**Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Hanceville, Alabama ** some 35 miles North of Birmingham, Ala.
http://www.fssp.org/album/HEWTN2007... most blessed sacrament in hanceville, al.jpg
Folks, if you can, you truly
must visit this beautiful Shrine, perhaps together with the EWTN studios, not far away in Birmingham, and you may also want to visit the monastery in Cullman, Ala, some 10 miles from Hanceville.
Regarding the
dress code: there is a dress code at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, and there is a receptionist at the Shrine who will provide sweaters and other clothing items to visitors who are not dressed appropriately, but who want to enter the church, or the chapel located in the basement of the church.
Quote from
huntsville.about.com/cs/daytrips/a/motherangelica_2.htm :
There is a dress code at the monastery–
no shorts, tank tops, sleeveless shirts, or mini-skirts. There are to be no pictures taken inside the shrine or any talking in the shrine. I thought I would find this directive hard to follow. However, I was so overwhelmed with the awe and beauty of the shrine and the holiness, that I couldn’t have spoken if I’d wanted to.
Quote from
fatimafamily.org/store/index.php?main_page=page&id=62 :
About 50% of the people who come here to the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament are not Catholic. They are
asked to be dressed modestly and observe silence in Church. They do and do not resent it.
In the hot summer weather the shrine provides coverings for those who arrive in shorts. On occasion I’ve noticed a non-Catholic man may inadvertently forget to remove his hat as he walks about the side aisles of this shrine where the approximately 7 foot monstrance reveals the consecrated Host which is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ and before which adoration takes place day and night. When a Knight of the Eucharist whispers to a man who did not remove his hat there seems no resentment.
The Shrine was built upon Mother Angelica’s request, in 13th century style, using marble (including rare red marble from Turkey), gold, bronze from Spain, stained glass windows from Munich, and cedar wood from Paraguay. Mother Angelica’s idea was that no expenses should be spared to make this shrine exceptional and beautiful. Attached to the Shrine is the convent of Mother Angelica’s nuns, called Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration - they adore the Blessed Sacrament day and night. The place is a very holy place, there are also religious brothers coming there all the time from neighboring monasteries. One can visit this Shrine from 6 am to 6 pm every day, participate in the morning Mass with the Poor Clare Nuns at 7 am, attend the 12 noon Mass in the Chapel, recite the Chaplet of Divine Mercy with the Nuns at 3 pm, and spend time in prayer and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, in the church. I have been there, spent some 3 days there, and it was a blessed time and wonderful spiritual experience for me. The Fatima Family Apostolate is also located there at the Shrine, as well as a rich Catholic bookstore, although the founder of the Apostolate, Fr. Robert J. Fox, passed away in 2009. Also, the area has several guest houses operated by practicing Catholics, stuffed with Catholic books - I stayed at such a guest house, reading books on Fatima and other Marian apparitions written by Fr. Fox, and back then I was lucky enough to attend Masses celebrated by Fr. Fox himself, the Fatima scholar. But I’m sure it will be a special time for anyone visiting also today, although Fr. Fox is no longer with us - I’m sure he prays for us from Heaven, and he has his eyes on Hanceville and the Shrine!
Quote from
huntsville.about.com/cs/daytrips/a/motherangelica_2.htm :
On top of the monastery stands a cross. It was destroyed during a storm a few years ago. At first, the workers thought that it was hit by lightning. After inquiring with the weather people, they discovered that their had been no lightning or wind in that area. The top part of the cross had been cut off with a clean cut, leaving the shape of a “T.” There was talk of replacing the cross. Mother Angelica found out that this “T” was the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It also stood for “God Among Us.” In Ezekiel 9, this letter is a sign of favor and protection. This “T” or “tau” cross was a sign of St. Francis in the 13th Century and reflects the period of architecture of the monastery. Mother Angelica chose to leave the cross as it is and looks at it as a sign from God.
The shrine is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily for prayer and adoration. The public is invited to attend the Nuns’ Conventual Mass at 7:00 a.m. daily. Following Mass each day, confession are heard. For Mass times on special Feast Days, call 256-352-6267. Pilgrimages are available for groups of 10 or more. Eugenie Breaux is the Director of Pilgrimages and can be contacted at 205-795-5717 or
pilgrimages@olamshrine.com.
The gift shop is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For information, call 256-352-0358. I found this to be a very rewarding and awe-inspiring trip. Be sure to allow enough time to tour and then sit in the shrine and just pray and contemplate (all day if you like!), in this splendid temple.
http://www.fssp.org/album/HEWTN2007... most blessed sacrament in hanceville, al.jpg
Maybe it was so quiet because the only other people walking around were priests???