“L’Hymne à L’Amour”. Sung By: Céline Dion. Live at Paris Olympics 2024. And, The Original: “L’Hymne à L’Amour”. Edith Piaf (“La Môme Piaf” “The Little Sparrow”). 1950.

Céline Dion.

“L’Hymne à L’Amour”

The Olympic Games, Paris.

2024.

Jeux Olympiques de Paris.

2024.

Available on YouTube

HERE

AND . . .

the original . . .

“Hymne à L’amour”.

Edith Piaf.

1950.

Available on YouTube

HERE

Le ciel bleu sur nous peut s’effondrer,

Et la Terre peut bien s’écrouler,

Peu m’importe si tu m’aimes,

Je me fous du moude entier.

Tant qu’l’amour innondera mes matins,

Tant qu’mon corps frémira sous tes mains,

Peu m’importe les problèmes,

Mon amour, puisque tu m’aimes.

J’irais jusqu’au bout du monde,

Je me ferais teindre en blonde,

Si tu me le demandais,

J’irais décrocher la Lune,

J’irais voler la fortune,

Si tu me le demandais,

Je renierais ma patrie,

Je renierais mes amis,

Si tu me le demandais,

On peut bien rire de moi,

Je ferais n’importe quoi,

Si tu me le demandais.

Si un jour, la vie t’arrache à moi,

Si tu meurs, que tu sois loin de moi,

Peu m’importe si tu m’aimes,

Car moi je mourrais aussi.

Nous aurons pour nous l’éternité,

Dans le bleu de toute l’immensité,

Dans le ciel, plus de problème,

Mon amour, crois-tu qu’on s’aime ?

Dieu réunit ceux qui s’aiment.

The Blue sky over us may tumble,

And the Earth may well collapse,

I don’t care, if you love me,

I don’t give a damn

About the World.

As long as love floods my mornings,

As long as my body quivers under your hands,

I don’t care about the problems,

My love, ’cause you love me.

I would go to the end of the World,

I would dye my hair blonde,

If you only asked me to,

I would unhook the Moon,

I would steal the fortune,

If you only asked me to.

I would renounce my Country,

I would renounce my friends,

If you only asked me to.

They can all make fun of me,

I would do anything,

If you only asked me to.

If one day, life tears you away from me,

If you die, if you are far away from me,

I don’t care,

If you love me, as I would die too.

We would have for us the whole eternity,

In the Blue of all immensity,

In the sky, no more problems,

My love, do you think

that we love each other ?

God reunites those who love each other.

Edith Piaf.

Date: 1946.

Source: RMN.

Author: Studio Harcourt.

(Wikimedia Commons)

The following Text was supplied by Copilot.

Édith Piaf was famously known as “La Môme Piaf”, which translates as “The Little Sparrow.” This nickname was given to her in 1935 by nightclub owner Louis Leplée, who discovered her singing on the streets of Paris.

It referred to her tiny stature, frail appearance, and the piercing emotional power of her voice — a small bird with an unexpectedly mighty song.

Édith Piaf sang L’Hymne à l’Amour in French. 

She wrote the lyrics.

Édith Piaf’s life was one of extraordinary artistic 

brilliance, built on a foundation of relentless sorrow.

Every major biographical source agrees that her story is marked by poverty, abandonment, illness, bereavement, addiction, and physical decline, all of which shaped the emotional intensity of her music.

Born into poverty in Paris in 1915, her mother abandoned 

her at birth and her father left her with grandmothers — 

one of whom ran a brothel.

As a small child she became blind from conjunctivitis 

(or meningitis, depending on the source) and recovered 

only after being taken to Pray at Lisieux.

She grew up amid street life, petty criminals, 

and instability, singing for coins to survive.

Marguerite Monnot composed the music, and Piaf 

first performed it in 1949 before recording it in 1950.

Edith Piaf dedicated this song to Marcel Cerdan, 

her lover, who died in the Air France crash of October 1949.

Edith wrote this beautiful song to her beloved 

soulmate to show her devoted love for him. He 

was a World Champion Middle-Weight Boxer.

They fell in love at first sight and had a whirlwind 

romance.Their love story had such a tragic ending though.

Edith was touring in America, so she asked if he could he join her as she missed him so deeply. While he was travelling to be with her, the plane crashed and he died .

Edith never got over the guilt (she blamed 

herself for asking him to travel to her). Edith 

went into a downward spiral of drink and 

drugs, and she never recovered from his death.

