HOLY VIRGIN CATHEDRAL, SAN FRANCISCO – PICTURE GALLERY
BASILICA OF OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION, CUZCO – PICTURE GALLERY
BASILICA OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
Mexico City, Mexico The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe is one of the most important and popular Marian Shrines in the Americas, second only to the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparaceda in Brazil. But it does not stand in the shadow of its rival, and is probably the most visited church in Spanish speaking countries. It is claimed that in December of 2009, the Basilica of Our … [Read more...]
BASILICA OF OUR LADY OF THE PILLAR
Zaragoza, Spain St. Mary Major in Rome may be the most important of all Marian shrines, and Lourdes may be the most famous; but it is the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza that can boast being the oldest church in the world devoted to the Virgin Mary. Dating as far back as the 1st century AD, it commemorates Mary’s miraculous appearance to James the Greater … [Read more...]
BASILICAS OF ST. MARY MAJOR & OUR LADY OF DIVINE LOVE
Rome, Italy Rome is home to a number of churches which are classified as Marian shrines; two of these, the Basilica of St. Mary Major and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Divine Love, are among the most important Catholic churches in the world. Although ranked after St. Peter’s, St. Paul’s and St. John’s Basilicas, both of the churches dedicated to the Virgin Mary are among the … [Read more...]
SANCTUARY OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA
Fatima, Portugal The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima is the most revered Catholic site in Portugal. It stands on the site where a trio of young children witnessed an apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1917. Small compared to the much larger Marian Shrines at Lourdes and Aparecida, it is nevertheless one of the finest 20th century cathedrals in Europe. Although it is perhaps … [Read more...]
BASILICA OF OUR LADY
Knock, Ireland The Basilica of Our Lady in Knock, Ireland is a beloved catholic shrine in a country that takes its Catholic heritage very seriously. It is also the most popular Marian shrine in the British Isles. Like Lourdes, it is famous for a miraculous appearance of the Virgin Mary in the 19th century. Unlike Lourdes, there were many witnesses to the event. After … [Read more...]
SANCTUARY OF LOURDES
Lourdes, France Of the countless Marian shrines around the world, the Massabielle Grotto in Lourdes is the undisputed reigning champion in terms of fame. Every year, millions of pilgrims visit the place where young Bernadette Soubirous saw eighteen visions of the Virgin Mary in 1858. Most come here just to venerate Mary, while many come for the waters of the grotto, which … [Read more...]
BASILICA OF APARECIDA
Aparecida, Brazil The country of Brazil, the most populous in Latin America, is home to the world’s largest population of Catholics. With more than one hundred and twenty million, Brazil is home to over one in every ten Catholics worldwide. It is not surprising that such a large populace would come up with many of its own religious traditions and sacred places. The … [Read more...]
