Who dat say Henriette can’t be no saint?
The St. Louis Cathedral is the oldest Catholic church in continual use in America and the most photographed and iconic architectural symbol of New Orleans. In other words, the cathedral is hardly a hidden treasure. But there are some lesser-known stories about this legendary landmark. One interesting tale involves Adrien de Pauger. He was the original designer of the cathedral. Pauger wanted to be buried under the floorboards, then considered a great honor, but he died in 1726, before the church was completed. To fulfill his wishes, workers improvised: they put Pauger’s body inside a wall and just kept going.
Many of the interior decorations refer to the church’s namesake, Saint Louis. Prior to sainthood, he was crowned Louis IX, king of France, when he was only 12 years old. He spent a lifetime caring for and feeding the poor, and died leading the Crusade in 1267 against the Muslims in Syria. There are 10 colorful stained-glass windows overhead that narrate his life story. A large mural above the altar shows King Louis announcing his Crusade.
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Address 615 Pere Antoine Alley, New Orleans, LA 70116, +1 504.525.9585, www.stlouiscathedral.org | Hours Daily, after the 7:30am mass–4pm| Tip Drew Brees is already a Saint, and probably the most beloved in the NFL franchise’s history. His nearly 5000-square-foot home is nestled in the Audubon neighborhood. Last time the Saints won a Superbowl, fans turned his front gate into a Buddhist shrine, tying notes to the fence, and leaving him flowers and baked goods by the entrance.
But one of the more beautiful and peaceful spots in the cathedral is the not often visited Prayer Room, located near the entrance where the baptistery once was. The newer stained-glass windows depict Mother Henriette Delille, to whom the room is dedicated. Delille was a New Orleans Creole woman born around 1812 who founded the Sisters of the Holy Family, a group comprising free women of color. The order provided nursing care and a home for orphans, slaves, and the elderly, and later established schools as well.
Pope Benedict XVI approved Henriette as “venerable” in 2010. That’s sort of like earning a brown belt in tae kwon do. Should she make it all the way to sainthood, she would be New Orleans’ first saint and her already planned dedication would be the first on U.S. soil.
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