Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrement

My husband and I have wanted to take our children to Alabama to see The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament for a long time. Finally finances and a family who owns a house fell into place and the trip was planned for July 2009.

We drove to Hanceville, AL on a Sunday afternoon from Mississippi after a family reunion there. We got in late so we weren't able to go to the Shrine till morning. We went and ate at a little Mexican restaurant in town. Our discussions ran the gamete. Would we see Mother Angelica? Would the girls meet a nun? Would Father Fox be there? and so on.

We stayed in a friend's guest house right down the road from the Shrine, on the same county road. It is a 3 bedroom 3 bath house built by a family we know from home, just for the purpose of visiting the Shrine. They have a daughter who is one of the Poor Clare nuns of the Our Lady of the Angels Monastery. The house next door on the right was a B&B for Shrine visitors and the house on the left was Father Robert Fox's house. The kids were beside themselves. I could hardly sleep that night in hopes of the spiritual awaking I was sure my children would receive.
The next morning we ate and headed out the door. The road ahead was lined on both sides with a white picket fence and beautifully cut fields of grass with trees in the background. It took my breathe even before we say the Shrine itself. Young men were running lawn equipment and waving as we passed. My husband explained that those were the brothers from the Knights of the Eucharist on the property, they keep up the grounds.

Once we rounded a curve and saw the gates, my heart sang out in a cry of joy. My kids reacted as if we had just drove to Disneyworld. My eyes teared up and the baby stopped crying. It was indeed magical. We drove a little farther to park the car and get all of our things together.
Once we had the kids, all 7, either in a stroller or with a partner, we headed up the cobblestone walkway. There was a lot of cleaning, pressure washing, and lawn care going on. We later found out that it in preparation for the funeral of Sister Mary Joseph who had died the Sunday we had arrived. We turned and walked up the pathway to the Holy Child statue. My daughter took a glorious picture of it that we will surely be printing and hanging up.

As we entered the upper church, the girls and I donned our chapel veils and walked down the aisle to the front. We knelt in silent prayer in front of our Lord. I have never felt so close to Him, even though we do a Holy Hour weekly. The church is so gorgeous. I lost my breath a few times. We then wondered down to the lower church where Father Fox has his mass and the nuns are laid to rest. It was very pretty. There is a life sized Holy Shroud hanging in the foyer.

After leaving the two churches, we went down to the left of the Shrine and found a crucifix like no other I had ever seen. Jesus was all beat up and battered. He looked so weak and so sad. My daughter Isabelle and I had to walk away because the sight of it was to much for us.

Then it was off to the bookstore. It was a castle. How great. The huge doors were amazing. The door pulls were huge knights. Inside was a number of antiques, tables, chairs, art, and statues of St. Michael and St. Joan of Arc. My son whose favorite saint is St. Michael was so happy to see them. We signed the pro-life petition at the door. Each one of my kids put their name done to make certain everyone knew they disapproved of this murderous act.

Once we left the store, purchases in had, we walked over to a building that housed a nativity scene and candles. We took pictures, lit candles, and prayed. I was so nice to see my kids so ready to pray and meditate. I could tell the love and spirituality was spreading.
We then went down a long pathway to the creek, where recently a Shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes had been built. It is a exact replica of the grotto in France. It was so nice to be able to tell the story of Bernadette at home and then be able to bring the kids there to have them see it. The statue of Bernadette looking up at our Lady is breathtaking

After our day of God was done. We went back to the house and said a Rosary and a Divine Mercy. My kids came away with a sense of hope and peace. My husband and I are planning another trip there for the fall. I know that this is only a short summary of our trip and experiences, I hope that all of you can make it to Hanceville to see what Mother Angelica has built for Catholics in our country. We are very lucky to have her in our time. She has made it easy to come and adore our Lord.
J.M.J.