A Deo et Rege

I had another job interview near Cleveland and some time to spare, so I figured I’d visit a Marian shrine (it was May after all). One looked especially interesting: Our Lady of Lourdes (note: site has been down the last couple of days) in Euclid, a suburb (of sorts) of Cleveland.

As usual this trip started with some Speedway coffee (a prerequisite for any road trip). The drive was quite scenic, until that is, I got near Cleveland and smelled the odor of a Ford plant. I held my nose, thankful that they hadn’t moved the plant to Mexico. Then I entered into Cleveland and crossed what I think was the Cuyahoga River with the downtown all around me. I  also drove by Lake Erie, which was prettier. The route to the Shrine off of I-90 was a bit convoluted and I drove in an area that I don’t want to return to. However, I got my bearings and made it to the Shrine.

The grounds looked so beautiful, like a little slice of the country in the midst of the city. I first made my way to the gift shop to buy the holy water containers, etc. The clerk explained to me the origin of the Shrine. Three sisters went to Europe and met a monk who had a rock that Mary had stood upon at Lourdes. He divided it into three pieces and gave it to the sisters who promised they would go back to Ohio (where their religious community was located) and create a shrine replica of Lourdes. The bishop of Cleveland blessed the endeavor and the shrine was created. The bishop of Cleveland also received from the Pope many spiritual privileges for those who visit the Shrine. Needless to say, it was all fascinating.

After that, I immediately went to the grotto replica, which contained two of the three pieces of rock that Mary stood upon. One was in the waterfall (pilgrims can take home holy water that runs over the rock) and one was available to touch in an area off to the side (this was the mystery photo in my previous blog entry). Although the Lourdes story isn’t dogma, nonetheless it was fascinating to think of touching a rock where Mary once stood. I prayed for my intentions and those of family and friends and made my way around the rest of the grounds.

More to come…
Photos on left of the Grotto and the rock. Photo on right is a closeup of Mary’s statue.
All photos by Jonathan Bennett