This morning , we visited a weekend market located in a very nice park twenty minutes drive from home. Colorful flowers and foliages of all shapes and sizes is everywhere. We also found garden accessories and supplies for sale, pets, fashion accessories and home decors. JM explored one of the mini garden exhibits and took some time playing with the pets for sale.  For our garden at home, we bought several pots of herbs which we will multiply for home use. Have a look at the things we saw there this morning:

Vanda orchid plants with variety of colors

Sweet scented, yellow cattleya blooms

Puppies anyone ?

Surely, these beauties will attract lots of bees and butterflies

Sun loving lotus plants

JM having a look at the mini garden

Colorful aquarium fish for sale

Pope Benedict XVI approved the martyrdom of an Austrian who was beheaded by the Nazis for refusing to serve Hitler’s army. Franz Jaegerstaetter requested to be excused from the regular army service , but was denied and was ordered executed for treason. He was the only person who voted against the creation of a “Greater Germany” after Austria was annexed in 1938. Franz was beheaded in 1943. The Pope also approved the martyrdom of 188 Japanese who died for refusing to renounce their faith.  A miracle attributed to Antonio Rosmini, an Italian philosopher who died in 1855 was also approved by the Pope and who writings were once condemned by the Roman Catholic Church. Being declared a martyr means the men died for the Church and eliminates the requirement of a miracle to be beatified. However, after beatification, martyrs need a miracle confirmed before being elevated to sainthood. The process of beatification and canonization usually takes decades or sometimes lasts for centuries.