Praying for souls
Eating a snack before going to the church to listen to the brothers pray mid-day prayers
As I suspected, Aunt Erica cannot read Tomie de Paola's Clown of God without crying, nor can I. And, apparently, I can neither listen to it without crying, even though I've read it dozens of times.
That photo of Mary praying at a headstone is the best ever!!!
ReplyDeleteThank God I'm not the only one that cries during that book.
ReplyDeleteIt looks as if you are having a splendid time with your Aunt.
Sarah: I thought it was so dear. She did that all on her own. I was just walking by, saw her, and snapped a pic.
ReplyDeleteThat book is wonderful. Looks like you had a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteKatherine can you tell me, a bit about visiting Belmont Abbey. I really want to take my children out there, but honestly have no clue where exactly to go. Is there a certain area for those just visiting to park in? Can you just drive up and get out and walk around or are there certain areas that are off limits because of the college? I'd love to go hear the brothers pray the hours. Are there usually others present?
Thank you for any help you can offer.
I want an Aunt Erika!
ReplyDeleteKatherine: Visiting the Abbey is a lot of fun, it gives kids a lot of run-around time, and is free (not counting what fun stuff one might buy in the Catholic bookstore!).
ReplyDeleteThere is more there to visit than I usually do in one trip.
I'm sure there are places off limits, but I don't know what they are. I'm thinking probably just the brothers' rectory (probably the wrong word--the house in which they live).
I usually park in the tiny parking lot to the left of the church because it is most central to what I visit. Parking is free in all the lots I have seen.
For a first visit, I would recommend visiting the bookstore (The Catholic Shoppe) first in order to obtain a map and have the friendly bookstore clerk give you verbal directions. If you park by the church, walk to the church, then keep on walking along the path, past the fountain to your left, and to a bricked patio area. You should see the sign for The Catholic Shoppe. Go in there and that is the wonderful bookstore.
The clerks are very friendly and will happily set up your children with crayons and coloring at the coffee table, so at least the ones who are obedient enough to stay still have a place to stay.
FYI, the bathroom that I know of and use is on the second floor in the building above the bookstore.
Other things to visit are:
There is a cute coffee shop called Holy Grounds. There you could buy the kids a cookie as a treat.
There is the Grotto that is built to look like the grotto at Fatima. A stations of the cross walk through the woods (very short) is adjacent to it.
Then there is the church. You can see times of activity in the church on the website, and the prayers are at 11:45 M-F.
http://www.belmontabbey.org/service-schedules.html
The church is usually empty or nearly so except for Mass. But the brothers are welcoming.
Then if you get back in your car, two more things to see are the cemetary and the Adoration Chapel. The cemetary houses many priests, brothers, and nuns, as well as three bishops.
The Adoration Chapel has very difficult parking, and sometimes when I've gone there, I just circle and circle without finding a spot.
There is also a secret little cemetary on Abbey property which is hard to direct you to. As you're driving away from the Abbey, following signs to get back on the freeway to Charlotte, you'll take a right at the light. There is a car dealership on your left and woods on your right. Immediately take a right into a narrow indentation in the sidewalk, onto a barely noticeable dirt driveway into those woods. You'll find yourself in a sweet, very old cemetary with a Marian statue in the middle.
You should go, it makes for a great field trip! The kids can run all over the grounds in the grass and climb trees in between whatever buildings you're visiting, so I like that they can get out energy.
Katherine, thank you so much for sharing all that great info. I truly appreciate it. You have definitely inspired me to take them and soon!!
ReplyDelete