A Little Background History: ~ The Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs at Auriesville, N.Y., sits atop a hill overlooking a bend in the Mohawk River. By tradition, the site is believed to be the location of the fortified Mohawk village known as Ossernenon. The Jesuit martyrs St. René de Goupil, St. Isaac Jogues and St. Jean de Lalande laid down their lives sharing the Gospel with the Mohawk Indians. St. Kateri was born here little more than 10 years after their deaths. Many other Catholics, less known to history, also suffered torture in order to share the love of Jesus among the Mohawks at that place. For 130 years, from 1885 to 2015, the Society of Jesus operated a shrine on this site. Pilgrims flocked here from all over North America. The Jesuits built the imposing coliseum church, with five separate altars grouped around the center and a capacity for 6,000 worshippers, in 1930. It was built for an age where “going on pilgrimage” was a pillar of Catholic identity.
I hope you enjoyed this visit to such a wonderful place. If you're interested in joining the Friday Foto Friends you can visit Debbie by clicking on her name. Until next time dear friends have a lovely and blessed weekend.
6,000 worshipers... Wow! I love the hedges planted in a cross shape. Thanks so much for sharing and linking up today... and for being so faithful to visit each Friday! Hope you have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteThank you Toni. This is an unknown story for me and I love it. It's a nice place to go. Thank you for sharing. Beautiful, clear pictures!
ReplyDeleteYou know, Toni, I think I can safely say, we have never been here, smiles. Have a great day friend.
ReplyDeleteThere is a Catholic blogger whose little daughter is named Kateri after the saint. Her blog is Pondered in my Heart. Not your average name at all.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy visiting quiet places where you can just be peaceful and think. It looks so peaceful it is hard to imagine the martyrdom that happened.
Toni, that is a beautiful place, somewhere I would love to visit. Knowing the history makes it so special. Thanks for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteA lovely place to visit, I'm sure. I am always so astounded at those who gave their lives to share the gospel with the lost, I think often of Peter Marshall who lost his life as well as others in his team trying to share the gospel with natives in Ecuador. Later, his wife and others went back to the same place and continued their husband's work. Thanks for sharing the photos and story.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful place...and so much history! I did not know about those who gave their lives for the salvation of the Mohawk Indians..What a powerful testimony of faith. We will meet so many martyred for their faith when we get to heaven someday...and hopefully will also meet those who were saved as a result of their influence. Thank you for sharing this with us.
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