They sure don't build them like they used to.

On Wednesday we went to the Holy Hill National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians near Milwaukee. There is the monastery of the Carmelite Order as well as a fantastic cathedral. We took the trek up one of the towers from which we could see downtown Milwaukee. As we journeyed back down, I joked with a cousin that we would lock her in the tower until her prince came to climb up her hair like Rapunsel, or became a solid block of ice in the Wisconsin winter.

After the trek up the tower we ventured into the sanctuary. Behind the alter was a great mosaic depicting the Holy Trinity, Mary, an unknown guy holding flowers and the twelve apostles. On both sides of the alter area, as my uncle described as the place where most Missouri Synod Lutherans would place air returns, speakers and hymn numbers, were alters and mosaics for two saints.

All in all the place was a fantastic display of architecture. As we were leaving my dad heard a boy, about 8 years old, comment, "I've seen four statues of Mary, but only one of Jesus!" How sad, but true, that the focus is still not where it should be in the Catholic church.