• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Prayer Wine Chocolate

a spiritual journey to motherhood & beyond

  • Home
  • Wine and Chocolate
  • Faith
  • CSMI
  • Adoption
  • Life
  • Prayer Journaling
  • Resources
  • About
  • Contact
  • Be Yourself!: A Journal for Catholic Girls
  • Donate a Be Yourself Journal
  • Catholic Coloring Pages
  • Shop

Jun 28, 2016
Faith

Eight Reasons Why I Love the The Central Association of the Miraculous Medal Shrine

Ever since high school, I have always found refuge, peace and hope at The Chapel of the Immaculate Conception in the Germantown section of Philadelphia.  When starting on a new adventure – video blogging – it was without hesitation that this shrine be visited on the first day of my Summer Shrine Tour.

MiraculousMedalshrine1pwc.jpg

Eight Reasons Why I Love the Miraculous Medal Shrine:

1. The Prayer Petition Papers

miraculousmedalpetitions.jpg

The first time I went to this shrine I was 15 years old.  I often felt lonely and unpopular.  I watched my peers have crushes on boys and those boys “liking them back” – while I faced repeated rejection.  For some fifteen year olds, this is no big deal.  For me, it hurt – a lot.  I often prayed that I would have a boyfriend.  When we walked into this shrine I saw something I had never seen at a church before – petition papers.  On this paper, many common requests are listed.  Two of the requests written were: “Catholic boyfriend” and “Catholic girlfriend”.  This made me feel like what I desired was not “bad” or should not be asked for in prayer.  I felt so much relief that I could check off that box and leave that petition in the Church.  I love writing my prayers because they feel more real to me.  I still love to go back, check off boxes and add intentions and names to these papers.

2. The Schedule on Mondays

Whenever I visit the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal Shrine, it is usually a Monday.  I make it a point to go there on Mondays because I know that whatever time I arrive, there will be a novena, a sermon, an opportunity to go to confession, Eucharistic Adoration and a chance to pray in a holy environment within the hour.  I have to admit, I love that convenience.  Oh, and after visiting this shrine for more than 20 years, I learned on my last visit there is free lunch after the 12:00 Mass!

MiraculousMedalshrineinside1.jpg

3. There are always testimonies of hope 

Each hour, before the Novena officially begins, a priest stands on the alter and reads some of the notes of thanks people have returned to write.  Many people come to the shrine to pray for healing, employment, freedom from addiction, fertility, safe delivery of a baby and so on.  When these prayers are answered, they return and write a thank you note to Mary and Our Lord on the back of the petition papers previously mentioned.  The priest selects some of them to read.  It gives great hope to all those who are listening.  Yes, Mary is praying for us and the Lord is granting our requests!

miraculousmedalshrinechair1.jpg

4. There are so many places to kneel, pray and meditate

The upper church has several places you can kneel an light a candle with a loved one.  Each area has stunning Marian art that tells a story of faith.  One place, to the left of the tabernacle, holds a piece of the chair that Our Blessed Mother sat on when she spoke to Saint Catharine Laboure.  It is the only place in the United States that claims to have an object that Our Lady once touched!  There is a replica of the chair encased in glass and a stature that depicts how Saint Catherine and Our Lady conversed.  There are several other areas that are in the upper Church that really help one invoke a state of prayer. Downstairs there is a chapel that is adorned with so much beauty.  Here are a few pictures:

queenofheaven1.jpg

Maryholdstheworld1.jpg

5. The People 

I love the people that pray there and the people that work there!  When I went last week, I met up with my friend and her one year old daughter. My friend, Maria, wanted to go to Confession.  One of the workers watched her daughter while she went to receive the Sacrament!  I was mesmerized by a group of nuns sitting in the front pew during the 12:00 Mass.  I loved their habits, and definitely knew I had never seen them before. I couldn’t help but notice how young they looked.  After Mass I waited to speak with them (I wasn’t the only one interested).  Turns out their order is called the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara.  Mother Incarnation gave me her phone number and told me to come visit them!  I am totally going to take her up on that offer! Curious about the habit?  Check out the Facebook Page set up by some of their moms!  And you know the employers there are cool when they make and set up this sign:

shhh.jpg

6. Blessing of Religious Articles

After each novena a priest announces that if anyone has a Miraculous Medal, or any religious article he or she desires to be blessed,  to bring them up to the alter.  You can bring an article from your home, purchase one in the gift shop or even receive a Miraculous Medal for free from the Association: click here to request a free Miraculous Medal!

