Leaving Barcelona...

So we left Barcelona and hopped on a bus for 7 1/2 hours en route to Madrid. We saw lots and lots and LOTS of landscape. We stopped in this tiny town on our way....Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. The town was filled with history and sights. One of the most inspiring sights for me was a beautiful cathedral built in honor of the the Virgin Mary. It is known as the Basilica of our Lady of the Pillar.

According to ancient local tradition, shortly after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, the Saint James was preaching in Spain and was completely downtrodden and thinking that the spreading of the Gospel was falling on deaf ears. Story has it that as James was praying for direction, Mary appeared to him and gave him a a small wooden statue of herself, a column of jasper, and instructed him to build a church in her honor.

This sight has seen many formations of churches on its sight. Many expansions and additions to the original structure. The most current one was begun in 1686 and was not fully completed until 1872. The entire inside is filled with gorgeous frescoes by Francisco Goya. Oh my LORD! They were absolutely breathtaking. The amazing shades of blue...like china and the sky and the raised ivory/alabaster designs...from God.

During the WWII, three bombs were dropped into this Basilica. Three bombs!!! Here is an interesting fact and something that moved me beyond words...these bombs never exploded!!! It is believed to be Divine Intervention. They have taken two of these bombs and placed them in one of the columns within the church as a reminder of God's ever present hand in all of our lives and even in the darkest of times. Just to see this alone moved me so much.

This is probably my most favorite sight in Spain. I was so moved to walk through this holiest of places. To see the gorgeous paintings and frescoes, to walk through and witness the awe-inspiring altars of gold and alabaster, the sounds of Latin floating through the air as mass is held. We even walked through the back and the organist began to play the huge pipe organ...HUGE!!!! and Core Shaking! It was AWESOME!!! Have you ever had something that shook you to your very core at the sights and sound of it? There is only one other place on Earth that I have felt this closeness and connected to God...and that was in the Badlands of North Dakota...those starry nights lying on top of a butte outside and watching the meteor showers. Being able ot reach out and touch God.

And here... at the Basilica of our Lady of the Pillar.

It was a sight I want to go back to and stay for a longer period. We just had a few moments here to experience this spiritually shaking sight and I want to go back as soon as I can. I did also purchase my first rosary here and and so grateful for this wonderful experience.