Posted on 04/15/2015 9:07:04 AM PDT by Salvation
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HOLY HILL
A shrine of Mary, Help of Christians in Hubertus, Wisconsin, northwest of Milwaukee. A statue of the Madonna, arms outstretched, with the Child beside her, is the central feature of the shrine. The present edifice is the third church built since 1863, when the first log building became to small to hold the pilgrims who came to Holy Hill, where it is reputed that Jacques Marquette first planted the Cross. Now in charge of the shrine, the Carmelites have built a six-story monastery on the grounds. Discarded crutches and braces there attest to the miracles attributed to Mary, Help of Christians.
All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.
Absolutely! It’s incredible.
Holy Hill (outside of Milwaukee) shows up on the Catholic Word of the Day ping.
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Holy Hill (outside of Milwaukee) shows up on the Catholic Word of the Day ping.
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Basilica Upper Church interior
I have attended both Midnight Mass at Christmas and Easter Vigil in this church. However, I haven't been there in years because the church is REALLY cold. The Franciscans couldn't afford to heat it at the time. I think I heard that they have a new furnace now, so I'll have to try again.
Easter vigil was the toughest because they did full immersion Baptisms and then the Catchumens changed into dry clothes. I was really worried about some of them -- especially the baby. I was just hoping that the altar was warmer than the pews because of all the candles.
The music is always gorgeous -- I have several friends who play in their orchestra.
I grew up near here. As I understand it, Holy Hill is one of three Carmelite monasteries in the US. It is the only one with a parish associated with it. A beautiful midnight mass on Christmas, usually televised.
The last I knew, they still had one of two towers open to visitors. On a clear day you can see for twenty miles or so. Wear you big persons pants if you decide to climb it, especially on a windy day.
I have attended several weddings at the upper church in your picture. You would be amazed how many visitors took pictures as the wedding was taking place.
Unfortunately, the last time I attended a mass there was for my mothers’ funeral. It was in the lower church on a freezing day.
I dragged my whole family there one Christmas for Midnight Mass (27 years ago). I have several members of my family who are not Catholic, but they came along because I insisted.
People started gathering at 9 PM, so the church was almost full when we arrived at 10 (Mass was at 12) and took our places in the next to the last pew. Our cars were parked far away in a lower parking lot.
My mother (from CA and not a Catholic) wanted to see everything, so she took a center aisle seat. Every time those huge doors opened, the wind and snow whistled in. She was wearing a short fur coat, but it was California weight and she was just shivering. I encouraged her to move over to the wall and stand near the bank of votive candles. She was really insulted and stubbornly stayed put — shivering all the way.
At the end of Mass (now 1 AM) my (new) son in law who had sriven in that afternoon from Ohio looked at me and asked where he could get gas for his car! What? Gas, at 1 AM on Christmas Day way out on Holy Hill? Impossible. Luckily it was all down hill to get back to our house. Fumes and prayers got us home safely and we’ve laughed about it ever since.
And I have never again required attendance at Mass for non-Catholic relatives!
I tried to buy a house out there when we first moved here in 1986-87(many properties have a view of the steeples) but I couldn't find one. It was amusing to see the properties that I was offered "with a view of Holy Hill".
The first one had a tiny glimpse of the steeples reflected in the corner of the mirror over the fire place. Another boasted a view of Holy Hill that was just trees. I was informed that you could see the church in the winter when the leaves fell off the trees.
LOLOLOL!
I’m confused about upper church and lower church. Do he Carmelites have a chapel somewhere?
Stunning architecture ... reminds me of the Episcopal church of my youth.
They have a church on two levels. The lower church is used more often because it is warmer. That is where my mothers funeral took place. The upper church is used for usually one mass.
An interesting sidelight. I have several relatives out that way. Once one found a one hundred dollar bill stuck in the door. She took is, of course, to one of the Fathers. He told her mexicans will often stuff money in the doors.
I forgot to mention, there are two chapels of the nave. One is devoted to Mary, of course. The other I can’t quite remember.
That is funny, but it tacked a couple thou onto the price.
I have to admit, though I have been to mass there many times, I have never attended a midnight mass. I watched it on TV.
We used to ride our bicycles over.
That would be challenging!
Thank God somebody does! The good fathers need all the money they can get for the support of that magnificent structure.
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