She carried so much hurt and pain at her loss, which clearly shows in this performance. Edith died a few days before the fourteenth anniversary of her true love’s death.

Westminster. Rouen. Chinon. Poitiers. The Four Centres Of Power For Henry II Plantagenet. Mediæval King Of England 1154 – 1189. Friend And Foe Of Thomas à Becket. (Part Three).

Soundtrack from Simon Schama’s

“A History of Britain”,

which included King Henry II's reign.

Sung by Emma Kirkby (Soprano)

Music by John Harle.

Available on YouTube

HERE

Text from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia,

unless stated otherwise.

The Norman invasion of Ireland provided lands for his youngest son, John, but Henry struggled to find ways to satisfy all his sons’ desires for land and immediate power.

King Philip of France successfully played on Prince Richard’s fears that King Henry II of England would make Richard’s brother, Prince John, the next King of England, and a final Rebellion broke out in 1189.

Decisively defeated by Philip and Richard, and suffering from a bleeding ulcer, King Henry II retreated to Chinon, in Anjou, France, where he died.

Henry’s Empire quickly collapsed during the Reign of his youngest son King John. Many of the changes Henry introduced during his long Rule, however, had long-term consequences. Henry’s legal changes are generally considered to have laid the basis for the English Common Law, while his intervention in Brittany, Wales and Scotland shaped the development of their societies and governmental systems.

Historical interpretations of Henry’s Reign have changed considerably over time. In the 18th-Century, scholars argued that Henry was a driving force in the creation of a genuinely English Monarchy and, ultimately, a unified Britain.

During the Victorian expansion of the British Empire, historians were keenly interested in the formation of Henry’s own Empire, but they also expressed concern over his private life and treatment of Thomas à Becket. Late-20th-Century historians have combined British and French historical accounts of Henry, challenging earlier Anglo-centric interpretations of his Reign.

English: 

Chinon Castle. France. One of King Henry II’s 

four centres of power in the 12th-Century.

Français: 

Vue du château de Chinon 

de la rive gauche de la Vienne.

This File: 23 March 2009.

User: Citypeek.

(Wikimedia Commons)

During the Middle Ages, Chinon, France, developed, especially under King Henry II (Henry Plantagenêt, Count of Anjou, and Crowned King of England in 1154).

PART FOUR FOLLOWS.

San Felipe Neri Monastery. Sucre, Bolivia.

Sunset Sky over San Felipe Neri Monastery.

Sucre, Bolivia.

Illustration: WINDOWS SPOTLIGHT IMAGES

English: San Felipe Neri Monastery.

Sucre, Bolivia.

Español: Templo de San Felipe Neri.

Photo: 30 September 2013.

Source: Own work.

This File is licensed under the

Creative Commons Attribution-

Share Alike 3.0 Unported Licence.

Author: Marcelo Claros.

(Wikimedia Commons)

English: The former National Palace, Sucre, Bolivia.

Español: Ex Palacio Nacional en Sucre, Bolivia.

Photo: 20 August 2025.

Source: Own work.

This File is licensed under the 

Creative Commons Attribution-

Share Alike 4.0 International Licence.

Author: Parallelepiped09.

(Wikimedia Commons)

When Céline Dion And Switzerland Won The Eurovision Song Contest. 1988.

When Céline Dion and Switzerland

won the Eurovision Song Contest 1988.

Available on YouTube

HERE

“Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi”.

Vous, qui cherchez l’étoile

Vous, qui vivez un rêve

Vous, héros de l’espace

Au cœur plus grand que la terre

Vous, donnez-moi ma chance

Emmenez-moi loin d’ici . . .

Ne partez pas sans moi

Laissez-moi vous suivre

Vous, qui volez vers d'autres vies

Laissez-moi vivre

La plus belle aventure

Le plus beau voyage

Qui mène un jour

Sur des soleils, sur des planètes

D’amour

Vous, les nouveaux poètes

Vous, les oiseaux magiques

Vous, vous allez peut-être

Trouver de nouvelles musiques

Vous, donnez-moi ma chance

Je veux chanter, moi aussi . . .

Ne partez pas sans moi

Laissez-moi vous suivre

Vous qui volez vers d'autres vies

Laissez-moi vivre

Le bleu de l’infini

La joie d’être libre

Sur des rayons, sur des soleils

Sur des chansons, sur des merveilles

Et dans un ciel

D’amour

Le bleu de l’infini

La joie d'être libre

Vous qui cherchez une autre vie

Vous qui volez vers l’an deux mille

Ne partez pas sans moi.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Lyrics:

https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/

celinedion/nepartezpassansmoi.html

Absurd Victorian Occupations.

