A Deo et Rege

I wanted to discuss a little bit about my trip to Notre Dame. I went there for a school related trip, so I’m not going to go into too much detail about that aspect. However, I will share my experiences around campus. My first observation, present in the title, was that the University was extremely Catholic, at least physically.

Every dorm and classroom has a chapel. Religious statues, murals, names, etc. were everywhere. I saw a lot of crucifix necklaces, rosaries, etc. I know that not every student will take advantage of Notre Dame’s Catholic heritage, but as someone who’s never attended a Catholic school, I find this aspect quite fascinating. Yes, I would take advantage of the Catholic amenities.

Second, I was taken aback by the beauty of the campus and its secular facilities. The buildings were in good shape, but not ultra modern. The grounds were well landscaped with plenty of green and of course the statues of Mary, Jesus, etc. were ubiquitous. And oh yeah, the dining hall food was excellent. If I ever went to Notre Dame and ate from the dining halls, I would gain 50 pounds.

Third, I was very impressed by the religious facilities. I was fortunate to attend a mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. All I can say is "wow!" It proves that at some point Catholics did know how to design churches. The liturgy was beautifully done too, with no funny stuff. It was first class all the way. The Grotto, a replica of Lourdes, was also very beautiful and a peaceful place to pray.

Finally, Notre Dame was filled with many intangibles that excited me. I’ve always had an academic bent and being back on a campus, especially one so flagrantly Catholic, really brought back a rush of academic sentimentality. I’m very happy where I currently am in life, but maybe someday, with the prayers of the Venerable Fr. Basil Moreau and Bl. Andre Bessette, I may study at Notre Dame. God willing.

Photo on left is the mural "touchdown Jesus" as reflected in the pool.
Photo on the right of the golden dome featuring the Blessed Mother
All photos by Jonathan Bennett