Robbert Leusink
@robbertleusink.bsky.social
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Painting: 'The Music Lesson'
(Johannes Vermeer, 1662–1665)
(Johannes Vermeer, 1662–1665)
December 14, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Painting: 'The Music Lesson'
(Johannes Vermeer, 1662–1665)
(Johannes Vermeer, 1662–1665)
What most non-Catholics fail to understand is that when a priest wears ornate vestments he becomes invisible.
Because that's the purpose: it's about how the office and liturgy glorifies God.
His personality doesn't matter. Only God does.
Because that's the purpose: it's about how the office and liturgy glorifies God.
His personality doesn't matter. Only God does.
December 14, 2025 at 7:04 PM
What most non-Catholics fail to understand is that when a priest wears ornate vestments he becomes invisible.
Because that's the purpose: it's about how the office and liturgy glorifies God.
His personality doesn't matter. Only God does.
Because that's the purpose: it's about how the office and liturgy glorifies God.
His personality doesn't matter. Only God does.
Museum culture separated art from life.
The Romantic artist-genius myth erased craft tradition.
The art market turned paintings into commodities.
The Romantic artist-genius myth erased craft tradition.
The art market turned paintings into commodities.
December 14, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Museum culture separated art from life.
The Romantic artist-genius myth erased craft tradition.
The art market turned paintings into commodities.
The Romantic artist-genius myth erased craft tradition.
The art market turned paintings into commodities.
The passegiata is an Italian custom for Sundays (and many other days)
After lunch; dinner, entire towns walk the same route.
There's no real purpose to the walk, other than socialising and being seen.
After lunch; dinner, entire towns walk the same route.
There's no real purpose to the walk, other than socialising and being seen.
December 14, 2025 at 4:59 PM
The passegiata is an Italian custom for Sundays (and many other days)
After lunch; dinner, entire towns walk the same route.
There's no real purpose to the walk, other than socialising and being seen.
After lunch; dinner, entire towns walk the same route.
There's no real purpose to the walk, other than socialising and being seen.
'Ertappte Ministranten beim Messweingenuss' (1868)
('Altar boys get caught drinking communion wine')
Painter: Claudius Schraudolph Jr.
('Altar boys get caught drinking communion wine')
Painter: Claudius Schraudolph Jr.
December 14, 2025 at 4:04 PM
'Ertappte Ministranten beim Messweingenuss' (1868)
('Altar boys get caught drinking communion wine')
Painter: Claudius Schraudolph Jr.
('Altar boys get caught drinking communion wine')
Painter: Claudius Schraudolph Jr.
Saint Francis of Assisi invented the nativity scene in 1223 at Greccio 🇮🇹
He set up a real manger with live animals and actors in a cave.
People could smell the hay and feel the cold.
It made the Incarnation physical, not just theological.
This tradition has been continued in Greccio ever since.
He set up a real manger with live animals and actors in a cave.
People could smell the hay and feel the cold.
It made the Incarnation physical, not just theological.
This tradition has been continued in Greccio ever since.
December 14, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Saint Francis of Assisi invented the nativity scene in 1223 at Greccio 🇮🇹
He set up a real manger with live animals and actors in a cave.
People could smell the hay and feel the cold.
It made the Incarnation physical, not just theological.
This tradition has been continued in Greccio ever since.
He set up a real manger with live animals and actors in a cave.
People could smell the hay and feel the cold.
It made the Incarnation physical, not just theological.
This tradition has been continued in Greccio ever since.
Coming Wednesday morning (17 December) it's Ember Wednesday in Advent.
A day when the Rorate Mass may be celebrated before sunrise.
When the church will be lit only by candles, the priest in golden vestments, and the choir singing 'Rorate Caeli '
A day when the Rorate Mass may be celebrated before sunrise.
When the church will be lit only by candles, the priest in golden vestments, and the choir singing 'Rorate Caeli '
December 14, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Coming Wednesday morning (17 December) it's Ember Wednesday in Advent.
A day when the Rorate Mass may be celebrated before sunrise.
When the church will be lit only by candles, the priest in golden vestments, and the choir singing 'Rorate Caeli '
A day when the Rorate Mass may be celebrated before sunrise.
When the church will be lit only by candles, the priest in golden vestments, and the choir singing 'Rorate Caeli '
Go to Mass today
December 14, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Go to Mass today
Puglia 🇮🇹 in December is sublime:
No tourists (literally!)
Affordable seasonal food
Sunny weather
10/10
No tourists (literally!)
Affordable seasonal food
Sunny weather
10/10
December 13, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Puglia 🇮🇹 in December is sublime:
No tourists (literally!)
Affordable seasonal food
Sunny weather
10/10
No tourists (literally!)
Affordable seasonal food
Sunny weather
10/10
17th century Amsterdam merchants invented pleasure yachting, commissioning yachts with gilt carvings and varnished mahogany.
Royal Huisman still builds yachts this way: hand-laid teak decks, bronze fittings.
A great Dutch tradition.
Royal Huisman still builds yachts this way: hand-laid teak decks, bronze fittings.
A great Dutch tradition.
December 13, 2025 at 3:04 PM
17th century Amsterdam merchants invented pleasure yachting, commissioning yachts with gilt carvings and varnished mahogany.
Royal Huisman still builds yachts this way: hand-laid teak decks, bronze fittings.
A great Dutch tradition.
Royal Huisman still builds yachts this way: hand-laid teak decks, bronze fittings.
A great Dutch tradition.
A natural ski fit, without any polyester, ain’t that hard.
I bought this:
1. Amundsen Sports, Groomer Jacket - 100% cotton
2. C&A, Thermo Underwear - 100% cotton
3. Shepherd of Sweden, Johan Mittens - 100% sheep shearling
4. Lodenwalker, Ski Pants - 100% loden wool
I bought this:
1. Amundsen Sports, Groomer Jacket - 100% cotton
2. C&A, Thermo Underwear - 100% cotton
3. Shepherd of Sweden, Johan Mittens - 100% sheep shearling
4. Lodenwalker, Ski Pants - 100% loden wool
December 13, 2025 at 1:02 PM
A natural ski fit, without any polyester, ain’t that hard.
I bought this:
1. Amundsen Sports, Groomer Jacket - 100% cotton
2. C&A, Thermo Underwear - 100% cotton
3. Shepherd of Sweden, Johan Mittens - 100% sheep shearling
4. Lodenwalker, Ski Pants - 100% loden wool
I bought this:
1. Amundsen Sports, Groomer Jacket - 100% cotton
2. C&A, Thermo Underwear - 100% cotton
3. Shepherd of Sweden, Johan Mittens - 100% sheep shearling
4. Lodenwalker, Ski Pants - 100% loden wool
Eventhough I hate baroque... what kind of civilisation spends 2 years hand-carving wooden galleries and commissioning baroque frescos just to house books?
The kind of people that believed knowledge leads to God.
Architecture reveals theology, like it does in Admont Abbey's Library 🇦🇹
The kind of people that believed knowledge leads to God.
Architecture reveals theology, like it does in Admont Abbey's Library 🇦🇹
December 13, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Eventhough I hate baroque... what kind of civilisation spends 2 years hand-carving wooden galleries and commissioning baroque frescos just to house books?
The kind of people that believed knowledge leads to God.
Architecture reveals theology, like it does in Admont Abbey's Library 🇦🇹
The kind of people that believed knowledge leads to God.
Architecture reveals theology, like it does in Admont Abbey's Library 🇦🇹
The Olympic Games will be in Cortina D'Ampezzo again 🇮🇹 🥰
December 13, 2025 at 1:04 AM
The Olympic Games will be in Cortina D'Ampezzo again 🇮🇹 🥰
The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam (1888) has such perfect acoustics that conductors can hear a violin's vibrato from 40 meters away.
The architect studied Greek amphitheater geometry for 2 years before starting.
The architect studied Greek amphitheater geometry for 2 years before starting.
December 12, 2025 at 7:04 PM
The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam (1888) has such perfect acoustics that conductors can hear a violin's vibrato from 40 meters away.
The architect studied Greek amphitheater geometry for 2 years before starting.
The architect studied Greek amphitheater geometry for 2 years before starting.
Every Friday at 3pm, churches across Europe ring bells to mark the hour Christ died on the cross.
The tradition started in the 1200s in Poland.
Almost no Europeans under 40 has an idea why they suddenly hear bells Friday afternoon.
The tradition started in the 1200s in Poland.
Almost no Europeans under 40 has an idea why they suddenly hear bells Friday afternoon.
December 12, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Every Friday at 3pm, churches across Europe ring bells to mark the hour Christ died on the cross.
The tradition started in the 1200s in Poland.
Almost no Europeans under 40 has an idea why they suddenly hear bells Friday afternoon.
The tradition started in the 1200s in Poland.
Almost no Europeans under 40 has an idea why they suddenly hear bells Friday afternoon.
