Sacred Journeys Read online

  Built to safeguard the relics of the Evangelist Saint Mark, Saint Mark’s Basilica dominates Piazza San Marco (San Marco Square), where the Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs statue anchors the church’s southwest corner. Among the basilica’s many treasures, the statue represents the interdependence of the four rulers of the Roman Empire.

  Whether you wish to sanctify your romantic relationship or your love for the Divine, go to Saint Mark’s Basilica. Fly to Venice Marco Polo Airport, and then take a bus, taxi, or ferry to the island.

  Soothe Your Spirit

  Visit between 11:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. if you want to see the mosaics illuminated. Pray with (or for) someone you love.

  A Deeper Look

  Saint Mark’s Basilica, consecrated in A.D. 1094, is the seat of the Venetian archbishop and the third church built on the site. The first was in A.D. 828, when San Marco’s body was supposedly found in a pillar in Alexandria and brought to Venice. The golden pillar Pala d’Oro is enshrined behind the high altar.

  Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli (Saint Mary of the Angels)

  Assisi, Umbria, Italy

  Start by doing what’s necessary; then what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.

  —Saint Francis of Assisi (1181–1226), founder of the Franciscans

  Like a heavenly beacon of strength, the gold statue of the Madonna of the Angels ascends from the facade of the blue-domed Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels, constructed over the ninth-century Porziuncola (small church) where Saint Francis awakened to his ecclesiastical calling. For some, the basilica’s splendor and size (the world’s seventh-largest Christian church) might seem grandiose, given the saint’s vow of poverty, but for those who venerate Saint Francis, it is a fitting homage to this humble servant of God who worked tirelessly for the downtrodden and for animals.

  If you want to awaken to your life’s purpose or to strengthen your devotion to God, worship at the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli near Assisi, 90 miles from Rome.

  Soothe Your Spirit

  Reflect on the purity of spirit and inner strength it took for Saint Francis, born into a wealthy noble family, to give away his riches to the poor and to devote his life to Christ and to helping others.

  A Deeper Look

  A few years after Saint Francis’s death in 1226, a simple church was built around the Porziuncola. In 1569, the majestic Gothic basilica was built on top of the smaller (lower) church, and its cupola was positioned directly above the Porziuncola.

  Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo)

  Florence, Italy

  The soul that can speak through the eyes, can also kiss with a gaze.

  —Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer (1836–1870), Spanish poet

  Of the most spiritual and romantic places in the world, few can rival Florence, in the beautiful Italian countryside of Tuscany. The most recognizable structures in the Florence skyline are the octagonal dome of the Duomo (designed by Filippo Brunelleschi) and the Gothic Campanile di Giotto, the bell tower named after the painter and sculptor who designed it for the cathedral.

  Whether you yearn for more depth in your spiritual life or more intimacy with your life partner, plan a lover’s trip to Florence’s Duomo. Go in September when the tourists have gone home and the Tuscan weather is wonderful. Get a walking map and explore this incredible city on foot. You can fly into Pisa, which has the nearest major airport, and then take the train to Florence’s SMN railway station (under an hour), the bus, or rent a car. Florence also has a regional airport.

  Soothe Your Spirit

  Climb the narrow steps to the marble observation tower of the cupola to see spectacular views of the city, even on a gray day. Face your lover, and looking deeply into each other’s eyes, offer a prayer of thanks for God’s blessings.

  A Deeper Look

  The massive dome features a fresco, The Last Judgment, which took more than ten years to paint. Giorgio Vasari started the fresco, and Federico Zuccari finished it in 1579.

  Basilica of Divine Mercy

  Lagiewniki District, Krakow, Poland

  Jesus, I trust thee.

  —Caption on the Lord’s Mercy icon in Lagiewniki’s sanctuary

  After Sister Faustyna Kowalska, a Polish nun, passed away from tuberculosis, her relics were laid to rest beneath a painting of the image that had comforted and guided her throughout her spiritual life: her vision, in 1931, of the Merciful Christ. In the vision, the Lord instructed her to commission a painting of his likeness. In a later vision, Christ revealed His Dogma of Divine Mercy. The Merciful Christ painting was completed, and the sister’s relics were entombed beneath it in 1940, following her death in 1938. Since then, the faithful have flocked to the shrine to pray or to give thanks for healing.

  If you suffer from an ailment and seek spiritual support for a healing, consider visiting the Basilica of Divine Mercy.

  Soothe Your Spirit

  Visit the church for the daily special prayer during the 3:00 p.m. “Hour of Divine Mercy” (a reference to the time Jesus is believed to have died on the cross) and stay for the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Or light a candle and pray before the icon for the healing you seek. The church is about 2 miles from Krakow’s Old Town.

  A Deeper Look

  Consecrated in 2002 by Pope John Paul II, a native of Poland, the modern, monolithic Basilica of Divine Mercy receives two million visitors each year. The shrine with the Divine Mercy painting and the nun’s relics is in the chapel of the old convent.

  Basilica of the Dormition (also Hagia Maria Sion Abbey)

  Mount Zion, Jerusalem

  The quieter the mind, the more powerful, the worthier, the deeper, the more telling and more perfect the prayer is.