Neuschwanstein Castle, Schwangau, Bavaria, Germany. King Ludwig II Of Bavaria’s Creation. (Part Four).

Neuschwanstein Castle, Schwangau,

Bavaria, Germany.

Neuschwanstein kastély Schwangauban,

Bajorország, Németország.

Schloss Neuschwanstein, Schwangau,

Bayern, Deutschland.

Photo: 31 July 2013.

Source: Own work.

This File is licensed under the

Creative Commons Attribution-

Share Alike 3.0 Germany Licence.

Attribution:

© Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de

(CC BY-SA 3.0 DE).

Author: Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de

(Wikipedia)

The Throne Hall, Neuschwanstein Castle.

Photograph by Joseph Albert 1886. 

Postcard published 1890 - 1900. 

Detroit Publishing Co. Print No. 17479.

Date: 1886.

Source:

Photochrom from Photoglob AG Zürich (PZ, 17479); Views of Germany in the Photochrom Print Collection. This image is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID ppmsca.00180.

Author: Josef Albert (1825–1886).

(Wikimedia Commons)

Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia,

unless stated otherwise.

Characteristic of Neuschwanstein’s design are theatre themes: Christian Jank drew on Coulisse drafts from his time as a scenic painter.[23] 

The basic Style was first planned to be Neo-Gothic, but the Palace was primarily built in Romanesque Style. The Operatic themes moved gradually from Tannhäuser and Lohengrin to Parsifal.[24]

Pictures of the Tannhauser saga. Study (Arbeitszimmer), Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria, Germany. Photograph by Joseph Albert 1886. Postcard published circa 1890 — 1900. Detroit Publishing Co. Print No. 17480.

Source: Photochrom from Photoglob AG Zürich (PZ, 17480); Views of Germany in the Photochrom print collection. Library of Congres. Reproduction number LC-DIG-ppmsca-00181.

Author: Josef Albert (1825 — 1886).

(Wikimedia Commons)

In 1868, the ruins of the Mediæval twin Castles were completely demolished; the remains of the old Keep were blown up.[25] 

The Foundation Stone for the Palace was laid on 5 September 1869; in 1872, its Cellar was completed, and, in 1876, everything up to the First Floor, the Gatehouse being finished first. 

At the end of 1882, it was completed and fully furnished, allowing Ludwig to take provisional lodgings there and observe the ongoing construction work.[24] 

In 1874, management of the Civil Works passed from Eduard Riedel to Georg von Dollmann.[26] The Topping Out ceremony for the Palace was in 1880, and, in 1884, the King moved in to the new building. 

Dining Room, Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria, Germany. Photograph by Joseph Albert 1886. Postcard published circa 1890 — 1900. Detroit Publishing Co. Print No. 17483.

Source: Photochrom from Photoglob AG Zürich (PZ, 17483); Views of Germany in the Photochrom print collection. Library of Congres. Reproduction number LC-DIG-ppmsca-00184.

Author: Josef Albert (1825 — 1886).

(Wikimedia Commons)

In the same year, the direction of the Project passed to Julius Hofmann [de], after Dollmann had fallen from the King’s favour.

The Palace was erected as a conventional brick construction and later encased in various types of rock. The White Limestone came from a nearby Quarry.[27]

The Sandstone Bricks for the Portals and Bay Windows came from Schlaitdorf, in Württemberg. Marble, from Untersberg, near Salzburg, was used for the Windows, the Arch Ribs, the Columns, and the Capitals.

The Throne Hall was a later addition to the Plans and required a Steel framework.

Pictures of the Tristan saga. Bedroom, Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria, Germany. Photograph by Joseph Albert 1886. Postcard published circa 1890 — 1900. Detroit Publishing Co. Print No. 17482.

Source: Photochrom from Photoglob AG Zürich (PZ, 17482); Views of Germany in the Photochrom print collection. Library of Congres. Reproduction number LC-DIG-ppmsca-00183.

Author: Josef Albert (1825–1886).

(Wikimedia Commons)

The transport of building materials was facilitated by scaffolding and a Steam Crane that lifted the material to the construction site. 

Another Crane was used at the construction site. The recently-founded Dampfkessel-Revisionsverein (Steam Boiler Inspection Association) regularly inspected both Boilers.

