Sunday Drive

We took a Sunday drive today like the old days. Who would do that on a rainy, cold day? Well people that need to get home from 3 hours away! That's who.

Stayed with our friends last night and had brunch before hitting the road around noonish. Since we were in the area, hubby wanted to stop at Holy Hill. He hadn't been there in some four decades. I had never been there. Hadn't even heard about it until Carter went there for a field trip probably 8 or 9 years ago. Maybe we Lutherans need to branch out more once in awhile!

Although people often visit to see the view from up on top of the hill, it was too misty and overcast to see the building, let alone any fall color. From the parking lot, I had no idea what it was, anyway...

But thanks to the internet, I can tell you about it:

Holy Hill was declared a Shrine with "Portiuncula privilege" by Pope Leo XIII in 1903. And, as a result of the increasing number of pilgrims, the Discalced Carmelites of Bavaria were invited to staff the Shrine in 1906. On November 19, 2006, the Shrine was elevated to the status of Basilica.

This was on display, but more than 500,000 people from all over the world visit the REAL Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians, at Holy Hill each year. (It's north of Milwaukee off I-41 near Hubertus, if that helps you.) Some come to admire the beautiful architecture of the neo-Romanesque church built in 1926.

Others make a pilgrimage to Holy Hill to worship, to meditate or to pray for healing.

Look at the crutches outside the chapel left by those who were healed! Wow.

And even thought we didn't see much outside, the inside was amazing. Look at these windows (made in Germany, by the way).

A very scenic Sunday drive, indeed! Now we're home sweet home and, yes, we have the heat on!

Have a blessed week!