  —Meister Eckhart (1260–1328), German philosopher, theologian, and mystic

  On top of Mount Zion, just beyond Zion Gate, sits an organic-looking German Benedictine abbey with a blue conical roof punctuated with four turrets and a domed clock tower that safeguards the traditional site of the last “falling asleep” of the Blessed Virgin Mary when her soul was taken to heaven. The event is also known as the Assumption of Mary. Above the main altar, a gold Byzantine-style mosaic of the Madonna with Child shimmers with light and finds resonance in other sacred art that adorns the basilica.

  If you are searching for spiritual meaning from sacred feminine images, are connecting with your higher self or soul in sleep, or want to see the traditional place of Mary’s death (another tradition cites Ephesus), visit the Basilica of the Dormition. You can walk to the church from Mount Zion. Otherwise, take a taxi, rental car, or local buses. There is no admission fee.

  Soothe Your Spirit

  Study the beauty of the sacred art, noticing the imagery of Mary in the icons and mosaics. Pray in the nave. In the crypt a sculpture of the Holy Mother lays in repose, while in the dome above her, Christ receives her soul. Reflect on death as the final “falling asleep.”

  A Deeper Look

  Architect Heinrich Renard used the cathedral of Aix-la-Chapelle as his model for the basilica. The Room of the Last Supper is located beside the abbey.

  Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary (Basilica at Fátima)

  Fátima, Portugal

  Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children.

  —William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863), Indian-born English author

  In 1982, Pope John Paul II gave thanks to the Virgin Mary for saving his life from an assassination attempt the previous year by embedding the bullet taken from his chest into the crown of Our Lady of Fátima. Built in 1928, the cream-colored neoclassical basilica stands on the site where, in 1917, three children saw six consecutive apparitions of the Virgin Mary, the third prophesying the death of a pope in 1981. The tombs of two of the children (Jacinta and Francisco) are housed in the basilica, and stained glass windows depict narrative scenes of the apparitions. At the center of this cathedral, which has fifteen altars honoring the mysteries of the Rosary, is the C
hapel of Apparitions where a marble pillar marks the spot of the appearances.

  If you wish to pray on behalf of your child or children everywhere, visit Our Lady of the Rosary, Fátima. Travel from Lisbon by rental car, bus, or by train and taxi.

  Soothe Your Spirit

  Pray the Rosary for peace or offer the simple prayer Mary gave to the three children at Fátima: “My God, I believe, I adore.”

  A Deeper Look

  Four million people visit Fátima each year, with crowds swelling on May 13, the day of the first apparition, and on October 13, the day of the last appearance.

  Basiliek van het Heilig Bloed (Basilica of the Holy Blood)

  Bruges, Belgium

  God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

  —Bible, Psalm 73:26

  Since 1149, this pretty little basilica has been the home to a fragment of cloth said to contain blood wiped from Jesus’ crucified body by Joseph of Arimathea (who also donated his own tomb, or sepulcher, for Jesus’ burial). The sacred relic resides in a glass vial adorned with a gold crown on each end, which is housed inside the silver side altar of the upper chapel. Many people speak of having a spine-tingling experience in the presence of this icon.

  If your spirit needs recharging, come to Basilica of the Holy Blood. Located in the southwest corner of Castle Square, the chapel is accessible by walking, cycling, buses, and trams.

  Soothe Your Spirit

  Visit any day 11:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 2:00–4:00 p.m., when the bishop of Bruges brings the relic out for public viewing, or on the Day of Ascension (forty days after Easter), when the bishop brings the vial out for a processional in the city. Let the relic work its magic on you and strengthen your spirit.

  A Deeper Look

  Presumably the relic was given to the count of Flanders by the patriarch of Jerusalem during the Second Crusade and was subsequently brought to the basilica in Bruges.

  Basilique du Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre (Basilica of the Sacred Heart)

  Paris, France

  If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

  —Bible, John 7:37

  The white travertine dome of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart shimmers in the light—and its panoramic views rival those of the Eiffel Tower. Few buildings in Paris can surpass the beauty of this Romano-Byzantine church rising regally from Montmartre, drawing admiring eyes throughout the city. The treasures inside are no less alluring; for example, the mosaic in the apse, Christ in Glory, is one of the largest mosaics in the world. However, it is the emphasis on devotion and prayer that beckons worshippers from near and far. Since 1885, the monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament has been perpetually on display over the high altar. Parishioners and Catholic pilgrims come day and night to receive the succor of Christ’s body (the consecrated host) and blood (consecrated wine).

  If you yearn for deep communion with the Divine or for an answer to a prayer, visit the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Paris. For an unforgettable experience, come during Holy Week (Easter) or Christmas. The nearest metro station is Abbesses, Line 12. No recording devices are allowed inside the church.

  Soothe Your Spirit

  Contemplate the symbolic meaning of the communion ritual. Pray for the insight or support you desire and then light a candle to perpetuate your prayer.

  A Deeper Look

  Montmartre was sacred to the Druids, the Gauls, the Romans, and early Christians (the Church of Saint Peter). The cornerstone of Sacré-Coeur was laid in 1875; the basilica was completed in 1881, but wars delayed its consecration until 1919.

