The "Cloak of God's Grace" Story

Forword:  A few days ago I inadvertenly deleted a story that I had posted on April 5.  Since I don't make copies of my stories and can't retreive my lost story, I rewrote the story about the Catholic Church that occupies a spot on Front Street in Philipsburg, which is the capital of Sint Maarten.  I'm sure I have left out some of the original details, but also may have added some items that weren't in my other story.  I inserted it at this point since I find it impossible to change the date to reflect the date it was originally posted.

It was an ordinary day.  Just finished taking photos inside and outside the St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church on the boardwalk in Philipsburg.  Two years ago when Carol and I visited St. Martin we watched as the boardwalk entrance was being redone by making a Styrofoam mold of the name of the church across the entrance gate.  We stopped a few days to see the progress, but never had the chance to see the final result until the next year.  The church is beautiful with the yellow exterior and bright colors on the monuments and statutes that occupy the courtyard on the west side of the church.  The interior is very beautiful with an airy feel and solemn reverence.  In the 15th century, Christopher Columbus gave the name of St. Martin to the island he set foot on November 11, 1493.  That date happened to be the feast day of St. Martin of Tours, France.  So, when the first Catholic church was established on the Dutch side of the island in 1841, it was given the name of St. Martin of Tours.  Dutch-born Father Arnold ten Brink became the first pastor and in 1844 laid the corner stone on Front Street in Philipsburg.  The parish grew and grew and additions were made to the church.  The church eventually was destroyed and on May 30, 1952 the present church was constructed.  Saint Martin was born in 316 AD in Hungary of a Roman Cavalry officer and non Christian mother.  He entered the military at age 15, but left it at age 20.  He was a fierce opponent of the Arian heresy and became a hermit, monk and evangelizer in northern and western France.  He was eventually appointed Bishop in 371 and established the great monastery at Tours which became a major site of pilgrimage.  In the courtyard of the church on Front St. is a statute dedicated to him.  The plaque says: "In the service of God he now offers the cloak of God's Grace to us.  The statute and plaque were dedicated November 11, 2012.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - the photos for this story were taken during a few different visits to the church.

Worker places the Styrofoam letters in place

Entrance to the church from the Boardwalk

Shrine To Our Lady Of La Salette in the outdoor courtyard

Side entrance to the church

Beautiful interior of the church