloved Mother of Jesus, is sending us a message...
When..Earth..Wind..Water..Fire - MEET!I sure hope everyone got out safe!
It's probably the way churches are made with the tall steeples acting like lightning rods. It seems like everytime I go to church these days, out of nowhere a lightning bolt strikes the church. I just don't get it.
A Beautiful Distaster
Fire and brimstone! What a striking picture. It looks like the last scene in a horror movie with the flames licking their way to the top of this medival style church, about to consume the statue of Mary unless the firemen can defeat the flames in time. Very dramatic and intense.
They talked about the high price of furniture and rugs And fire insurance for lady bugs
I think I remember a tent revival -----from my childhood days---the lesson was called---Hell-fire & Damnation. It is a lovely picture. Valerie---I am sadden by the loss for your community----
It's an amazing picture but it's very sad to see the building burn. Hopefully no one was hurt in the fire.
Is not nice to see a peacefull place like a churh in this situation,hope one was hurted.
the flames next to the steeple look as though they've formed a human figure, very similar to that of the statue within the steeple itself.
Burning down the house....
Only one word comes to mind.... Reformation
It was to my understanding that it was not the church that burned, but some offices and classrooms. It was very sad to watch the special reports and see this beautiful, historic building being destroyed. I would like to commend the firefighters who worked hard throughout the night to keep the fire from spreading.
can we get a new picture?
Mike - you read my mind. Weird.... Boyd - Whoa...flashback. Talking Heads.
when you gotta go, you gotta go
Neosho There's something happening here What it is aint exactly clear... Quote a Sesame Street line, the man come and take you away. We(mostly you)better stop, hey, what's that sound? Everybody look whats going down.
Anyone hear what started this fire?
This is really sad! In fact, this whole world is being destroyed bits at a time. Don't you notice that the Blessed Virgin is still there..not getting a bit burned...tells you something doesn't it?
Don't you see it! The flames to the right of the statue of Mary ,look like Mary ,call the pope its a miracle !
Just as a little FYI for those of you that want more information. Our Lady of the Lake is in San Antonio, and yes that was the main building that was struck by fire. Mercifully, there were no injuries or deaths but I believe the fire went to 4 alarms, which meant something like 30 trucks were called to combat the flames. (To the previous poster, no one was hurt because there were adequate alarms. Some schools DO think of the safety of their students.) Those of us that grew up in San Antonio, even though we might not have stepped foot into the historic building, all feel an extreme sense of loss. It was a glorious building in a city full of history and culture. I’m not Catholic, but my home church was destroyed by fire several years ago, and it is impossible to describe the emptiness that is left behind when a building that is this old is lost. Walking through the ruins of my old church, it was like I could feel the centuries of memories that were fashioned in there, now just as charred and burned as the bricks that remained. Every marriage, every funeral, every sermon and every baptism ended in that moment. Through time, our congregation rebuilt and healed, but there is always a bittersweet moment when I walk through the new front doors of our church. While nothing has been officially determined yet, they do suspect arson. To me, that is the saddest thing of all.
I was thinking the flames kind-of look like the evil ghost from "The Nightmare Before Christmas". DeeBee - It DOES remind me of "Carrie"!
Connie said "Don't you notice that the Blessed Virgin is still there..not getting a bit burned...tells you something doesn't it?" Yes it dose .It tells me stone will not burn ,get a wooden Blessed Virgin that dose not burn ,and you"ll have somthing .
Or a papier mache' Mary. Yeah, that's the ticket. Just, do you mean Oogie?
They have Catholics in San Antonio?
For you, Ray: Okay... I just HAD to find these lyrics: See what you started?! lol... For What It's Worth [Buffalo Springfield cover] There's something happening here What it is ain't exactly clear There's a man with a gun over there Telling me I got to beware I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound Everybody look what's going down Battle lines being drawn Nobody's right if everyone's wrong People speaking their minds Getting so much resistance from behind Yeah, stop children, what's that sound Everybody look what's going down What a field-day for the heat Ten thousand people in the street Singing songs and carrying signs Mostly say, hooray for our side I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound Everybody look what's going down Paranoia strikes deep Into your life it will creep It starts when you're always afraid Step out of line, the man come and take you away Stop, children, what's that sound Everybody look what's going down Stop, hey, what's that sound Everybody look what's going down
I remember watching this event live on the news. Kinda unreal considering how close I live to it.
SouthernLady: thanks for the memories
This is a very beautiful picture, but a very sad story. This was my university I almost graduated from. I lived there in the main building in on e of the dorms on the 4th floor. Not only did San Antonio loose one of the most beautiful building, but so much history and artwork was located in the main building. It is a very sad lose to the San Antonio community and the studens of OLLU.
lol jerod lunchbox-is that sarcasm?
SL: A good ol'fashioned serenade. How nice.
Maargaret - Is that his name? The one who kidnaps Santa Claus. Do you see it?
I graduated from OLLU in '97 and as I watched it happening on a live feed over the internet and got calls and texts about it, I cried. This truly was a tragic event, but a strong faith community. I appreciate that these photos will be documented for the future, as part of the University's history, as unfortunate as this event was for those of us who knew it's beauty.
What an incredibly moving picture. It's so awful and so beautiful at the same time.
TexasHillCountryGirl - thank you for such a moving comment. I could truly feel the emotion in it.
My condolences to all of you who suffered the loss of this incredibly beautiful church. May your communities unite in worship for what was saved.