  Basilique Sainte-Marie-Madeleine (Basilica Church of Saint Mary Magdalene)

  Vézelay, France

  I alone love the unseen in you. (Jesus talking to Mary Magdalene in Kahlil Gibran’s Jesus, the Son of Man)

  —Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931), Lebanese-born American artist, poet, and writer

  When Saint Bernard of Clairvaux delivered his powerful sermon advocating the Second Crusade, he chose to speak at the Benedictine abbey now known as the Basilica Church of Saint Mary Magdalene. The Dominican church, a stunning example of French Burgundian Romanesque architecture, has been a favorite pilgrimage site since the Middle Ages.

  If you want to show or be shown more compassion or to deepen your devotion to the Divine, visit the basilica to venerate Saint Mary Magdalene, whose name is often invoked by modern Christian women as an example of unconditional Divine love and unwavering devotion to Christ.

  Soothe Your Spirit

  Light a candle, and as you pray for the seeds of love and compassion to germinate and grow in your heart, feel the spirit of Mary Magdalene fill you with holy love.

  A Deeper Look

  The basilica’s clerestory windows pierce the upper walls above the pews and are oriented so that at 12 p.m. on the summer solstice the sunlight enters through the panes and illuminates precise locations, suggesting that the effect was intentional. The nave of the church is one of the longest in France—a few yards less than Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

  Baths of Aphrodite/Fountain of Love

  Paphos, Cyprus, Greece

  Even if you gods, and all the goddesses too, should be looking on, yet would I be glad to sleep with the golden Aphrodite.

  —Homer (800–700 B.C.), The Iliad, Greek epic poet

  Just north of Paphos is a site sacred to the ancient Greeks—the Baths of Aphrodite, where the Olympian goddess of love and sexual rapture bathed in a pool of a natural grotto under a fig tree. Today, the Aphrodite and Adonis walking trails along the Akamas Peninsula merge between the Baths of Aphrodite and Pyrgos tis Rigenas (Tower of the Queen), offering spectacular views.

  If you desire to awaken or reawaken intimacy in your relationship, grab your partner and head for the Baths of Aphrodite. Winter, spring, and autumn are the best times to go, as Cyprus is hot in summer. No bathing is allowed in the pool, but there are great swimming beaches and coves just beyond the fountain. Fly into Paphos Airport and drive north along the coast about 29 miles, 2 miles past Latchi. Daily buses also link Paphos and Latchi.

  Soothe Your Spirit

  Walk the sacred lovers’ trail hand in hand with your beloved. Sit on one of the benches overlooking the sea, wrapped in each other’s arms, mindful to keep the passion of Aphrodite/Adonis alive in your relationship.

  A Deeper Look

  Adonis and Aphrodite’s complicated love story is told in Ovid’s Metamorphoses.

  Bete Giyorgis Church of Lalibela

  Ethiopia, Africa

  All loves should simply be stepping stones to the love of God.

  —Plato (429–347 B.C.), Greek philosopher and mathematician

  When Ethiopian king Lalibela envisioned building a New Jerusalem in the twelfth century, he created a complex of rock-hewn churches in Roha. The eleventh church, the incomparable Bete Giyorgis (Saint George’s), was built as a beautiful memorial to him by his widow from a single slab 40 feet down and shaped into a Greek cross with a large access trench encircling it.

  If you are in a spiritual slump or rut, shake things up with a visit to Lalibela. Visit this World Heritage site for Christmas or Timkat (the Orthodox celebration of Epiphany). Travel from Addis Ababa by air to Lalibela’s airport. Or, take the bus (it’s a two-day trip with a stopover). Outside the airport, take a minibus or horse-drawn cart.

  Women are not allowed in the room where the saint/king’s relics are kept, and only the priests are allowed in the inner sanctums of the churches where the rituals take place. Wear comfortable walking shoes with traction to avoid slipping in the passageways.

  Soothe Your Spirit

  Explore these Orthodox churches on your own or with a guide who can ask questions for you. Soak up the ambiance of this religiously oriented community with more than a thousand priests and unusual sanctuaries dating to the twelfth century, and you might just feel a shift in your spiritual perspective. Pray for deepening faith and transformation while at each church or at one that dr
aws you more than the others.

  A Deeper Look

  To strengthen his power against his adversaries, King Lalibela may have built his monolithic churches in part to garner the support of the medieval Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

  Bighorn Medicine Wheel

  Bighorn National Forest, Wyoming, United States

  You have noticed that everything an Indian does is in a circle, and that is because the Power of the World always works in circles . . .

  —Black Elk (1863–1950), Oglala Lakota Sioux medicine man

  An ancient Native American medicine wheel, 80 feet wide, lies in a desolate area in the Bighorn National Forest on the western peak of Medicine Mountain. Created by the Plains Indians but used by many Native American tribes, the wheel has a pile of stones at its center (cairn), from which spokes extend outward to a rim. Along the rim are six other cairns—possibly benches—that enable a person to face the center and see precisely the point on the horizon where the sun rises or sets during the solstice.