The streets of Philadelphia – 16 hours and 11 stops later....

Stop 1:

National Shrine of Saint John Neumann at St. Peter the Apostle Church

And just a few days after I left the very kneeler in front of him, Justin Cardinal Regali and Archbishop Chaput (new elected Archbishop of the Diocese of Philadelphia from Denver—took time to pray in front of this Saint. Pretty neat!

St. John Neumann's incorrupt body

Stop 2:

Independence Hall: We saw the few meeting place of Congress, where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were written. Where Our Country began – the same place Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Hamilton, Hancock... plus many more met. It was pretty amazing.

"I am well aware of the toil, and blood, and treasure, that it will cost us to maintain this declaration, and support, and defend these states. Yet, through all the gloom, I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory." -John Adams, July 3, 1776

The finals documents are in Washington D.C. But the last drafts are pictured to the left.

Stop 3: Liberty Bell

Stop 4:

Old Church of Old St. Mary- The plaque outside said, “In this church on the 4^th of July 1779 was held the first public-religious commemoration of the Declaration of Independence” Then, everyone joined for a ‘solemn Mass of thanksgiving’. “God of our Fathers be with us yet”

Stop 5: Old St. Joseph’s National Shrine – founded in 1733—interior of new church is from 1840. The oldest Catholic Church in Philadelphia

Stop 6: LUNCH at the City Tavern

City Tavern Restaurant– Washington & his buddies in 1773 would meet here to eat and have a beer. It was awesome! I had the Martha Washington Pot Pie.

                                                                              http://www.citytavern.com/

Stop 7: Polish water ice @ this little museum (competition: Italian water ice from Rita’s—You be the judge)

Guess who we found?

Stop 8: 

Shrine of the Miraculous Medal
side chapel

The ceiling

Katie & I outside of the Shrine. With the image of the Miraculous Medal on either side of us.

Stop 9:

Parish & National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia.

Beautiful image downstairs by the Adoration chapel

They had a BEAUTIFUL adoration chapel....

St. Rita in ecstasy

I was blessed to see her body venerated in Cascia, Italy in 2009. Also, they had a statue donated by the Augustinian Nuns and Friars in Cascia- on the occasion of the “Twinning” of the two shrines in 2004.

From the very back of the upper church
On the Feast of St. Rita- they fill both sides of the altar with red roses!!