Traveling on I-70 near Golden, Colorado, a large white statue sits on the Rocky Mountains.   Follow the road signs and visit the Mother Cabrini Shrine.

Zeb and Soapy Smith Duck enjoyed the peace and serenity here this week.   Mother Cabrini, born July 15, 1850 as Francesca Saverio Cabrini, immigrated to the United States and became the first naturalized US citizen to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church on July 7, 1946.   The Shrine and the Rocky Mountains contribute to a feeling of peace and serenity.

These deer contribute to and enjoy the peacefulness.   We drove past the main chapel, to the Grotto.   Isn’t this archway pretty?

There was no known source of water here; water was brought in from miles away.   Now the water flows freely from this fountain.

The sign says “Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini founder of the missionaries of the Sacred Heart, endowed with lofty gifts, struck with a staff this rock, from which flowed a fountain of water, in the year of Our Lord, 1912.”  Near the fountain we walked through the Rosary Garden.

The benches offer a place to rest, reflect or meditate.    There is a small chapel near the fountain.

Several humans light candles here.  But, we the Colorado Traveling Ducks, want to see the statue up close.

Looks pretty far, but humans say the longest journey begins with a single step.

This is the first step to the top.   Let’s go.   Along the way, signs mark the Stations of the Cross.

This one is VIII, Jesus Speaks to the Women.   The signs all have information to tell humans the significance of each place.   We also saw several symbolic statues.

After 374 steps, we reached the top and the statue.   This statue is dedicated to Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini.

Looking down, we admire the mountains while looking east toward Denver.

Looking to the west, over the homes, we admire the snow capped Rocky Mountains.

Soon we walk down the 374 steps.   There is also a Meditation Walk, the Cabrini Garden, and Stone House which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.    There is much to see here, too much for one blog.   We hope that if you are near Denver, Colorado that you drive west of Golden and visit Mother Cabrini Shrine.  Looking back, we enjoyed the peacefulness of these deer on the mountain near the statue.

Hope to see you there soon.