On pilgrimage, again
Sunset over the Sabine bayous, 4-21. Driving out to the Gulf to get cell reception to call Anne.
Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Lake Charles.
Our Lady of La Salette. Friday morning. The Pentacostal and Baptist churches in this small town had political campaign signs in their church lawns; thankfully the local parish is holding fast to old faithful, Our Lady. I liked their fidelity and her noon light.
After my last visit, I called it a day on prisons and stopped at Grand Coteau to see the Jesuit novices. They asked me to stay for dinner and I happily obliged. This view is from their back yard.
I had the car until the rental agency opened, so I drove at dawn across Lake Pontchartrain and made it to Lauds at St. Joseph Abbey.
Architecturally, the monastery church is stunning. Imagine a baby Santa Maria Maggiora in the middle of the Louisiana swamp.
Walker Percy is buried at St. Benedict. Two sources I know attest to this: Paul Elie, biographer of Percy and author of The Life You Save May Be Your Own, travels to St. Benedict's at the close of his book on his own pilgrimage. My other source is Chip- he was at Percy's funeral in 1990. I spent about a half hour looking among the ancient Benedictine tombs before...
The Moviegoer has been on my backburner since C. recommended Ignatius Reilly instead. I feel like I have a strong connection to Percy even though I've read only one of his novels... Maybe its because Casey talks about him all the goddamn time.
Walking back from Percy's grave and the Benedictine tombs. Southern LA's kinda a hottie sometimes.