marys shrine...by a spiritual crisis or when tragedy strikes, we seek help at a church. in prayer we...

MARY’S SHRINEVolume 80, No. 2 Fall/Winter 2019

Our Mother of Africa

» RectoR’s Message

Mary’s ShrineBy Reverend Monsignor Walter R. Rossi, J.C.L.

Since June of 2018, the Catholic Church in the United States has been experiencing a great deal of unrest because of the abuse crises.

The Church has been deeply wounded. Her parishioners, and especially the victims of abuse have been traumatized. The investigations of the Attorneys General across the country, the Pennsylvania Grand Jury report, new revelations of abuse, and the personal and professional failures on the part of some in leadership, have caused some people to stop going to church. Others have discontinued their financial support. We, the Church, must acknowledge and address the suffering of the victims as well as our own pain with the care and comfort found only in Jesus. We seek justice; we pray for healing.

Thankfully, in the midst of this great darkness, there is light. It is seen every day in those faithful members of the Church who continue to place their faith in the grace of God as experienced in the sacraments. The simple fact that Mass attendance at Mary’s Shrine has not diminished over the past year is a clear testimony that our faith is our strength. As Archbishop Wilton Gregory said in his homily during his installation Mass here at the National Shrine, “our shame and our sorrow, do not define us.”

Visitors and pilgrims to Mary’s Shrine have been truly wonderful, offering words of support and the promise of prayer. The many decades of horrific deeds and actions will take many years to be reconciled and healed. Please keep storming heaven with your prayers!

Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, observes, “Shrines are like ‘sacraments’ of a Church that is a field hospital” … where God’s faithful people, who “in the midst of tribulation,” ... “continue to seek the source of living water that renews our hope.” Within the sanctuaries of Marian shrines, “we come to the feet of our Mother ... to let her gaze upon us ... bringing us to Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6).” Here at the National Shrine, as at every shrine, our Lady “watches over us

and makes intercession” for each of us (Homily, June 1, 2019).

When confronted by a medical crisis, we seek help at a hospital. So too, when confronted by a spiritual crisis or when tragedy strikes, we seek help at a church. In prayer we find our strength and our solace, confident in God’s help. One need only recall the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, or the senseless acts of violence in churches, synagogues, mosques, and schools. In these incomprehensible moments of grief and tragedy, prayer is our constant, our buckler and shield, our sure foundation.

On September 23, 2020, we will mark the centenary of the placing of the foundation stone of the National Shrine. Located in the Crypt Church, in what is now the Oratory of Our Lady of Antipolo, this stone was set with great solemnity on September 23, 1920, by Cardinal James Gibbons of Baltimore. (At that time, Washington, D.C. belonged to the Archdiocese of Baltimore.)

The sermon on that day was given by the Most Reverend John T. McNicholas, O.P., of Duluth, a former student of the founder of the National Shrine, Bishop Thomas Shahan, who was known for his commanding influence and gift of oratory. Following the placement and blessing of the stone, Bishop McNicholas spoke of the need for devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary: “The nations need Mary Immaculate because they need Christ, and it is through Mary that Christ can most surely be brought back to them. The entire human race was hopelessly beyond the power of restoration when Christ came upon earth. No human agency could have reconstructed society … Through Christ, and only through Him, was man in the first instance restored. Through Christ alone can all society in every age again be restored.”

“O Mary, Our Blessed Mother, the family of nations needs thy Divine Son.”

One hundred years later, the words of Bishop McNicholas still ring true. Amid all of the brokenness we experience as a Church and as a society, it is only the Lord Jesus who can

Bach

rach

M a r y ’s S h r i n e v F a l l / W i n t e r 2 0 1 9

restore all. But we, the members of His body, must also take the necessary steps to safeguard all members of the Church, especially the most vulnerable. Among these steps we are “to come to the feet of our Mother” seeking her intercession before the Lord. It is in the power of our united prayer that we can conquer the evil that surrounds us.

In his address to the bishops of the United States during their June assembly, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, advised, “we cannot afford to lose our many important initiatives and good works in the long, dark shadow cast by our problems. As we, the Church, are purified of wickedness and evil, let us not forget to be bold in proclaiming that so much of what we do is

good and right” (Address, June 11, 2019).

The good works of prayer, devotion, pilgrimage, the celebration of the Sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation, together with our ministry to all who come to us in need, spiritual as well as physical, have been the center of our existence at Mary’s Shrine. For the last ninety-nine years, the National Shrine has been a place of prayer, a haven of hope.

As we look toward our centenary celebration in 2020, we pledge to continue our service to God’s people. With the help of Mary Immaculate, our patroness, we pledge to “continue to seek the source of living water that renews our hope,” as those who cross our threshold “come to the feet of our Mother,” and in so doing, are brought closer to her Son, Jesus. ❦

National Shrine Welcomes New Chairman

On May 21, 2019, as Archbishop Wilton Gregory was installed

as the seventh archbishop of Washington, he also became the Chairman of the National Shrine Board of Trustees.

Archbishop Gregory is no stranger to the National Shrine. For the past thirteen years, he has been a member of the National Shrine Board of Trustees and has served as the chair of our Liturgy and Music Committee. Archbishop Gregory will bring a new era of leadership to the National Shrine as we prepare for the future, including the celebration of our centennial anniversary in 2020, as America’s Catholic Church.