"Cuz I'm the Oogie Boogie Man, and you ain't goin' nowhere!" Yes, he kidnaps Sandy Claws... or rather, his minions, Lock, Shock and Barrel, do at his behest. Yeah, I see 'im.
That would make an awesome sequel if Oogie returns and kidnaps the Virgin Mary, and Jack has to rescue her from him, but she's fallen in love with her captor, and the Pope, and choir boys, and priests in orange jumpsuits, and exorcisms threaten to end all Holidays, and Peter Rabbit has to save the world... whoah. Dizzy.
Fighting fire with empty words While the banks get fat And the poor stay poor And the rich get rich And the cops get paid To look away As the one percent rules america -Queensryche
Politicians say no to drugs while we pay for wars in South America... As much as we dislike eachother, I just thought the 2 previous lines were needed as well.
...and Mary receives yet another immaculate conception, this time from Oogie, and he REALLY IS the Holy Ghost. Yeah. We're on to something.
Jordan, that's cool. I'm smiling about that!
;)
SL - Flashback to the 60s NEOSHO - Reality check! The words say it all...
Actually, Stryder... reminds me more of Seseme Street's Muppets' version... much better than the originals! :0)
THIS PICTURE is interesting!it reminds me of ...REAVELATION(18:4)
This place is boring... let's BURN it!
Sorry SL, I missed that one. I'll have to look it up in the archives. ;o)
I think Jesus is returning soon and he is cleaning house, starting with his own.
Yes, Christa...I had my sarcasm hat on.
I'm a proud graduate of this magnificent university. I took pride in the structure of the university and the morale of it as well, the fire was ruled as accidental. The main building is what caught on fire not the chapel. We the OLLU community ask for your thoughts, prayers, and kind words during this catastrophe. We will prevail and move on, rebuild, and heal. It breaks my heart to see some of your awful comments of enjoyment of another community's pain and history.
The roof; The roof; The roof is on fire!! (Great shot, btw. Tough conditions to achieve that.)
Gwen - very few bloggers here mean any harm. There are three ways to look at a tragedy: the sad view, the ironic view, and the lighter view. It just depends on how you look at it. As with any loss, most of us here can relate and feel the pain.
Our Lady of the Lake University lost a beautiful building, but the goodness and faith are bountiful within this community. I attended OLLU from 1987-1989. I have my wonderful memories and I still have my faith.
This picture is insane! Even destruction has it's own beauty.
Wow, I've seen some pretty ignorant comments on here. First off, this building is a beautiful piece of the impoverished Westside of San Antonio. There is no cleaning of house here, only misfortune. It's an administrative building, not a church. If you don't know anything about it, don't make wild and stupid speculative comments on it. It's a very old and priceless at that. It was built by a famous French architect in the late 19th century. The construction of this building was funded by nothing but donations from poor folks living in the community at the time. This was beauty in the midst of much poverty. There's no judgment from God, nor signs from Revelations. As a Christian, a citizen of San Antonio, and a lay minister on the Westside I'm deeply offended by some of the comments on here, as well as God is. I'm sure of it. Say something productive or conducive instead of hating based on your ignorance. You're embarrassing me, the Church, and Christ himself (obviously I'm speaking to those who call themselves "Christian" here). Please pray for the Westside and for the University. This building is irreplaceable and irreparable. Our community needs to bounce back from this tragedy through the grace and mercy of God.
Gwen... I agree with you whole heartily
I agree with Gwen.It saddens real OLLU Alumi to read the comments and know people are getting pure enjoyment out of others tragedy. OLLU is like a second home to most of its students. If you don't understand the importance of OLLU, then you don't deserve to understand the impact of the fire to us. OLLU is our pride and joy. We will rebuild and continue the tradition OLLU has instilled in its graduates.
This makes me think of what has been revealed in the Church; and since God is an all Consuming Fire maybe this is symbolic for the purification fire that He is sending to not only the church, but setting Texas ablaze with His Holy Presence as well. Hey, didn't I read somewhere that God was a Burning Bush? So what do you think?
That sight will haunt me for the rest of my life. It is beautiful in a way but it jsut breaks my heart to see our Blessed Mother wreathed in flames like that. I speak for a lot of former and current students when I say we love our school. I live and study at Our Lady of the Lake University. I thank you TexasHillCountryGirl, Gwen, Belinda and all those of you who showed us OLLU students any support. The University is 113 years old and the parts of the school that were affected were the Accounts Payable, Development, Communications and Marketing, Computer labs, and a residence hall called Theresian,(named in honor or St Therese). There were thankfully no injuries and SAFD Chief Hood said that their preliminary investigations revieled that the fire likely started not as a result of arson, but by an electrical spark in the attic of the historic building. Since the building was over 100 years old, it was not required to have a new sprinkler system due to the small amount of renovations that had been done over the years. We will rebuild the majestic facade that has stood watching over the westside of San Antonio for so long. Divine Providence has brought us this far and it will lead us faithfully forward. To those of you who have ever heard Mass in our beautiful Sacred Heart Chapel,(which was spared by the Grace of God), "Provident God, Hear our prayers." And let the Church say, "Amen."
If I believed in a god, I would thank him for not sending me to that school. The people there are too uptight.
Fantastically composed picture
Let's see if I have this right: *This thing was well over 100 years old. *It was built using the donations of the poor in that community. *That community has been impoverished for well over a century. Conclusion: perhaps they need a little leadership change, or perhaps some leadership in the community...maybe by a church that's not a political machine?
Maybe that's why they're impoverished? They built the church 100 years ago. They spent all their money on it. They've been broke ever since. Hmm...
