From the grand basilicas of Missouri’s big cities to small churches in every corner of the state, the stories of generations of Catholic immigrants are set in stone. Built as places to ask for blessings and pray for survival in a foreign land, these churches endure today as monuments to the struggles and the faith of those new Americans and their descendants.
Places to Pray takes readers to Catholic churches, shrines, convents, and monasteries throughout Missouri where readers will explore the architectural marvels of the cathedrals of St. Louis and Kansas City and visit neighborhood parishes that proudly hold on to the ethnic flavors of their founders. There’s a story of a shrine built from thousands of stones by a monk who died at his task. Cloistered sisters committed to lives of prayer and silence open their doors to us and monks at a Trappist Monastery in the Ozarks show off their world-famous fruitcakes.
Also included are chapters on topics unique to Catholicism which are often misunderstood, even by Catholics: the veneration of Mary and the saints, the Rosary, holy relics, Stations of the Cross, Imaginative Prayer, Eucharistic Adoration, the Infant of Prague, and miracles.
Places to Pray is intended for readers of all faiths and walks of life who are tempted to venture into some of these places to experience realms beyond those offered by daily life.
208 pages, paperback
About the Author
Television producer, printmaker, and author Patrick Murphy has spent the past 40 years telling stories of the American heartland. He took a year to visit every corner of Missouri, exploring its Roman Catholic history and culture. His photographs and stories are a delight for readers of all faiths. Murphy is the author of Candymen: The Story of Switzer’s Licorice and The Irish in St. Louis: From Shanty to Lace Curtain. He and his wife Anne are members of Our Holy Redeemer parish in Webster Groves, Missouri.
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