Dutch exceptionalism
December 12, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Dutch exceptionalism
VOC Vrijdag.... 🟠⚪🔵
December 12, 2025 at 11:30 AM
VOC Vrijdag.... 🟠⚪🔵
The Rorate Mass is celebrated in darkness before dawn, lit only by candles. In a cold church, the priest chants by firelight.
That's Advent: a season in the dark, preparing for light.
Not a countdown.
That's Advent: a season in the dark, preparing for light.
Not a countdown.
December 12, 2025 at 11:26 AM
The Rorate Mass is celebrated in darkness before dawn, lit only by candles. In a cold church, the priest chants by firelight.
That's Advent: a season in the dark, preparing for light.
Not a countdown.
That's Advent: a season in the dark, preparing for light.
Not a countdown.
While other 15-year old boys were buying Xbox games and Nike trainers, I bought my first neck-tie when I was 15 years old...
( @Ferragamo )
( @Ferragamo )
December 12, 2025 at 10:04 AM
While other 15-year old boys were buying Xbox games and Nike trainers, I bought my first neck-tie when I was 15 years old...
( @Ferragamo )
( @Ferragamo )
The problem with democracy is it assumes the average person's opinion on complex policy matters equally.
Which is why it won't satisfy anyone.
Which is why it won't satisfy anyone.
December 12, 2025 at 9:02 AM
The problem with democracy is it assumes the average person's opinion on complex policy matters equally.
Which is why it won't satisfy anyone.
Which is why it won't satisfy anyone.
Gerlos is nice, even if you don't like après ski.
Family friendly, local Zillertal culture, uncomplicated, non-performative.
And nice slopes.
Family friendly, local Zillertal culture, uncomplicated, non-performative.
And nice slopes.
December 11, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Gerlos is nice, even if you don't like après ski.
Family friendly, local Zillertal culture, uncomplicated, non-performative.
And nice slopes.
Family friendly, local Zillertal culture, uncomplicated, non-performative.
And nice slopes.
Advent lasted 40 days and prepared the soul through fasting.
Christmas lasted 40 days and celebrated with feasts. Both seasons had liturgical structure, theological depth, and natural rhythm.
Christmas lasted 40 days and celebrated with feasts. Both seasons had liturgical structure, theological depth, and natural rhythm.
December 11, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Advent lasted 40 days and prepared the soul through fasting.
Christmas lasted 40 days and celebrated with feasts. Both seasons had liturgical structure, theological depth, and natural rhythm.
Christmas lasted 40 days and celebrated with feasts. Both seasons had liturgical structure, theological depth, and natural rhythm.
Modern cars isolate you from physics.
The Porsche 356 had no power steering, ABS, no traction control, or cable-operated brakes.
You feel everything through the steering wheel and seat.
Classic cars were meant to be driven, modern cars drive for you.
The Porsche 356 had no power steering, ABS, no traction control, or cable-operated brakes.
You feel everything through the steering wheel and seat.
Classic cars were meant to be driven, modern cars drive for you.
December 11, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Modern cars isolate you from physics.
The Porsche 356 had no power steering, ABS, no traction control, or cable-operated brakes.
You feel everything through the steering wheel and seat.
Classic cars were meant to be driven, modern cars drive for you.
The Porsche 356 had no power steering, ABS, no traction control, or cable-operated brakes.
You feel everything through the steering wheel and seat.
Classic cars were meant to be driven, modern cars drive for you.
I really love this house that's for sale in Epse, (near Deventer/Zutphen 🇳🇱)
Has a classic, cottage-like vibe to it.
Many separate spaces for separate functions, not an open-floor plan.
I'm just afraid some rich doofus will buy it and paint it all white and millennial grey...
Has a classic, cottage-like vibe to it.
Many separate spaces for separate functions, not an open-floor plan.
I'm just afraid some rich doofus will buy it and paint it all white and millennial grey...
December 11, 2025 at 12:57 PM
I really love this house that's for sale in Epse, (near Deventer/Zutphen 🇳🇱)
Has a classic, cottage-like vibe to it.
Many separate spaces for separate functions, not an open-floor plan.
I'm just afraid some rich doofus will buy it and paint it all white and millennial grey...
Has a classic, cottage-like vibe to it.
Many separate spaces for separate functions, not an open-floor plan.
I'm just afraid some rich doofus will buy it and paint it all white and millennial grey...
Recently got this (1970s) midcentury dress boy.
It needs some refurbishing, but major improvement compared to my previous one.
It needs some refurbishing, but major improvement compared to my previous one.
December 11, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Recently got this (1970s) midcentury dress boy.
It needs some refurbishing, but major improvement compared to my previous one.
It needs some refurbishing, but major improvement compared to my previous one.