I had heard that there was some sort of shrine or something on I 70 West of Denver so I got dressed, got directions and set off. Driving west towards the mountains early in the morning is an incredible thing. Especially when it is done in early summer. Everything is green, and the sun makes the world look amazing in the morning. I have never been a habitual early riser, but on the days when I do wake up early I always like the way the world looks. L. E. Landon once said, "How beautiful, how buoyant, and glad is morning!" (I of course have no idea who L. E. Landon is and it wasn't for Celestial Seasoning tea companies policy of putting quotes on their tea boxes I would have never heard it). The rocky mountains are generally an impressive thing but on this particular morning they were amazingly glorious.
Now most of you, I would imagine, have never heard of Mother Cabrini and her shrine in the rocky mountains. I hadn't either so here is some background information. Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini was an Italian American nun of the Roman Catholic faith. She was born in Italy and took her vows there. Eventually she rose to the status of Mother Superior and along with some other nun friends founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. Pope Leo XIII met with Mother Cabrini and she expressed interest in doing missionary work in China. Pope Leo XIII reported said to her, "not to the east but to the west." So she hopped on a boat and traveled to New York City with her Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. Once in America she began to work with the Italian-American Immigrants and by the end of her life she and her order had founded 67 schools, hospitals, and orphanages in New York City, Chicago, Seattle, New Orleans, Denver, Los Angeles and Philadelphia. While in Denver she fell in love with the rocky mountains (which is not against her vows) and carried some rocks up a mountain and placed them in the shape of the sacred heart. They are still there. She died at the age of 67 in 1917 and was canonized a saint in 1946 becoming the first American citizen to become a saint. Originally there was a shrine in New York where she is buried, but they wanted to be awesome so they built on on the mountain where she constructed the sacred heart.
To see the sacred heart of rocks that Mother Cabrini made you must climb over 300 stone steps to the top of the mountain. The steps are designed to be a prayerful journey to the top with stations of the cross, benches for reflection and prayer, and all of the mysteries of the rosary (minus the luminous mysteries as I would imagine the staircase was built prior to John Paul II shaking things up by adding another set of mysteries). Anyway the climb is very pleasant and early June, and early in the morning, is a damn fine time to be in the mountains. though I was perturbed by this sign that I found along the way. Snakes! why does it have to be snakes!
Anyway when you reach the top you see the sacred heart (protected by Plexiglas because apparently stones are delicate and need preserving) and you also see a giant Jesus statue. It was quite cool. also they have little ten commandment stations (I guess that is what I'll call them) around the top. It is supposed to be a place of prayer and reflection but it is awkward because there are people walking all around up there and you can hear sounds from the highway as well. I found the most calming place to be about half way up sitting on a bench. You could hear birds singing, and see flowers and there was a nice cool breeze.
Oh and then on the way down I passed an Asian family who wasn't speaking english. They seemed excited about something but I don't speak their language. However their body language was saying something like "Snake! Snake! WE ALMOST STEPPED ON A SNAKE!!!" so I continued on with caution. sure enough near the bottom on the steps lay a snake enjoying the morning sun. He looked back at me and must have been frightened by my manly appearance (or maybe I look a bit like a mongoose) and slithered away before I could snap a picture of him for this blog. I yelled after him that it was for my blog but he didn't care. That snake was kind of a dickhead.
At the bottom of the steps there is a small chapel and a nice garden and such. In the chapel they have amazing stained glass windows (man I love me some stained glass windows) however I thought it was improper to take pictures in there. All in all it was a good trip. I enjoyed the weather and the quietness around step 179 where I sat on a bench for some time. Also I got to stand in front of the tallest statue of Jesus that I have ever seen which is, admittedly, something that doesn't happen everyday. here are some more pictures from the day. Enjoy.
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| mother cabrini shrine |
Keep on rocking in the free world.
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