When I hear the word pilgrimage I stereotypically think of a life-changing Marian apparition coupled with a foreign country. Lourdes. Medjugorje. La Ciudad de México. Ever consider the middle of Wisconsin? Perhaps not your first choice, but La Crosse, Wisconsin, is the home of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Cardinal Burke, and the location for CatholicVote’s Zeale for America 250 celebration. It’s worth the trip.
Mommy and me
My mom has had a devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe since college. While secular culture takes her image for granted on jackets and murals, practicing Catholics know her titles: the Protectress of the Unborn, Patroness of the Americas, and Queen of Mexico. When my mom found herself unexpectedly pregnant with me, her devotion proved to be no coincidence. I grew up with a unique and strong mother-daughter bond, so it’s no surprise I went to Jesus through Mary.
Our Lady of Guadalupe is special to me because she showed the beauty, warmth, and kindness of God the Father to me in a way I could understand. Our Lady showed me that my Latina heritage was not an accident. God can bring good out of the worst situations, and nothing is coincidence. For my 18th birthday, my mom and I went to the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse to celebrate.
Tailoring your experience
While we were at the shrine, we did the traditional things. We lit candles for our loved ones, walked the gardens, and prayed in the chapel. If you are looking for a self-guided pilgrimage or want a full-blown guided tour (the shrine offers both), here are some helpful things to keep in mind.
The shrine grounds are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walking the grounds in summer is so vibrant! The first thing you’ll see is the Pilgrim Center, which houses the Flores Mariae gift shop, bookstore, information center, and the Culina Mariana cafe. You’ll need to walk another half-mile to the main church. Use this map for a reference. On your way, you’ll pass devotional areas dedicated to St. Kateri Tekakwitha and St. Joseph, as well as the Mother of Good Counsel Votive Chapel. The blue candle tower is impressive inside and is a must-stop! The main church is the heart of the pilgrimage with Stations of the Cross, the Memorial to the Unborn, and a rosary walk to follow.
Looking for beauty? The shrine has gigantic, gorgeous, painted images of powerhouse saints like Maria Goretti and Juan Diego flanking the main church. There are also kneelers to pray with each saint and write your intentions. Another unique detail is how the top of the dome inside the church is painted as Our Lady’s star-studded mantle.
The shrine offers Traditional Latin “low” Masses in English. There’s also Spanish Mass offered once per day and several English Novus Ordo Masses to choose from. Consult the website to plan ahead. The shrine even has special sacred music events and concerts if you want to time your trip alongside one of those events.
Don’t forget to spiritually pack
When it comes to big spiritual experiences like a retreat or pilgrimage, I let God decide what He wants to show me. Sometimes the result is exactly what I expected and hoped for, and other times I’m blindsided on a path to deeper intimacy and growth with Him. All in all, obedience and humility are usually the best paths to follow, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be spiritually prepared.
The Bible tells us that grace builds upon nature, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you. Openness and docility to the Holy Spirit are vital. At the same time, pushing past the fear of asking God for big things is necessary. I used to “hide” my intentions from God out of fear of disappointment. But true openness to the Holy Spirit and God’s plan for me requires that I be honest with Him.
Come with honesty before God, not expectation
Pray with your specific intentions for yourself, for others, for those you are traveling with (and the ones you are to meet along the way) in mind. This is a beautiful way to offer your trip to God. Be honest with yourself before God about why you are about to go on pilgrimage. Ask for the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Kateri, and St. Joseph whom you’ll meet along the path.
Even if the intention isn’t answered on the trip, God is doing something. When I went to Medjugorje my senior year of college, I didn’t receive the clarity I was looking for. However, the graces that came back home with me positively impacted my relationships, my spiritual life, and granted me an experience of peace that remains within me. I had an encounter with God through Our Lady, a great reminder that my true home and goal is Heaven.
Journey on, pilgrim!
Be unafraid. Entrust, surrender, and freely give your desires, intentions, anxieties, and fears to God ahead of pilgrimage. This not only prepares your heart, but it frees your mind to be present and enjoy the trip and what God has in store. It’s this unique and puzzling dichotomy, a calling card of Catholicism, where we give our intentions, wants, and needs to God in order to accept the present moment without any care for ourselves.