A Throwback Thursday Look Back at the Most Beautiful Church in America

I need to get there soon

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

One week ago today, as part of my goal of making a pilgrimage to as many cathedrals as possible during this Jubilee Year, I stood in the awe-inspiring sanctuary of the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans in Shreveport, Louisiana (and wrote about it here). Having resigned myself to the fact that I am as likely to visit Rome this year as the Dallas Cowboys are to win the Super Bowl, I have instead set my sights on closer churches that do not require a plane ticket and a passport. However, a package I received this week reminded me that there is one here in the United States that is more than worth the 20-hour drive it would take to get there.

For nearly a decade now, I have been a supporter of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, and as such they regularly send me cool stuff like their annual medallion, Christmas cards, and offers for Masses to get my loved ones out of purgatory sooner (sadly, I can’t have any pre-said for myself). This week I received their “Our Lady in Art” calendar for 2026, which is what reminded me that while there are ancient and beautiful cathedrals and basilicas in Europe, there are some that are equally as amazing right here at home, and the National Shrine tops that list.