Splitting the Killing Fields...
...of southern Pennsylvania runs Emmitsville Road. To the west of this historic pike from Seminary Ridge, The Army of Northern Virgina launched an assault on the Army of the Potomac, dug on to the east on Cemetery Ridge. Within an hour on one hot July afternoon, thousands lay dead, and thousands more were injured.
Heading a few miles to the south from one national shrine and the site of one of our nation's greatest and most terrible moments, another national shrine comes into view just across the Mason Dixon Line. This one honors this nation's first saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton. Within site of her former school lies this nation's first Catholic College from which Mother Seton found support for her Daughters of Charity and their educational efforts. Many (steep) steps above Mount Saint Mary's College lies the National Shrine Grotto of our Lady of Lourdes. This Grotto was in place prior to the apparitions and was a site of prayer for Mother Seton and those at the college. It would later be consecrated to our Lady of Lourdes.
So if anyone finds himself on highway 15 on the way to Gettysburg, be sure to plan some time for our Blessed Mother and Mother Seton.
posted by NCCatholic at 6:07 PM
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