
Shelly Henley Kelly reviews a new book by Father Edward Looney that encourages the practice of including holy pilgrimages in everyday travel.
Places of Grace: My Visits to Shrines, Chapels, Graves, and Monasteries and the Graces I Received
by Father Edward Looney
published by Bon Secours Books
In his book, Places of Grace: My Visits to Shrines, Chapels, Graves, and Monasteries and the Graces I Received, Father Edward Looney offers readers a literary pilgrimage to 46 holy sites across 14 states and 8 countries. Reflecting on his own personal experiences at these holy places, Father Looney shares what drew him to each site, what was on his mind at the time, and how God provided a specific grace to sustain and encourage him at that visit.
Places of Grace is a beautiful gift for the busy mother as each short reflection whisks us away to a new place, inviting us to be present in the moment. While Father Looney touches lightly on the significance of each place, he doesn’t delve into much detail or history, allowing us to respond to any personal call to dig deeper into the locations that touch our hearts.
My own interest in visiting holy shrines started years ago when my daughter played in her first national softball tournament in Colorado. As part of our road-trip planning, I asked social-media friends for some interesting places my family could visit during our free time. One answer suggested the Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden, Colorado. Curious, we drove up the mountain one afternoon and discovered stunning vistas and robust history. We also received the grace of discovering pilgrimage. The experience inspired a new family tradition — seeking out shrines while traveling whether by design or what we like to call “Holy Spontaneity.”
Father Looney’s reflections invite us to see our own travels with a fresh perspective. Whether it’s close to home or a special trip, when we visit a basilica, shrine, grave, or other special holy place, and approach it with an open heart, we’re transformed by God’s grace in small, ordinary ways.
Places of Grace: My Visits to Shrines, Chapels, Graves, and Monasteries and the Graces I Received inspires each of us to be intentional in our travels.
Ask for Places of Grace at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from Amazon.com.
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Copyright 2024 Shelly Henley Kelly
Images: Canva
About the Author

Shelly Henley Kelly
Shelly Henley Kelly is a wife, mother of three, and native Texan who writes and records a podcast with her sister on Of Sound Mind and Spirit. When not writing or recording, Shelly can be found keeping the scorebook at her son’s baseball games, diving deep into historical research, or hiding with a good book in between games.
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