To the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
Not in any particular order.
1. It's America's Catholic Church- it's the largest Shrine I know of and they host pilgrims from all over the country-all over the world really. They don't have a group of local parishioners (regular worshippers there tend to be working in the area around Catholic U and sometimes belong to other parishes) so they don't have the regular envelope sending parishioners.
2. You can only get some of these cool gift items by donating (on line or send checks or better yet-show up in person and light a candle in one of their many many chapels) - http://www.nationalshrine.com/site/c.osJRKVPBJnH/b.4764053/k.8677/Devotional_Gifts.htm
3. They have, as a gift of a French Archbishop the actual marble from the Prison cell that Joan of Arc stayed in prior to her getting fried by the Dominicans (later retried in absentia postumously and totally exhonerated for hearing the voice of God's angels including the ArchAngel Michael) in the Lourdes Chapel on the crypt level. I go there when I feel the wing-nuts after me to get strength to carry on and light a candle. Joan of Arc is the patron saint of all those politically persecuted and political prisoners everywhere (I just made it so if she isn't already.)
4. Monsignor Rossi the head rector is a cool Italian American from Pennsylvania and we Pennsylvanians stick together.
5. They have awesome Christmas presents in their gift shops
6. They have amazing acoustics for choral presentations and to practice singing like a diva.
7. The art inside in all forms rivals any museum in Europe and they let you bring your camera inside and take pictures.
8. Two Popes have visited there and left a few tokens of appreciation- so you are in good company. Leave a token of appreciation.
9. It attracts the best homiliests from every order from everywhere so you never catch a bad sermon there and always leave uplifted. Also if you can find the confessionals, chances are the priest there doesn't know you from Adam so you can spill your guts without fear of him telling your real pastor or mother.
10. Jesus resides in the Holy Eucharist in the Perpetual Adoration Chapel which is also an artistic marvel.
P.S. No one made me do this as penance for the blog post below on the Basillica -I just really love the place. Really.
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