In early May 2003, I visited the Our Lady of Lebanon National Shrine in North Jackson, Ohio. This Catholic shrine is the paragon of beauty and peacefulness, a place where anyone of any moral fiber would feel right at home, regardless of religion.  I thought you would enjoy seeing a few pictures from the shrine.

The crowning point of the shrine is the full size replica of the Our Lady of Lebanon statute in Harissa, Lebanon.  The tower, weighing some 3700 tons, is 50 feet high with a 4 1/2 foot, 2 ton pedestal on top.  Atop the pedestal, made out of North Carolina pink granite is the 12 foot, 7 1/2 ton statue of Our Lady of Lebanon.  The wrapping staircase is 64 steps long, one step for each prayer of the rosary.

According to the shrine's history, when the workmen were using a crane to lift the statue into place atop the pedestal, a large cloud overhead cycled through a rainbow of colors, which even the non-Catholic workers on the site took as a sign of divine approval of the shrine.

Looking down from the statute towards the street, you see a landscaped scene of two hearts, an M for Mary and a cross.

Closer to the scene, you'll notice the heart on the left represents the Sacred Heart of Christ with the crown of thorns of the passion and the heart on the right represents, with the sword piercing it, the sorrowful heart of the Virgin Mary at Calvary.

And yes, for those of you who know I don't like heights, I did climb to the top of the statue's tower!

Other parts of the Our Lady of Lebanon Shrine in North Jackson, Ohio have a beauty of their own beyond the primary shrine of the Virgin's statue.

For a place of quiet contemplation and prayer, the St. Sharbel chapel in the base of the statue tower beats them all from the beautiful stained glass windows...

...to the small altar with St. Sharbel's statue next to it...

Walking around outdoors behind the shrine, you pass through the Stations of the Cross...

...including the First Station, donated by Danny Thomas in honor of his parents.

The Prince of Peace Chapel, a relatively new addition to the shrine, reflects an airy, yet beautiful design.

(I'd like to extend a special thank you to Msgr. Bonczewski, on the left side of the picture, who took some time to talk with me while I was taking these photos)

I was surprised and delighted to find the Memorial to the Maronite Priests in the USA Chapel included the name of Chor-Bishop Joseph Eid, a old friend of the Shediack family, from Massachusetts.

In the vestibule to the Prince of Peace Chapel stands a Sacred Heart of Jesus Statue...

...where I lit a candle in the top row, closest to the statue in the left rack of candles, for all my family, friends and visitors to Bluejeans' Place!

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For more information, please visit the National Shrine at www.nationalshrine.org.