National Shrine of the Immacualte Conception - Go!

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With today being the feast of the Holy Rosary, it reminded me to share this: Over the weekend, we were in Washington D.C. and we went to Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. If you are within a few hours drive to the Shrine (we are in the Philadelphia area) and have never gone, it is worth every mile of the trip. If you have been there before, it is worth every mile of the trip.

Go for Mass. Go and pray the Rosary. Go as a pilgrimage. Go to get away from the modern world for a few hours. Go to recharge. Go to be closer to Jesus. It is a place of majesty, peace and worship.
 
I agree, this is on my list! I had some family who visited this shrine and they couldn’t stop talking about it. Wasn’t it asked to be venerated (not sure that’s the word) by some type of approved apparition… Our Lady of America or something? I could be wrong.
 
faithsmind said:
I agree, this is on my list! I had some family who visited this shrine and they couldn’t stop talking about it. Wasn’t it asked to be venerated (not sure that’s the word) by some type of approved apparition… Our Lady of America or something? I could be wrong.
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The plans to build the shrine were given papal approval (and a personal contribution from Pius X) in 1913 in recognition of the Blessed Virgin Mary having been named the patroness of the United States of America under her title the Immaculate Conception in 1847. (Note that the naming of the Immaculate Conception as patroness of the US of A was done prior to the infallible papal proclamation affirming the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, given in 1854, and prior to the apparitions in Lourdes, which took place starting in 1858.)

The Shrine was elevated to the status of a basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1990.

As for visiting, I’d say to allocate more than one visit. Go to DC, start your touring at the Basilica, and plan to come back there at least one more time before you leave. It is not possible to take in all of those beautiful chapels in one visit. It isn’t possible to do it in three or four, either, but you’ve been warned that you’ll want to visit more than once before you have to go back home.
 
A few months after I converted, I visited the shrine, knowing almost nothing about it. I took a business trip to DC and I made it a point to go to daily mass every day I was there. I went to a small early morning mass the first day as I had a class all day, the second day I had managed to commit a mortal sin in the time I was there (I had some bad habits it took a lot of confession to break) so I had to find confession. I ended up taking the metro to the Basilica that afternoon, spent forever looking for the confession because I was too nervous to ask anyone, had a wonderful confession, then attended an afternoon mass. It was beautiful and wonderful, one of the best experiences I’ve had.

I definitely did not get to see it all, hardly any in fact and I really plan to go back again. I spent all afternoon there one day!
 
I’ve been twice— and I lived 1700 miles away the first time, and 1500 miles away the second time. 😃 Definitely recommended!
 
Even as a non-Catholic I found the Shrine to be very beautiful and inspirational. Worth the trip.
 
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