In Church tradition, the month of July is especially set aside for us to venerate the Precious Blood of Jesus. In the heart of my city rises a magnificent Cathedral named after the most holy king of France, St Louis IX. In 1997, Pope John Paul II designated it a basilica (the Greek word for royal house), bestowing upon it the honor of being a place of worship of special distinction for its architectural and artistic worth. Two years later, in 1999, he was to see it with his own eyes on a special visit to our city. St. John Paul kept exclaiming that he felt like he was back in one of the magnificent cathedrals of Rome St. John Paul kept exclaiming that he felt like he was back in one of the magnificent cathedrals of Rome as he slowly went up and down its aisles taking in its arches and mosaics which covered the ceilings and walls. This royal house would, from then on, carry with it a special bond of communion with the Pope. The Catholics of St. Louis love it deeply.
How wonderful to have your cathedral designated a basilica - recently in Philadelphia, The Miraculous Medal Shrine, a Marian devotional destination and ministry of the Vincentians of the Eastern Province in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, was elevated by the Vatican to Minor Basilica status. We who live and worship at these sites are thrilled with this recognition.
There are so many things I want to see in Philadelphia- but I have never been! one day I hope to visit and would love to see this basilica of Our Lady and pray there!!
How wonderful to have your cathedral designated a basilica - recently in Philadelphia, The Miraculous Medal Shrine, a Marian devotional destination and ministry of the Vincentians of the Eastern Province in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, was elevated by the Vatican to Minor Basilica status. We who live and worship at these sites are thrilled with this recognition.
There are so many things I want to see in Philadelphia- but I have never been! one day I hope to visit and would love to see this basilica of Our Lady and pray there!!
Stunning and utterly beautiful!
Just beautiful!! We are fortunate to have St. Mary’s Basilica in Phoenix, AZ where Pope John Paul visited in the late 1980s…
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis was instrumental in my conversion.
https://meaningofcatholic.com/2020/07/21/whatever-built-this-place-is-true-a-missourian-catholic-on-the-battle-of-st-louis/