PART FIVE FOLLOWS.

Saint Laurence. Martyr. Feast Day 10 August. Red Vestments.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.

Saint Laurence.
   Martyr.
   Feast Day 10 August.

Double of the Second-Class
   with a Simple Octave.

Red Vestments.

[Editor: Please note: There are two accepted spellings of the Saint’s name: Lawrence and Laurence.]

Saint Laurence.

Illustration: SOCIETY OF SAINT BEDE

Picture Credit: UNA VOCE OF ORANGE COUNTY

Artist: René de Cramer.

“Copyright Brunelmar/Ghent/Belgium”.

Used with Permission.

Saint Laurence before Emperor Valerianus.

Artist: Fra Angelico.

Date: Circa 1447.

Source/Photographer: The Yorck Project:

10.000 Meisterwerke der Malerei.

DVD-ROM, 2002. ISBN 3936122202.

Distributed by DIRECTMEDIA Publishing GmbH.

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Basilica of Saint Laurence-without-the-Walls, Rome, where the remains of the glorious Deacon are preserved, is the fifth Patriarchal Church in Rome.

With Saint John Lateran, Saint Peter’s, Saint Mary Major, and Saint Paul-without-the-Walls, it is one of the five Major Basilicas where the Pope, alone, says Mass at The High Altar in order to show that his jurisdiction extends over all the Churches in the World which are under the Patriarchates of Rome, Jerusalem, Alexandria, Antioch, and Constantinople.

The following Text on “The Papal Basilicas” is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia.

The four Major Basilicas, and the Minor Basilica of Saint Laurence-outside-the-Walls, all of which are in Rome, were formerly known as “Patriarchal Basilicas”, along with a few other Churches outside of Rome.

Upon relinquishing the Title of “Patriarch of The West”, in 2006, Pope Benedict XVI officially re-named the “Patriarchal Basilicas” as “Papal Basilicas”.

The five Basilicas in Rome, formerly styled “Patriarchal Basilicas”, were previously assigned to, and associated with, the five ancient Patriarchates of the Latin Church, or the Pentarchy:

Saint John Lateran was associated with Rome (Patriarch of The West);

Saint Peter’s was associated with Constantinople (Latin Patriarch of Constantinople);

Saint Paul’s-without-the-Walls was associated with Alexandria (Latin Patriarch of Alexandria);

Saint Mary Major was associated with Antioch (Latin Patriarch of Antioch);

Saint Laurence-without-the-Walls was associated with Jerusalem (Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem).

Saint Laurence.

Illustration: MARIA ANGELA GROW

Here is held:

The Station on Septuagesima Sunday;

The Station on The Third Sunday in Lent;

The Station on The Wednesday after Easter;

The Station on The Thursday after Pentecost.

Rome possesses seven other Churches Dedicated to Saint Laurence:

Among which:

Saint Laurence-in-Panisperna, where the Saint was Martyred and where they hold The Station on The Thursday of The First Week in Lent;

Saint Laurence-in-Lucina, where part of his grid-iron is kept, and where is held The Station on The Friday of The Third Week in Lent;

Saint Laurence-in-Damaso, where is held The Station on The Tuesday of The Fourth Week in Lent.

The Church invites us, today, to Celebrate in this Sanctuary, The Praises of God (Introit, Offertory) to Whom this Saint bore glorious witness by his Martyrdom.

Saint Laurence was the first of The Seven Deacons attached to the Service of The Roman Church. His duty was to assist the Roman Pontiff when Celebrating The Holy Mysteries, to distribute The Eucharist to The Faithful, and to administer the revenues of The Church, which he distributed among The Poor (Introit, Gradual).

Arrested by The Prefect of Rome, in 258 A.D., and called upon to deliver his riches to him, he showed him a crowd of poor people, saying: “These are the real treasures of The Church, by the inestimable gift of their Faith, and because they convert our alms into imperishable treasures for us.”

He was laid on a grid-iron, under which were placed half-lighted coals, so as to prolong his tortures and make his death more painful.

“Flames were not able to conquer The Charity of Christ: And the fire, that burned without, was weaker than that which, within, kindled in the heart of the Martyr.” [Saint Leo. Sixth Lesson at Matins on 10 August].

Indeed, he said to his tormentors: “You may now turn my body over; it is roasted enough on that side.” And, later on: “My flesh is now roasted, you can eat of it.” [Antiphon of The Magnificat of Second Vespers].

