| "This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true." John 21:24 |
| "The Post and Courier" November 12, 2006 “Kingstree shrine an invitation to slow down” By Jeff Kirby |
It seems as if we always have something to do, or many things that have to be done right away. We live in a fast-paced society that
pressures us to keep the pace.
Since we are human beings, and not merely human doers, we sometimes have to stop the rush, or at least try to slow it down. As human
beings, we need and desire times for reflection, peaceful thought, and prayer. It’s becoming difficult to find places where we can go and
have this part of our lives supported and nurtured.
Recently, Robert Baker, the local Catholic bishop, dedicated a shrine in the Palmetto State.
It’s one of the first of its kind in our region. The idea of a shrine might seem anachronistic and awkward to us. It’s not a regularly used
word in our everyday language, and it strikes us as a peculiar reality.
The peculiarity of a shrine, however, is an invitation to us. It stands as a sign of contradiction because it exists solely for prayer and
reflection. A shrine runs counter to our hurried pace and current set of rushed priorities because it encourages us to slow down and give
some attention to our spiritual lives.
Bishop Baker appropriately named this new house of prayer the Shrine of Our Lady of South Carolina – Our Lady of Joyful Hope.
It has the title of an icon of the same name, which is now available for public veneration in the shrine.
The virtue of hope is highlighted because it is the response of the Christian tradition to the many crises and events in the world, and in our
personal lives, which could lead to despair and discouragement.
The shrine is located in Kingstree in Williamsburg County. It takes a good drive to get there. It’s out of the way, so that nothing can get in
the way of the person who goes there for prayer and discernment. Kingstree and its area consist largely of tobacco and other farms. It’s a
modest place, much like Bethlehem and Assisi, and like the birthplace of Jesus and the hometown of St. Francis, the city can be greatly
underestimated and the blessings received from a pilgrimage there can surprise any and every visitor.
In our busy world, with so many obligations and responsibilities, the new shrine reminds us of the shrine within our own hearts.
It calls us to remember the higher things in life: the faith that sustains us, the hope that gives us meaning, and the love that makes us want to
live for others. It’s too easy to forget these central realities in the midst of our doings, but these are the realities that make us fully human
beings, continually in awe and joyful at life.
Whether we can make it out to Kingstree or not, the new shrine is a gentle exhortation and encouragement to us to pray, reflect, and be at
peace.
The Rev. Jeff Kirby is a deacon of the Catholic Diocese of Charleston, studying moral theology in Rome.
pressures us to keep the pace.
Since we are human beings, and not merely human doers, we sometimes have to stop the rush, or at least try to slow it down. As human
beings, we need and desire times for reflection, peaceful thought, and prayer. It’s becoming difficult to find places where we can go and
have this part of our lives supported and nurtured.
Recently, Robert Baker, the local Catholic bishop, dedicated a shrine in the Palmetto State.
It’s one of the first of its kind in our region. The idea of a shrine might seem anachronistic and awkward to us. It’s not a regularly used
word in our everyday language, and it strikes us as a peculiar reality.
The peculiarity of a shrine, however, is an invitation to us. It stands as a sign of contradiction because it exists solely for prayer and
reflection. A shrine runs counter to our hurried pace and current set of rushed priorities because it encourages us to slow down and give
some attention to our spiritual lives.
Bishop Baker appropriately named this new house of prayer the Shrine of Our Lady of South Carolina – Our Lady of Joyful Hope.
It has the title of an icon of the same name, which is now available for public veneration in the shrine.
The virtue of hope is highlighted because it is the response of the Christian tradition to the many crises and events in the world, and in our
personal lives, which could lead to despair and discouragement.
The shrine is located in Kingstree in Williamsburg County. It takes a good drive to get there. It’s out of the way, so that nothing can get in
the way of the person who goes there for prayer and discernment. Kingstree and its area consist largely of tobacco and other farms. It’s a
modest place, much like Bethlehem and Assisi, and like the birthplace of Jesus and the hometown of St. Francis, the city can be greatly
underestimated and the blessings received from a pilgrimage there can surprise any and every visitor.
In our busy world, with so many obligations and responsibilities, the new shrine reminds us of the shrine within our own hearts.
It calls us to remember the higher things in life: the faith that sustains us, the hope that gives us meaning, and the love that makes us want to
live for others. It’s too easy to forget these central realities in the midst of our doings, but these are the realities that make us fully human
beings, continually in awe and joyful at life.
Whether we can make it out to Kingstree or not, the new shrine is a gentle exhortation and encouragement to us to pray, reflect, and be at
peace.
The Rev. Jeff Kirby is a deacon of the Catholic Diocese of Charleston, studying moral theology in Rome.