Just when you think you know it all...

Just when I think I know it all, something happens that makes me realize that, in fact, I know very little.  

It happened to me last night.  Over a delicious rib-eye dinner with a priest-friend, he began to tell me about the Shrine of St. Anne de Beaupré.  The more he described its beauty and the peacefulness of the place, the more I realized, "Yeah, I've never even heard of that shrine."  

Interesting huh?  Especially since it happens to be one of the oldest pilgrimage sites of North America, going back to 1658.  Many miracles, officially recognized, have occurred there. Though not a big pilgrimage place to start, more than 1.5 million pilgrims make their way north of Quebec City to pray for themselves and their loved ones.  

Not only that, but from the pictures, the place is just downright beautiful.  Located on the historic St. Lawrence River, the Basilica is surrounded by some of the most beautiful country around.  The shrine can even be reached by boat from the river.  

The most popular pilgrimage season is during the summer around the feast day of St. Anne but from all the photos, I think I'd want to go in the Fall.  The many trees and rolling hills, the big skies and cliffs along the river make for something amazin' to see.  If going across the ocean isn't your thing this year, our new 7 day pilgrimage to the Catholic Shrines of Canada might be in the works for you.

Assisi-bound!

Pope Francis is headed to his namesake’s hometown. When? Why, the patron’s feast day of course- October 4, 2013.  

Announcing earlier this month that he would like to make a pilgrimage to Sicily in September, now the Holy Father would like to make a pilgrimage to Assisi.  (My guess is he’ll do both on the same pilgrimage as a way to save a couple bucks.)  One doesn’t have to reach very far to conclude that he’ll probably offer himself and his papacy to the poor saint from Assisi’s intercession.  

On a related note, since being elected I’ve wanted to know the story behind the Pope’s choice of the name Francis.  It comes to us in his own words in an article published by Zenit.  The articles concerning his pilgrimage and his name happen to be the same.  

Daily News/Photo

After his election, Pope Francis explained in his first audience with journalists in Rome, why he chose the name of the “Poor One of Assisi.” Upon confirmation that he had received the majority of votes to the papacy, Cardinal Claudio Hummes, Archbishop Emeritus of Sao Paolo and friend of the Holy Father, told the newly elected Pope: “Don’t forget the poor.”

“And those words came to me: the poor, the poor,” Pope Francis told journalists on March 16th. “Then, right away, thinking of the poor, I thought of Francis of Assisi.  Then I thought of all the wars, as the votes were still being counted, till the end.  Francis is also the man of peace.  That is how the name came into my heart: Francis of Assisi.”

"Oh no pro nobis" - Kid singing Ave Maria

While viewing Google+ posts, I came across this video posted by Michael Sestak.  He titles it, "Little Child Sings 'Ave Maria' for a Pilgrimage".  He was quick to joke about the pronunciation of "Ora pro nobis" as "Oh No pro nobis". Cute video.  I like that he's got it down for whenever he makes his first pilgrimage.

Cross landing: 63 days remaining until WYD '13

Cross landing: 63 days remaining until WYD '13.

In this photo from CNS/Reuters found on catholicnews.com, sailors from the Brazilian Navy deliver the World Youth Day cross to a representative group of young Catholics who will continue the global procession that has carried this crossIt has taken part in WYD in Paris (1997), Rome (2000), Toronto (2002), Cologne (2005) and Sydney (2008). It also travelled around Africa(2006), Oceania(2007), Australia (2009) and Spain (2011) according to centrosanlorenzo.com which houses the cross.

Now in 2013, as young pilgrims make final preparations for Rio 2013, the cross has landed upon the shores of the new Pope's home continent.  I'm sure this duty was not one that these sailors had in mind when they signed up to defend their country on the seas.  Yet what a significant and symbolic role they played as they brought the cross from sea to land, government cooperating with religion, a way of truly defending their country againt evil.