Cleaning out the basement

Until 2006, the basement of the Baltimore Basilica—America’s first cathedral—was filled with sand. It had been that way for years, untouched and unused. But there was a vision: to transform that hidden, forgotten space into something beautiful—a chapel.

So, ton by ton, the sand was removed. The space was cleared, prepared, and finally transformed into the Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel.

It’s a powerful image of the spiritual life.

Each of us has a kind of “basement” within—the hidden places of the heart where we’ve let things accumulate: old wounds, unexamined habits, distractions, and noise. And if we truly desire to make room for God, to build within ourselves a chapel where He can dwell, we must begin by clearing out the clutter.

Only then can Wisdom enter.

Fittingly, the chapel in the Basilica is dedicated to Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom. Mary, who made room for the Word to become flesh, shows us the way. Her life was open space—humble, ready, receptive.

If we want to grow in wisdom—if we want to truly know the Lord and even understand ourselves—we must do the same. We must get out of our own way. Let go of what doesn’t belong. Make space.

Only when the basement is emptied can the chapel be built.