This is Much Better

What a difference a visit makes! A couple weeks ago, I wrote about visiting the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe and how I felt that something was lacking, how too the grounds felt like an amusement park. Well, I visited the Our Lady once last time during this particular trip in Mexico, and-- what can I say?-- things were much better.



Maybe it was taking a taxi in no traffic (it was a Sunday morning, after all). Maybe it was getting some much needed time to just sit and pray in the various places at the shrine. Maybe it was getting the special privilege-- and, really, an amazing gift-- to assist at a Mass in the upper-tier of chapels in the shrine. Maybe it was being able to finally take home some gifts from the shop. Maybe, just maybe, it was scenes like this:


[it is often seen in the square: pilgrims traveling the last yards to the basilica on their knees.]