Mother Cabrini Shrine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mother Cabrini Shrine |
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Sacred Heart of Jesus statue at the Mother Cabrini Shrine.
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Location | |
| Location | 20189 Cabrini Boulevard Golden, Colorado 80401 |
| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| Added to NRHP | January 14, 2000 |
| NRHP Reference no. | 99001666 |
| Website | |
| http://www.mothercabrinishrine.org/ | |
The Mother Cabrini Shrine is a special place in Golden, Colorado. It honors Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, who many people called Mother Cabrini. This peaceful site has a beautiful statue of Jesus. It also includes the Stone House, which was once a summer camp for children. The shrine is also home to the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the group Mother Cabrini started.
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The Story of Mother Cabrini's Shrine
Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini found this land in 1902. It was on the side of Lookout Mountain. The property had two barns and a small building over a spring. However, it did not have a good water source.
In 1910, Mother Cabrini bought the land. She wanted to use it as a summer camp. This camp was for the girls from her Queen of Heaven Orphanage. The Sisters of the Sacred Heart started a small farm there. During the summer, the girls from the orphanage would visit. They enjoyed being outdoors and helped with farm tasks.
Finding Water and Building the Grotto
For a while, water had to be carried up to the camp. It came from a stream in Mount Vernon Canyon. Then, in 1912, Mother Cabrini found a spring on the property. This was a very important discovery!
In 1929, a special grotto was built over the spring. It looked like the famous grotto in Lourdes, France. Later, in 1959, a new grotto was built. It was made from sandstone and is still there today.
The Stone House and Pilgrimage Site
Construction on the Stone House began in 1912. It was finished in 1914. This building was designed to be a dormitory for the summer camp.
After Mother Cabrini was declared "blessed" in 1938, the property became a pilgrimage site. A pilgrimage is a special journey to a holy place. In 1946, Mother Cabrini was made a saint. That same year, the property officially became a shrine.
The Sacred Heart Statue and Steps
In 1954, a large statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was put up. It is 22 feet (about 6.7 meters) tall. The statue stands on an 11-foot (about 3.3 meters) base. It is at the highest point of the shrine.
To reach the statue, visitors can climb a 373-step stairway. This path follows the way Mother Cabrini used to walk up the mountain. Along the steps, there are markers for the Stations of the Cross. These show important moments in the life of Jesus.
The Convent Today
The summer camp closed in 1967. The Stone House was then used as a temporary home for the Sisters. A new, permanent convent building was completed in 1970.
Today, the convent has a chapel and meeting rooms. It also has a gift shop. The Sisters who live there have their homes in the convent. Visitors can even stay overnight there. The chapel has beautiful statues and stained-glass windows. These came from Villa Cabrini Academy in California. That was another school started by the Missionary Sisters.
Images for kids
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Walk to the Statue of Jesus.
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Walk to the Statue of Jesus.
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Crowning - Walk through the life of Jesus from the Gospels.
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Station 3: Jesus falls the first time.
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Station 5: Simon of Cyrene carries the cross.
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Moses receives the Ten Commandments.
