Trippin'

Hello friends,
      Special prayers of healing and strength for a very special person; for all marriages and single people, may God continue to bless all of our paths and shower His graces on us, daily. In Jesus name. Amen.
     As many of you may or may not know, my family and I went to Natchitoches, LA, (pronounced knack-uh-dish) for a mini-vacay this past weekend.
      I must commend Carlton for organizing this lovely excursion. He simply outdid himself as far as Christmas destinations are concerned. He also put together a splendid agenda for us; from the scenic drive there, to historic plantations, a fab fireworks display, and a minor basilica for good measure. As we stealthily drove through quaint, tiny towns, the decades old architecture seemed to be beckon us to their sleepy neighborhoods and store shops.
     The first place we stopped was Woody's Smokehouse, "The Jerky Capital of the World," for some delish deli sandwiches, which brought us to our second stop, Davy Crockett National Forest. Here's how the 'official' website describes the park, "The Davy Crockett National Forest, named for the legendary pioneer, contains more than 160,000 acres of East Texas woodlands, streams, recreation areas, and wildlife habitat. Located in Houston and Trinity Counties, the forest is centrally located within the Neches and Trinity River basins. The Davy Crockett National Forest was proclaimed a National Forest by President Franklin Roosevelt on October 15, 1936." I know now why I always liked Roosevelt. :)

     God has great surprises for us, if we only open our eyes and hearts to His graces. I had no idea I'd be blessed to step into a minor basilica. What is a minor basilica? According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, "In architecture, the term basilica signifies a kingly, and secondarily a beautiful, hall. The name indicates the Eastern origin of the building, but it is in the West, above all in Rome, that the finest examples of the basilica are found. Between 184 and 121 B.C. there were built in the Forum at Rome the basilicas of Porcia, Fulvia, Sempronia, and Opimia; after 46 B.C. the great Basilica Julia of Caesar and Augustus was erected. These buildings were designed to beautify the Forum and to be of use both for market purposes and for the administration of justice. They were open to the public and were well lighted."
Minor basilicas in the spiritual sense are closer to God, kidding, no, it just means in the hierarchy of churches are concerned, the minor basilica is a great treasure.
Here are a few privileges given a minor basilica, "These "privileges", besides conferring a certain precedence before other churches (not, however, before the cathedral of any locality), include the right of the conopaeum, the bell, and the cappa magna. The conopaeum is a sort of umbrella (also called papilio, sinicchio, etc.), which together with the bell is carried processionally at the head of the clergy on state occasions. The cappa magna is worn by the canons or members of the collegiate chapter, if seculars, when assisting at Office. The form of the conopaeum, which is of red and yellow silk, is well shown in the arms of the cardinal camerlengo (see vol. VII, p. 242, coloured plate) over the cross keys.

And here's a photo of the Minor Basilica in Natchitoches:

     I highly recommend this lovely "Christmas town," for your next 'winter' holiday vacation. It's got the right pace (slow), attitude (people are friendly), and small town feel without being snobby, or cliquish. Just a real family treat. Book early, though, B and B's, and hotels, fill up quickly.

"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa