Just thinking about these little headstones brings a tear to my eye. On our tour of the painted churches in Texas we stopped at St Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Dubina. The church was temporarily closed so we wandered through the large cemetery. The original settlers were from Moravia, part of what was Czechoslovakia. In the past, stillborn babies or those who lived just a few days, were usually placed in unmarked graves. Sometimes they were added to the grave of the most recently buried stranger or put in a mass grave for stillborn babies. The congregation of this church have created beautiful little headstones for their ancestor’s babies.
The hand-painted church is small but so pretty. When I gazed at the celestial scene above the altar, I thought that the stars represented all the little souls above. Rest in peace, Otilia, Joseph, Valentine, Carolina, Anton, Felix, Dominic and Wilomena. Sweet dreams to all those little ones who visited earth so briefly.
St Cyril and Methodius Church, Dubina, Texas
You may make me cry with this, but good pics and story, thanks
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You are most welcome and I think these babies deserve a tear or two. K x
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Poignant story but good to tell it-
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Thank you!
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So sad to lose innocent lives. We are only borrowed upon the earth. While we are here It is hopeful for humanity that love is the only way.
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What a lovely comment, Joseph. Love is the only way. ๐
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Such beautiful headstones. I like how there are just the names and dates – a life that brought so much joy in its brief existence will always be hard to appropriately describe.
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Thank you, Aiva. The headstones are relatively new but the some of the babies were born in the 1880s. We can only imagine the sorrow of the new settlers and to everyone who loses a little one. K x
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This region and its churches is one that I still need to see.
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You would love them, Pit. It makes it possible to imagine what life was like for those early settlers in such a strange land. Just back from Rockport – my soul is soothed.
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I love the beautiful chapel but those tiny graves would make me shed a tear or so. It’s lovely that they have made the little headstones but gives you pause when you read the short time these wee souls visited earth.๐
Love Anne x
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Thank you, Anne. It was sad but beautiful to think that someone still cared.
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Such sad stories, but lovely what has been to done to recognize the babies. Maggie
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Thank you, Maggie. It really touched me.
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Awwww this is heartbreaking!
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Oh so heartbreaking.
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Thank you, Peggy. May they rest in peace.
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Aww.
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Thank you, Neal.
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Tears remembering my past ๐ฅ
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I am so sorry that my post brought up such a sad memory. My heart goes out to you. ๐
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That’s OK Kerry. I do emotional at times ๐ค๐
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Sending a hug.
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What a pretty church.. I am sure God has the little ones in his loving arms!
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I am sure he has – thank you.
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It is wonderful what this congreation has done. Many mothers who could not have their babies buried in consecrated ground or who were not told where the baby was buried very often made a little tombstone marker which they carried with them.
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Thank you, Noilin. I was so surprised at all the work that had been put in. It’s a very small rural population – barely even a hamlet.
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Hi Kerry,
Sad and beautiful!
Blessings!
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Thank you, Ana. ๐
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So bittersweet.
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Thank you, Rob. ๐
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That’s such a sad and sweet post, Kerry. It’s always moving to read the headstones of babies who weren’t long for this world.
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I loved that someone honored the babies. Thank you, Tanja.
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All these little graves represent so much heartbreak…
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I can only imagine – especially for new settlers to the Americas.
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Heartbreaking – like the Angels’ Plot in Glasnevin (Dublin) where there are countless babies from the rare old times.
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Thank you, Roy. I don’t know anything about Angels Plot but I will have to Google it.
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A sad tale, but beautiful headstones to remember those who might otherwise be forgotten.
x
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Thank you – it was sad and yet sweet.
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x ๐ x
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