Such an amazingly powerful place so full of grace for any Catholic to take hold of.
First off, the Church itself is gorgeous. The statue of Mary as the Queen of Heaven in the beautiful wooden altar is so captivating.
The oratory/reliquary below the church is a must see. Relics from all of the apostles as well as famous saints plus dozens of candles you can light for your prayers along with a beautiful statue of Mary as Our Lady of Graces at the spot where she appeared. A perfectly serene place to pray.
The gift shop is also wonderful with great spiritual aids, especially a great selection of reasonably priced religious art.
I also had the pleasure of having confession with the pastor of the shrine, Fr. Aytona, a member of the Fathers of Mercy, a religious order of priests focusing on the Eucharist and Confession. He had just given a phenomenal homily for the morning Saturday Mass and he was an extremely good confessor, giving me encouragement and a very appropriate penance.
The lay staff at the shrine is also amazing. Full of smiles and willing to help confused pilgrims.
All-in-all, a must see, especially if you live in Wisconsin like I do. It’s only 2 hours away...
Read moreThis place is truly where Heaven touched Earth! You will find peace, joy and mercy, and connection with God and each other. Our Mother's presence is still here, and she is ready to guide you to her son Jesus Christ. You will find deep connection with God in ways you have not experienced before. It is a humble, quiet setting, where your heart can rest. The Blessed Sacrament is exposed from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm every day after Mass in the Chapel. Be prepared for a very personal encounter with our Lord. If you are troubled, suffering, disabled, emotionally overwhelmed, or need a place to recover, and be refreshed, this is the place to come and adore! The small cafe and lounge is a place of respite, quaint, warm friendly people to come together. All faiths are welcome. The Fathers of Mercy have a special charism of Mercy which you will find in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and in their celebration of Mass,...
Read moreThis is the only Catholic Church- approved Marian apparition site in the United States. As such, I was surprised that there were not more people there! It is awe-inspiring to think that Our Blessed Mother chose to appear here to a humble farming community, and through them, to bless the entire country. We were able to visit during the display of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina's relics. The grounds are beautiful and very peaceful. The buildings are simple, but beautiful and there is a lovely prayer walkway behind the chapel with stations of the cross and the 4 sets of rosary mysteries. The walkway, and indeed the whole shrine, is dotted with many benches where you can rest if you need to. There is also ample parking and also a small cafe onsite. The offerings are rather limited, so it's a good idea to bring food if you happen to be there at mealtime. Beautiful and spiritually invigorating place to visit. Highly...
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