He died in 258 A.D. His name is mentioned in The Canon of The Mass, among The Roman Martyrs (First List).

Let us always recite, as a Thanksgiving, The Collect of this day, placed by The Church after The Canticle of The Three Youths in The Furnace.

She makes us beseech God to extinguish in us the ardour of our passions, as He granted to Saint Laurence, who was tested by fire and found pure (Gradual), to triumph over the flames of his cruel Martyrdom (Collect).

Every Parish Priest Celebrates Mass for the people of his Parish.

Mass: Conféssio et pulchritúdo.

Saint Laurence.

Martyr.

Available on YouTube

HERE

Cathedral And Metropolitan Church Of Saint Stephen And All Saints, Vienna, Austria. (Part One).

English: 

Cathedral and Metropolitan Church of 

Saint Stephen and All Saints, Vienna, Austria.

Deutsch: 

Dom-und-Metropolitankirche zu 

Sankt Stephan und allen Heiligen, 

Wien, Österreich.

Photo: 8 October 2017.

Source: Own work.

This File is licensed under the 

Creative Commons Attribution-

Share Alike 4.0 International licence.

Author: C.Stadler/Bwag

(Wikimedia Commons)

English:

His Eminence Christoph Schönborn OP.

Cardinal, Archbishop Emeritus of Vienna.

Português: Cardeal Christoph Schönborn

na eleição da Conferência Episcopal Austríaca.

Photo: 15 June 2020.

Source:

File:Bischofskonferenz,_kathpress.at,

_Dr._Paul_Wuthe.jpg

This File is licensed under the

Creative Commons Attribution-

Share Alike 4.0 International licence.

Author: Mureccles

(Wikimedia Commons)

Text from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia, unless stated otherwise.

Saint Stephen’s Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Church in Vienna, Austria, and the Mother Church of the Archdiocese of Vienna.

It was the Seat of the Archbishop Emeritus of Vienna, Christoph Schönborn.

The New Organ,

Saint Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna.

Bach: Toccata.

Played by: Konstantin Reymaier.

Available on YouTube

HERE

The current Romanesque and Gothic form of the Cathedral, seen today in the Stephansplatz, was largely initiated by Duke Rudolf IV (1339 – 1365) and stands on the ruins of two earlier Churches, the first a Parish Church Consecrated in 1147. 

The most important Religious building in Vienna, Saint Stephen’s Cathedral has borne witness to many important events in Habsburg and Austrian history and has, with its multi-coloured tile roof, become one of the City’s most recognisable symbols. It has 256 stairs from the top to the bottom [1]

By the middle of the 12th-Century, Vienna had become an important centre of German civilisation, and the four existing Churches, including only one Parish Church, no longer met the Town’s Religious needs.

English:

South Tower and the shorter North Tower,

along with the Roof Tiles mosaic.

Deutsch: Nordostansicht des Stephansdomes in der österreichischen Bundeshauptstadt Wien.

Date: 3 August 2014.

Source: Own work.

Accreditation:

© C.Stadler/Bwag; CC-BY-SA-4.0.

Author: C.Stadler/Bwag

(Wikimedia Commons)

In 1137, Bishop of Passau Reginmar and Margrave Leopold IV signed the Treaty of Mautern, which referred to Vienna as a “Civitas” for the first time and transferred Saint Peter’s Church to the Diocese of Passau.

Under the Treaty, Margrave Leopold IV also received from the Bishop extended stretches of land beyond the City walls, with the notable exception of the territory allocated for the new Parish Church, which would eventually become Saint Stephen’s Cathedral.

Although previously believed built in an open field outside 

the City walls, the new Parish Church was likely built on an ancient Cemetery dating to Ancient Roman times; excavations for a heating system in 2000 revealed graves 2.5 metres 

(8.2 ft) below the surface, which were carbon-dated to the 

4th-Century A.D.

This discovery suggests that an even older Religious building on this site predated Saint Rupert’s Church, which is considered the oldest Church in Vienna.

English: Roof of Saint Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna.

Deutsch: Die nordseitigen Wappen am Albertinischen Chordach des Stephansdoms in der österreichischen Bundeshauptstadt Wien.

Date: 10 October 2017.

Source: Own work.

Accreditation:

© C.Stadler/Bwag; CC-BY-SA-4.0.

Author: C.Stadler/Bwag

(Wikimedia Commons)

PART TWO FOLLOWS.