Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation
The Conventual Franciscan Friars of the Province of Our Lady of Consolation welcome all those who have been, are now and will be pilgrims to Our Lady of Consolation.
Your Journey to faith, hope and healing begins here.
Here you will find a history of the shrine, prayers to Our Lady, pilgrimage and retreat information, and much more.
In this community of catholic faith, we are all children of God and ministers of the Gospel, and we invite you to join us in our prayers and good work.
2010: A Year of Blessing
This year we have a wonderful opportunity to reflect upon all of the blessings God has bestowed on us in the past and to look forward to the ones he will give to us during the coming year. At Our Lady of Consolation this year, we are choosing to look at our Shrine as a place of great blessings, large and small. So many people come here looking for God’s touch in their lives and leave at peace and with hope in their hearts. We hope that you, too, will open your hearts to the many blessings God bestows here through the intersession of Our Lady of Consolation. Whether you can come here in person or send us your prayer intentions through the mail or over the Internet, please let us share with you the many blessings God grants through the prayers of Our Lady of Consolation.
|
Written by Brother Jeffrey Hines, OFM Conv.
|
|
Franciscans are often referred to as “tree huggers!” The great love Saint Francis of Assisi had for all of God’s creation is a beautiful part of our heritage as Franciscan Friars. This fact should be a great assist to all of us, Franciscans or not Franciscans, as we continue our pilgrimage in this life.
Saint Francis was blessed with a deep understanding that what ever it may be which is a part of our created world, is touched and sanctified by God. If we look around us and see everything in our world as indeed, touched by God, we all will have a deeper appreciation of our world and all it contains. |
|
|
Angels are God's Messengers |
|
Written by Brother Jeffrey Hines, OFM Conv.
|
|
In the beautiful Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation, there are over 350 representations of angels. I often used to wonder why Father Paul Vollrath, who arranged for the decoration of the Basilica in the late 1920’s, had all of those angles as a part of the decoration of the Church.
Then I remembered that the Angels are God’s messengers, they always appear to bring us further news of the intense love God the Father has for all of us. The pilgrims and parishioners who come to pray in this wonderful place are surrounded by images of these heavenly reminders for us to sit quietly and call to mind that our relationship with our loving God is one of constant revelation, that above all, we are loved so intensely by God, that it is not possible for us to comprehend the depth of that love. We are so blessed! |
|
Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist |
|
Written by Brother Jeffrey Hines, OFM Conv.
|
|
Many have spoken of how they find God in nature! They often say they have no need of a church, as in the woods or in the mountains; they are in the greatest church or cathedral ever to be found.
Inside our churches or chapels where we worship, inside those wonderful churches built by people, we find something even greater than nature! We find Him who created the woods and mountains, we find our God, Jesus Christ in the holy Eucharist! This truly is the tenting place of His glory! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page 2 of 19 |
