Our Lady of Snows

        Last Saturday a group of ladies from our area churches took a day trip to Belleville to visit Our Lady of Snows. 

Here is the icon for Our Lady of Snows.  It was too difficult to snap a shot without a glare.

        The devotion to Our Lady of Snows is tied to the miraculous snowfall in Rome on August 5, 352 A.D. on a hot summer day.  It was brought to Illinois by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and the work of Fr. Paul Schulte, O.M.I.

        The grounds include many devotional areas.  There was the Agony Garden, Annunciation Garden, The Church of Our Lady of the Snows, the Lourdes Grotto, Christ the King Chapel with mosaics of the Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious mysteries of the Rosary, Our Lady of Guadalupe Hill, Resurrection Garden, and the Way of the Cross. 

        It was a beautiful day to walk the grounds and get lost in prayer.  With all the scale models of church history it was like visiting Mexico, France, and the Holy Land all in one day.  Plus, we had the best guide, our Pastor, who has a close connection to the area.

       Starting next week I hear they have an amazing display of "Christ"mas lights. If you happen to be near St. Louis in the coming weeks I highly recommend it.