Cakehunting and Praying at the Cathedral Basilica

After walking to the central West End to see the Stl 250 Cakes at the Chase Park Plaza and World Chess Hall of Fame, I stopped by the Cathedral Basilica on my way back.

I've been to this Church several times in the past few years, and every time it blows me away with its beauty! The basilica is home to "one of the largest mosaic collections in the western hemisphere." There is actually a museum in the basement of the Church that explores how mosaics are designed and applied. I had never seen the museum, so I took a visit while there for cakehunting. I wasn't quite prepared for the emotional toll of the visit... In the museum is a lot of "memorabilia" from Pope John Paul II's visit to the Basilica in 1999.

JPII holds a major significance in my heart as my Godson was named after him when born too early last summer. I have always loved JPII, but since my little angel Godson is named after him my devotion has grown much stronger. I have a 3rd class relic of JPII that I received as a gift from my sister for being little JP's Godmother. Seeing so many pictures as well as the vestments and ornaments that Pope John Paul II used on his visit to St. Louis really hit me. I got to spend a lot of time praying in front of these artifacts and thinking about the wonderful man that JPII was. In the Catholic faith we rely a lot on the Saints for intercessory prayers. Many people misunderstand this as praying TO the saints in worship. It's more like asking a friend to pray for a special intention, but this friend happens to be sitting up in Heaven right next to the Big Man himself. I already ask my little angel for so many prayer intentions daily, but I got to spend a little extra time reflecting on the people in my life that need extra prayers lately.

After spending time in the museum I went up to the Church and sat in Holy Adoration for a few minutes. It was a much needed time for prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. I asked through the intercession of little JP and Pope John Paul II that my sister will continue to have a healthy pregnancy, as she is exactly at the point in her pregnancy when little JP was born too early. I also asked for their prayers for a woman who is at the same stage in her pregnancy who is quite set on having an abortion. She was a patient of mine at clinical the other day and did not think the pain of pregnancy was worth it. She was set on getting an abortion so that that she wouldn't have to go through it anymore. The staff nurses and social workers were not exactly discouraging her intentions, which was especially sad considering it was a Catholic hospital. My heart broke as I listened to her talk about how she didn't want her baby, and I thought about how devastating it was to lose little JP. I thought about the contrast of one woman worried sick about losing her baby and another woman sick to her stomach about keeping her baby. I thought who better to pray for these women than little JP himself. I asked that he pray for his mother and for this woman to help them both through their pregnancies as he sits in Heaven close to our Lord.

After an extremely difficult and emotional week (for other reasons besides my clinical experience), these few minutes in prayer and adoration were exactly what I needed. It was a beautiful opportunity to reflect on the emotional stress I have been feeling related to pregnancy in general, for my sister's pregnancy as well as the patient's I see weekly in clinical. I know not everyone is pro-life, but considering the experiences I've had with my family, it is hard for me to comprehend someone not wanting to give their baby life. Losing JP last summer was devastating for my entire family. On the other hand, gaining a niece and nephew at birth through the gift of adoption is something I will never be able to thank their birth mothers for enough. It's so hard to think that a person is willing to take away something that others would do anything to have, especially when it's a human life. I know these struggles will be especially prevalent in my life since I strive to be a maternity nurse. I just hope I will have the strength to help the women who don't believe they are strong enough to get through their pregnancy, as well as to help the women who believe it's just not worth it.

4 cakes down, 246 to go! #staytuned