"What's the Cabrini Shrine?" All I have to do is read a random road sign and ask a question and John signals for the exit. This time, we were in Golden, CO, where we found ourselves at a hilltop sanctuary dedicated to Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, patron of immigrants. Frances immigrated from Italy in 1889 to minister to persons of foreign cultures as part of Daughters of the Sacred Heart. Although she traveled all over and established 67 schools, hospitals and orphanages in the US, Europe and Latin America, she held a special place in her heart for the immigrant children of Denver, many of whom were orphaned when their fathers died in the silver mines. In 1909, Sister Cabrini purchased some land above Mont Vernon Canyon as a summer camp for orphan girls. Today, the stone girls' home still stands, along with a chapel, grotto and hilltop shrine to Cabrini's work. In 1946, she was canonized, the first naturalized North American to become a saint.
The hilltop shrine is 343 steps up and includes a gardens, a massive statue of Jesus, stone monuments to the Ten Commandments (the one below reads: Thou shall have no other Gods before me) and the original stones that Sister Cabrini placed on the summit in the shape of the sacred heart.
I almost forgot, here is the other path to service that we came upon after having visited the shrine. Both are equally holy on road trips.
Next stop: The Great Plains.
Peanut butter sandwiches neither surprise nor scare me. Let me know when you reach the Black Hills of The Great Plains State and I'll show you where the best arrow heads are.
ReplyDeleteTemporarily diverted by tornados. Stuck in Nebraska. Will let you know if we make it to arrowhead country. I've always wanted to find one.
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