Mar 2, 2017
The Biblical Basis for Confession
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The Biblical Basis for Confession
The Crusades gave birth to something new in both Church and military history, the soldier monks of the Military Religious Orders. The first of these orders was the Poor Fellow Soldiers of Jesus Christ also known as the Knights Templar.
To believe Dan Brown and Ron Howard, the Knights of the Temple of Jerusalem guarded some secret and shocking knowledge the cardinals of the Catholic Church have long conspired to conceal. The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons are utter fabrication, to say nothing of blasphemy. The true story of this first Military Religious Order, born in the heroic age of the Crusades and suppressed by treachery and greed, is far more compelling.
The Crusades gave birth to something new in both Church and military history, the soldier monks of the Military Religious Orders. The first of these orders was the Poor Fellow Soldiers of Jesus Christ also known as the Knights of the Temple of Jerusalem or, simply, the Templars.
The Knights Templar reviews the arguments for, and the objections to, this new hybrid, considers Saint Bernard of Clairvaux's eloquent and powerful justification for the Templars, explains their life in garrison and in the field, reviews their influence in the politics of Outremer, and looks at the tragic tale of their suppression at the hands of Pope Clement V and Philip IV of France.
Cruise Adds Excursion to Miraculous St. Anne Shrine
El Cajon, CA — The patroness of the Americas is Our Lady of Guadalupe. What better way to honor the Blessed Virgin of the New World than paying a visit to her mother, St. Anne? Along the bank of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec, Canada, the St. Anne de Beaupré Basilica has sat since construction began in 1667. Since then the shrine has received a ceaseless flow of pilgrims seeking miracles and marveling at its artistic splendor.
Though little is known about St. Anne’s life, her roles as the mother of the Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus are merit enough for veneration by the Catholic Church. Many claim miracles have been bestowed through the basilica of St. Anne. The conduit of these miracles is believed to be the statue of St. Anne brought by St. François de Laval in 1662, which still dwells in the shrine. The shrine is also home to a relic of St. Anne given to the basilica by Pope John XXIII.
Apart from the miraculous significance of the basilica, the architecture, craftsmanship, and artwork are breathtaking attractions. After numerous rebuilds and expansions over the past 350 years, the basilica’s footprint is approximately 350 feet long by 300 feet wide, at the transept, with two 300-foot spires.
The façade of basilica is in the Romanesque Revival style. Immense copper doors, ornate statues, and the original statue of St. Anne bedeck the exterior of the shrine. The handmade double copper doors depict scenes from Jesus’ life.
Many figures in bas-relief decorate the façade. St. Anne in all her glory stands atop the doors. To her left and right are important moments in the movement of her devotion. The eye is drawn up to the rose window where the twelve apostles are gathered in groups of six along either side. Prominent figures in the life of St. Anne also adorn the basilica exterior in bas-relief.
The interior of the basilica has two levels. The upper level is the main nave. Two hundred and forty stained-glass windows, reminiscent of the Middle Ages, diffuse the sunlight. They complement the mosaic-covered ceiling, from which the mosaics extend down along the upper walls. The mosaics include scenes from the lives of St. Anne and Jesus, saints of Canada, and geometric and abstract designs. A mosaic illustrating the history of the Eucharist crowns the side chapels that surround the sanctuary. Hundreds of plants and animals carved into the wooden pews tell the story of creation. Depictions of man’s concupiscence and the seven capital sins can be observed down the center aisle and front entry.
The lower level houses the Immaculate Conception Chapel and the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. A prominent statue of Mary is featured in the Immaculate Conception Chapel. Masses are celebrated multiple times a day in various locations throughout the basilica. Although other public devotions occupy the daily schedule, time remains for private devotions throughout the property. The extensive grounds include the Stations of the Cross. The atmosphere of the basilica is said to be one where “peace reigns.”
St. Anne de Beaupré Basilica is the oldest shrine in the Americas. For more information about pricing and availability on this excursion and the entire cruise, visit CatholicAnswersCruise.com.
Life at Catholic Answers: Catch Phrase
Catholic Answers President, Christopher Check, sits down with Daniel Rabourdin -- producer of the film: The Hidden Rebellion. Daniel shares the story of the Vendee, a group of villages in France, that were persecuted for opposing the French Revolution. They touch on topics such as: what the French Revolution meant for the church and modern history, the story of the Vendee and why it is so important, as well as how you can watch the film and get involved.