7. The Art and Architecture

The beauty of the building, the magnificence of it’s architecture and the artwork in it alone make this place worth the visit.  The Church was built cruciform in shape and in the Romanesque style. The side archways are modeled after those of the Hagia Sophia (Church of St. Sophia) in Istanbul (Constantinople), Turkey.  In addition to the impressive Church, there is an entire Marian and Religious art museum across the street!

miraculousmedalshrinephila1.jpg

8. It is a Designated Holy Door Site for the Jubilee Year of Mercy

The Miraculous Medal Shrine was granted this privilege, along with all the Shrines in the Philadelphia area, in order to make this extraordinary gift of God’s mercy available to more people.


“I AM THE DOOR.
BY ME, IF ANY MAN ENTER IN,
HE SHALL BE SAVED;
AND HE SHALL GO IN, AND GO OUT,
AND SHALL FIND PASTURES.”

(JOHN 10:9)

This is only one of the places I am visiting and bringing YOUR intentions!  If you would like to see where else I am going or send me intentions, check out Summer Shrine Schedule 2016 and comment under this article your intentions!

Share7K
Tweet
Pin3
Share1
7K Shares
Previous Post: « Visiting the Carmelite Monastery
Next Post: Adoption Books My Son Loves »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jeanine @MommyEntourage says

    June 28, 2016 at 10:13 pm

    I’ll have to add this to my list of places to check out this summer!

  2. LaNeshe says

    June 28, 2016 at 11:04 pm

    Looks so beautiful.

  3. Sarah Honey says

    June 29, 2016 at 8:59 pm

    It ‘s beautiful!

  4. Kelly Moran says

    June 29, 2016 at 11:27 pm

    Wow! So beautiful. I need to plan a trip here with my family.

  5. Paula says

    July 3, 2016 at 8:58 am

    One of the schools I taught at in DC had a novitate house of The Servants. The kids were so enamored with them. They even taught one of my classes a week! I loved them so much thst when I changed schools, I invited them to come talk to my students. I was even a pen pal to one sister for while (since they are missionaries). Definately amazing!

  6. Elizabeth says

    September 30, 2016 at 10:52 am

    Thank you Amy for this beautiful and very informative article:) Because of this, I am planning a trip to go and visit this beautiful shrine very soon:)

    • Mary Ferry Paugh says

      September 30, 2016 at 4:38 pm

      I too lived in Germqntown and went to the Monday night novenas. I loved going to that magnificent church and once I brought a Protestant friend with me and she prayed that her loved one would come back from the Korean War, which he did.

      • Amy says

        September 30, 2016 at 4:47 pm

        Thank you for sharing that testimony! I lived in Oak Lane!

Primary Sidebar

       

Amy is the Co-Founder of CatholicsOnline.net

10 Free resources

10 Free resources

10 free resources for subscribers!

10 free resources for subscribers!

GUIDE: How to Plan your Own Prayer Wine Chocolate Retreat

Be Yourself! Journal

Journal for tweens and teens

prayerwinechocolate

Easter is the perfect time to encourage prayer wit Easter is the perfect time to encourage prayer with a gift!
These gifts and more available in my little shop!

#Catholicshop #Catholickids #Catholicwife #CatholicChristian #CatholicEaster
Easter gift ideas for Catholic boys… #Catholicbo Easter gift ideas for Catholic boys…
#Catholicboymom #Catholicmom #Catholic #Catholics #Confirmationgift #CatholicChristian #catholicmemes #catholicreels
Be Yourself Journal on sale for $17.00… today on Be Yourself Journal on sale for $17.00… today only!!!
“Be who you are and be that well. So that you may bring honor to the Master Craftsman whose handiwork you are.”
~Saint Francis DeSales 

#Catholicbooks #CatholicSaints #CatholicMom #Catholicgifts #boystomen #Catholickid #Catholictween ##Catholickids #saintquotes
Striving for Sainthood can be as simple as this… Striving for Sainthood can be as simple as this… 

This type of advice can be really helpful for all of us… especially for a young girl navigating middle school or her early teens.

This advice would have helped me.
Why?

Because it takes some pressure off the high expectations often felt by us as individuals.

It makes God’s will for us feel achievable and realistic.

It’s totally relevant to a student in junior high
(And a slightly stressed out adult)

This page in the Be Yourself embraces scrapbooking fun- just like the back cover. Only this page encourages photographs. Yes, actual printed ones 🎞️📸

Take a deep breath.
Love the next person that comes near you.
#Catholicmom #Catholicsaints #middleschool #juniorhigh #Catholicquotes #inspirationalquotes
A prayer and the story behind the picture… Oh S A prayer and the story behind the picture…

Oh St. Joseph whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, 

I place in you all my interests and desires. Oh St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your divine son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, our Lord; 

so that having engaged here below your heavenly power I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of fathers. 

Oh St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while he reposes near your heart. Press him in my name and kiss his fine head for me, and ask him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. 

St. Joseph, patron of departing souls, pray for us.
Amen.

My children had off from school on Friday. I had committed to an hour of Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays from to 2 to 3 during Lent… so since they had off, they had to come with me.
It was stressful.
They CAN NOT sit still.
Once I got one to stop walking around or talking, another one started.
But in the middle of all this… I witnessed a sweet moment.
I hesitated to pull out my phone because I really try not to during Adoration.
But, the beauty of the moment struck me, and I had to capture it.
📸 
Motherhood is hard. Parenting is difficult.
But I’m often reminded it’s like farming… and I’m planting seeds.

I just hope and pray I’m planting more good seeds then bad ones.

Thank goodness we can pray and ask for prayers from others!

Saint Joseph, pray for us!
#Catholic #Catholicmom #mustardseedfaith #catholicteacher #CatholicChristian #CatholicSaint #CatholicSaints #catholicparenting #liturgicalliving
THANK YOU! Thank you! Thank you! If you have left THANK YOU! Thank you!
Thank you!

If you have left a review on Amazon for either of the Be Yourself Journals… thank you from the bottom of my heart!

When you leave a review on Amazon it makes me SO HAPPY… plus it sends a signal to Amazon to show more people these books!
I’d love for more girls to get this book in their Easter Basket this year!

I’m so grateful this book is being used and appreciated!

God is good!

If you like this book and haven’t left a review, please write one! It’s okay if you didn’t buy it from there!

Tag someone with a 10 or 11 year old girl!

#Catholic #Catholicmom #liturgicalliving #litany #Wwp #CatholocChristian #CatholicEaster #CatholicEasterbasket #ComeHolySpirit #trueidentity
I can’t believe in the past week I’ve posted 4 I can’t believe in the past week I’ve posted 4 videos on YouTube!

And last week’s interview with Dr. Matthew Breuninger (@askacatholictherapist ) still has me thinking about the “psychology of prayer journaling “!

The last 4 videos posted consist of two new interviews (Jessica Castillo from @athrivingcatholic and Dr. John Spitzer @johnspitzermd ); 

a box opening of @pinksaltriot ‘s latest JOY BOX and finally 

a “how to” video that demonstrates how girls can design the back cover of Be Yourself: a Journal for Catholic Girls!
Whew!

Dr. John Spitzer shared parenting advice for moms and dads of tweens;

Jessica Castillo shared how our physical and spiritual health are connected;

The Joy Box had some fun surprises… one will be going in my daughter’s Easter Basket;
And my friend’s daughter was the perfect co-host in the “how to design “ video!

