Praised be Jesus Christ! Any big plans for the summer? For those of you who have procrastinated planning your summer vacation, this column will be of interest. Now before describing some of the exciting possibilities, it’s important to say something about balance. Friends recently described their camping trip to South Dakota years ago. They had two vehicles, a camper and all seven of their kids. On the way, one of the younger kids realized that there was a significant difference depending on which car you were riding in… and so, after one of their stops at a rest area, she memorably cried, “I don’t want to ride in the praying car.” Yes, moderation in all things – pray the Rosary on your trip, but don’t pray it incessantly. Okay, what follows are some ideas of things you might want to visit someday. Again, keeping in mind that “all work and no play makes us dull kids,” you’ll want to strike a balance between overtly fun things and the religious things. For example, the annual March for Life pilgrimage to Washington D.C. always provides sufficient free time for touring and shopping. Without further ado, here are some things for you to add to your bucket list: first up is the Mother Cabrini Shrine in the Rocky Mountains. We stopped there when I was in high school and I remember it being breathtakingly beautiful. Mother Cabrini is buried in New York City but her work led her all over and you’ll come to a new knowledge of her missionary spirit and true grit when you visit this shrine. Our next stop is Santa Fe, New Mexico – there you’ll visit the famous stairs of St. Joseph. Even more impressive than the craftsmanship is the unique history of the stairs – the man who built the stairs remains an enigma as does the fact that they’re still standing. Next up is Orlando, Florida, home to the Holy Land Experience. It will be very hot and humid if you go in the summer and this is a wonderful opportunity for you to truly suffer with Our Lord as you encounter His passion and death in a convincing way. This is a site I have not visited, so you’ll have to let me know what you thought. Heading north, our next stop is in our nation’s capital. Washington D.C. is home to the Saint John Paul II Cultural Center, which is admirably run by our beloved Knights of Columbus. By the end of your tour of this facility you’ll know more about Pope John Paul II, thus making you more formidable in your faith. From D.C. it’s time to start heading home. On the way let’s stop first at the Ark Encounter in Hebron, Kentucky. From the pictures I’ve seen, this life-sized ark appears to be gargantuan and something you’ll never forget. Just north of Noah’s Ark you’ll find the Creation Museum (situated on I-75 halfway between Cincinnati and Lexington). This museum will surface more questions than it will answer – as Catholics we disagree with some of their fundamentalist conclusions. Just the same, our faith can grow when it is challenged by other perspectives. Our last stop on this epic vacation is at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Illinois. You’ll enjoy the peace and quiet, as well as the sprawling grounds of this shrine. This Marian title is not as well known as others, but you’ll be happy to hear that snow is not always a bad thing. Well, these are just a few of the spiritual opportunities that can accentuate your summer vacation. Tune in later for the spiritual treasures of Wisconsin (and Summer Shandy is not one of them)!
May God bless your summer months with peace, happiness, and growth in faith!
Your friend in Christ, Father Martin
May God bless your summer months with peace, happiness, and growth in faith!
Your friend in Christ, Father Martin
RSS Feed
