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Who doesn’t love a good history story, Catholic Pilgrims?
This is the church of St. Mary of Sorrows in Fairfax Station, Virginia. It has a very interesting story.
As you probably know, early on, Virginia was not friendly to Catholics, consequently, there weren’t a ton of Catholics to be found. But, in northern Virginia, two families petitioned the Diocese of Richmond to use some land for a Catholic cemetery. They were granted their request.
Soon, a railroad was being built between DC and Orange, Virginia. Catholic Irish workers were working on it and built Fairfax Station, a depot linking the two cities. In their off time, they built this church on the grounds where the cemetery was located.
Pretty much right after it was built, the Civil War broke out. Wounded soldiers from the Battle of Bull Run (aka, The Battle of Manassas) were brought to Fairfax Station to await a train that could take them to the hospitals in DC and Alexandria. But, there were so many, they couldn’t be transported fast enough and this church became a field hospital because of its close proximity to the depot. It’s just down the road.
Thousands of wounded were laid out on the ground, tended to by one surgeon. That’s when an “angel” showed up. Clara Barton came to offer her services as a volunteer nurse. Others came with her and she helped to treat and comfort the wounded and dying.
This experience led Clara Barton to found the American Red Cross. There is a plaque on the outside wall of this church recognizing her.
The original pews were used as firewood while tending to the soldiers and so, after the war, the church had no pews. Later, President Ulysses S. Grant came through and saw that the church had no pews, inquired as to why, and once he learned why, he ordered that the government buy the church new pews, which are still there today.
I’ll tell you another story about this church next week.
If ever in the DC area, I’d recommend a stop here to visit. There was a new church built to accommodate a larger congregation. The two churches with the same name are about two miles apart, so be sure to find the older one on the map.
Have a great day and live the Faith boldly and travel well!
The California missions are some of my favorite places in the country. I've been so blessed to visit 10 of the 21. Because the media and our universities love to villainize any European from long ago, St. Junipero Serra is often demonized because he came in contact with the Native Americans in California. Never mind that universities were given to us by the Catholic Europeans, but I digress. These people who smear his name have no real understanding of who he was or what he was trying to do. Most people have never read his words or attempted to read biographies about him written by those who knew him. Instead, in immature fashion, they label him bad because he was from Spain which was colonizing at the time. Through the many years of homeschooling my children, one of the things I teach them is to always read primary sources. You need to read the actual words of someone before you can make an informed decision on them. I have taught them not to just take what others are saying about someone, but instead, go to the source. In my children's curriculum, they have to read a portion of St. Junipero Serra's Diary where he explains his day-to-day activities. It is very ordinary in many ways, but, also, shows the heart of the man and his deep love for the "gentiles," as he calls the Native Americans. At one point he writes, "But greater was the number of poor sheep wandering in such great numbers of gentiles of both sexes and of all ages, that not only do not flee from us like others at the beginning, but stick to us, as well along the road as at the stopping place, as if all their lives they had known us and treated with us; so there is no heart for leaving them thus. I invite them all to San Diego. May God fetch them to us there or bring them ministers who shall guide them to heaven in their own land." He taught these "gentiles" many wonderful skills and worked tirelessly for the salvation of their souls. All for love of God and neighbor, he labored, Catholic Pilgrims. Have a blessed day. St. Junipero Serra, pray for us. *Picture is of Mission San Diego
Continue ReadingToday, my family is busting out of the desert and going on a road trip. Oooohhhh, there are so many things I have on my list to see and most of them are special Catholic places. I’m not going to share them with you now, but surprise you with them as we go. Because that’s just way more fun. So, if you have prayer intentions for me to pray for on this trip, let me know. As always, you don’t have to share details if you aren’t comfortable with that. Each day for two weeks, I’ll pray for all your intentions. This will be one of the ways I can bring you along on the journey, or shall I say, pilgrimage. Please keep me and my family in your prayers, look for videos, and I hope to bring you some cool pictures. Live the Faith boldly and travel well, Catholic Pilgrims.
Continue ReadingIn 2023, my family went to Portugal and we got there on a Sunday. Upon getting to our home, we had to change clothes and find a church for Mass. We were tired, hungry, but it was getting late and we were running out of time to find a church. We winded through the streets trying to find the church my husband had located, but the GPS was working right. We never found that church. But then, we ended up at the St. Anthony’s Church built on the site where his home once was and Mass was just starting. We sat in the very back in the dark, warm, and richly colored church and I saw my family struggling to stay awake, especially during the lengthy homily in Portuguese. My son fell asleep on my lap. There was a time in my life when I wouldn’t have even thought twice about passing up Mass for food and rest. I have realized, though, that these are the times when I can greatly show my love for God—when it’s not necessarily convenient to get to Mass. As I sat on that back bench in the dark, rubbing my son’s head, I was happy that we made the effort to come. All for love of God. Have a blessed weekend, Catholic Pilgrims. St. Anthony of Padua, pray for us!
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