Tell me which topic interests you the most… maybe I’ll dedicate an Instagram post highlighting that content!

#Catholic #BeYourselfJournal #CatholicYouTube #Catholicyouth #CatholicsOnline #catholicsofinstagram #Catholicblog #Catholicauthor #Catholicblogger #catholicinspiration #Catholictalk #joybox
FLASH SALE ON BOY’S Journal ends tonight!!! Link FLASH SALE ON BOY’S Journal ends tonight!!!
Link in bio!
#Catholic #Lent #bhlent2023
“I got this for my 10 yr old daughter’s Easter “I got this for my 10 yr old daughter’s Easter basket. She immediately was attracted to it. Later, she came to me and said that it was her favorite item in her basket. She loves it and really has spent time with it. It is motivational, inspirational, engaging and most importantly, designed to encourage a habit of prayer and meditation at a young age. All while focusing on God’s love for us and our uniqueness…”
Review left on Amazon about Be Yourself:a Journal for Catholic Girls
#Catholic #RomanCatholic #BeYourselfJournal #BeYourself #Catholicmom #Catholicgift #Christianyouth #Catholicyouth #journal #prayerjournal #catholiccrafts #Catholics #Tweengirls #tweengirl #Youthministry #bookstagram #Catholicfamily #catholicphotography #Catholicprayers #catholicreels
FLASH SALE!!!! Boy’s journal sale ends MONDAY!!! FLASH SALE!!!!
Boy’s journal sale ends MONDAY!!!
Finish up Lent strong… and add this fun book to an Easter Basket!
Link in bio!
#Catholickids #Catholicmom #Catholicyouth #CatholicChristian #Catholic #catholicyouthministry #Catholicdad #Catholicgift #Eastergift #Easterbook #Easter #easterbasket #Lent
I adore you Jesus, true God, and true man, pres I  adore you Jesus, 
true God, and true man, 
present in the Holy Eucharist, 
kneeling before you 
and united in spirit 
with all the faithful on earth 
and all the saints in heaven. 

In gratitude for so great a blessing, 
I love you with all my heart, 
for you are worthy of all praise 
and adoration. 

Lord Jesus Christ, may I never offend you with my lack of love. 

May your Eucharistic presence refresh me in body and soul. 

Mary, Mother of the Eucharistic Lord, pray for me 
and obtain for me a greater love for Jesus. Amen.

#EucharisticAdoration #Lent #EucharisticRevival #BlessedSacrament #40hours #prayforvocations #Catholicmom #Catholicsonline #manyhailmarysatatime #catholicsofinstagram #Holyhour
Seriously, if all the @catholicsonline shops had a Seriously, if all the @catholicsonline shops had a mall I’d… I don’t even know… it would be AMAZING!!!
#RomanCatholic #Catholicgifts #Catholicmom #Catholicwoman #Catholicwife #Christiangifts #SaintJude #CatholicSaints #Catholicshop #Eastergift #Eastergifts #Catholicsonline #Catholicreels #catholicsofinstagram #prolife
Have you ever seen a statistic and thought… thes Have you ever seen a statistic and thought… these numbers are NOT in my favor?

Years ago, I was lonely, depressed and wondering if I would ever not be lonely and depressed.

I dreamed of falling in love and getting married.

But, I wanted to marry a faithful Catholic man… and I believe I saw that only 22% (?) of Americans were Catholic.

And then I thought…
Half of them aren’t men, a large percentage are not practicing and … also how many are BOOMERS?

Lucky for me, God math goes like this…
5 loaves 
2 fish
=
5,000 meals and leftovers 

This is my handsome husband and our awesome nephew with the Bishop that Confirmed him on Friday.
Matt was -and is- such a proud Sponsor and Uncle!
God bless Grayson Patrick FRANCIS!

