In the early morning, the Basilica of St. Mary’s sanctuary is a silent, soothing refuge. The leaded stained glass windows, backlit from the sun, cast soft shadows. White candles flicker in the votive ...

[1] The custom of adorning the church with tree branches, flowers, and grass goes back to ancient times. The Old Testament Pentecost was the feast of the first harvest (Ex. 23:16). People brought the ...