Thank you God for all of your gifts!!!
“You pay God a compliment when you ask big things of Him.” ~ Saint Teresa of Avila

#Catholic #confirmationsponsor #CatholicSacraments #EucharisticRevival #EucharisticAdoration #ComeHolySpirit #Saintquotes #CatholicSaints
Don’t you love when a plan comes together for a Don’t you love when a plan comes together for a retreat and you see joyful faces! 

Listen, this is the best retreat hack for Catholic girls!
****The Be Yourself Journal Scrapbooking activity.****

Give each girl a Be Yourself Journal.
Explain how, “We are all called to holiness but we take different paths.” ~ Saint Katharine Drexel.

Have each girl pick out a Holy card and two Catholic stickers.

Put scrapbooking paper and Catholic washi-tape (thank you @thestumpofjesse ) on the tables and get them started with decorating the back of their journals.

As they work add more stickers and quote cards to their table.

Point out that they were all given the same set of instructions… yet each cover design is unique.

The same is true for their calling!
God has a unique mission for each individual.

He calls us to follow the Commandments, embrace His Word and trust the teachings of the Church…
same set of basic instructions, different yet BEAUTIFUL results when followed!
“Be who God meant you to be and you’ll set the world on fire!” ~Saint Catherine of Siena
Huge thank you to the women who donated journals and holy cards!!!
#holycards #Catholickids #Saintquotes #BeYourselfJournal #Catholic #Catholicstickers #Catholiccrafts #Saintquotes #Catholicyouth #Catholicyouthgroup #Catholicretreat #Confirmationretreat #Catholicretreat #catholicteacher
Not sure what to do with all those prayer cards? Not sure what to do with all those prayer cards? 

Holy cards can be a fantastic prayer journal prompt. 

Copy the prayer off the back and glue the card to the page ;next to, underneath or above where you wrote the prayer).

Follow me for more prayer journaling tips!
#Catholicjournal #biblejournal #Prayerjournal #prayerjournaling #bissisterhood #Catholicsonline #Jesusandcoffee #Lentideas
Getting ready for a Confirmation Retreat this week Getting ready for a Confirmation Retreat this weekend!

So excited to help these young Catholics see that each is called to holiness… but each mission is unique and unrepeatable!

Huge thank you to the women who donated journals for the retreat (11 donated!!!) and the women from my Bible study group who donated Holy cards!

If you would like to donate a Journal for one of the girls attending the retreat this weekend… send me a private message and I’ll explain how!

Holy cards are GREAT prayer journal prompts!

Which Holy card would you put in your prayer journal?
#prayerjournal #Catholicsaint #Confirmationretreat #Catholicretreat #catholicprayer
Keep at it!!! Don’t give up and Don’t give in! Keep at it!!! Don’t give up and Don’t give in!!! “The world offers you comfort… but you were not made for comfort, you were made for GREATNESS!”
Pope Benedict XVI
#Catholic #Saintquotes #prayfastgive #Lent #Catholicreels #Catholicmeme #Catholicmemes #catholicsofinstagram #Catholicmom #faithandfamily
New post up on the blog!! I found some awesome Hol New post up on the blog!!
I found some awesome Holy Spirit themed gift ideas!
Link in bio!
#catholicgiftguide #ComeHolySpirit #Catholicmom #religiouseducation #Catholicgifts #shopCatholic #catholicsonline
Holy Spirit activate!!! New gift guide up!!! One m Holy Spirit activate!!!
New gift guide up!!!
One might say … these gifts are on FIRE!!!!
Check it out… link in bio!!!
#holyspiritactivate #Catholicgifts #Catholic #confirmationgift #Catholic #youthministry #Catholicyouth #Catholicteen
Need Lent? #Catholicreels #Catholics #CatholicChri Need Lent?
#Catholicreels #Catholics #CatholicChristian #Catholicmeme #Catholicmemes #liturgicalliving
Load More Follow on Instagram

Footer

       
a spiritual journey to motherhood & beyond

Copyright © 2023 · Cultivate Theme theme by Restored 316