We are delighted to welcome Archbishop Gregory and invite you to keep the

Archbishop in your prayers in his new ministry to the faithful of the Archdiocese of Washington and to each of us here at Mary’s Shrine. As our Holy Father, Pope Francis, reminded the new archbishops on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, “the shepherds do not live for themselves but for the sheep,” Archbishop Gregory will certainly need the prayerful support of us, his sheep.

We at Mary’s Shrine entrust Archbishop Gregory and you to the intercession of Mary Immaculate!

We also take this opportunity to thank Cardinal Donald Wuerl, who served as Chairman of the National Shrine Board of Trustees during his tenure as Archbishop of Washington since 2006. Every blessing! ❦


Archbishop Wilton Gregory

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, a Catholic church dedicated to the patroness of our nation, is a place of worship, pilgrimage, evangelization and reconciliation. It offers visitors the occasion for a deepening conversion, a step forward in the journey to God, with Mary as the model for that journey. This monumental church, raised by Catholics of the United States because of their devotion to Mary the Mother of God, gives visibility to their faith and Catholic heritage. Mary’s Shrine invites people from across the country and beyond into the saving moment of faith, hope and charity, so that they may be reconciled and transformed into living symbols of Christ’s presence in the world. It is here that the faithful gather to worship God, give honor to Mary, and are sent to spread God’s word wherever they go. ❦

MISSION STATEMENT

Archbishop Gregory Installed

Phot

os b

y: A

rchd

ioce

se o

f Was

hing

ton

The Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory was installed as the seventh Archbishop

of Washington at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on May 21, 2019, before a congregation of more than 3,000 of the faithful who gathered in the Great Upper Church.

Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States and Personal Representative of the Holy Father, read the Apostolic Mandate in which Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Gregory Metropolitan Ordinary of Washington, releasing him from the Archdiocese of Atlanta where he had served since 2005.

With the mandate came an Apostolic Blessing from the Holy Father which read, “Venerable Brother…we implore Almighty God to grace you before His people with the virtues of apostolic service, so that, together with the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, you may carry this Flock in the same loving manner that a man carries his child.”

In the decree, Pope Francis also exhorted the clergy and people of the Archdiocese of Washington to welcome Archbishop Gregory “as a father to be loved, a teacher to be heeded, and a guardian of souls to be supported.”

Archbishop Gregory accepted the Apostolic Mandate and was then presented with a crosier, the sign of his pastoral office as the new shepherd of the Archdiocese of Washington. He was warmly received with a standing ovation and sustained applause.

During his homily, Archbishop Gregory recalled the solemn promise he made, when, having served as a priest since 1973, he was called to serve as an Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago in 1983, then later as Bishop of Belleville in 1993.

His promise was “to live in union with and in obedience to the one who occupies the Chair of Peter.” He continued, “I happily, readily, resolutely renew that promise today as I accept the appointment of Pope Francis to the extraordinary See of Washington.”

Archbishop Gregory acknowledged, however, that, “Today…we begin a journey together on undeniably choppy seas,” likening it to the day’s Gospel reading (Mark 4:35-41) in which the disciples were terrified during a violent squall as waves were breaking over and filling their boat.

“We have been tossed about by an unusually turbulent moment in our own faith journeys

recently and for far too long,” he said, admitting, “We clerics and hierarchs have irrefutably been the source of this current tempest.”

But, just as Jesus calmed the seas, “He will calm and steady His Church,” Archbishop Gregory said, explaining that, “Jesus is in the boat with us during tempestuous times...He is here...the One whom even wind and sea obey has never left our side.”

Speaking to his new flock, Archbishop Gregory said, “I arrive in this indescribably humbling moment of my life filled with deep gratitude, immeasurable joy and unwavering confidence that the Risen Lord who has guided my voyage will remain beside me as I begin my service to the People of God in the Archdiocese of Washington.”

Asking God to bless the Archdiocese of Washington, Archbishop Gregory concluded, “Be assured of my prayers for you even as I ask for yours for me!” ❦

Archbishop Gregory receives the crosier during the Mass of Installation.


Archbishop Gregory greets his new flock.

Mat

thew

Bar

rick

On April 26, 2019, more than 2,000 people gathered for Together with Notre-Dame de Paris, a benefit concert

organized by the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and the Embassy of France in the United States.

Held in the Great Upper Church of the Basilica, the event was free and open to the public. Freewill offerings were accepted at the door to support the restoration of the iconic cathedral in Paris, which like Mary’s Shrine is dedicated to Our Lady.

The concert featured the Choir of the Basilica and Johann Vexo, the Notre Dame organist who was playing the organ during evening Mass when the devastating fire broke out at the Cathedral on April 15.

Broadcast and livestreamed across the United States, in France, and around the world, the concert may still be viewed online on the National Shrine’s YouTube Channel located at www.youtube.com/marysshrine.

The National Shrine continues to welcome donations through a special online collection at www.SupportNotreDame.org to directly support the restoration of the Cathedral of Notre Dame.

In honor of the 35th anniversary of official diplomatic relations between the United States and the Holy See, Her Excellency

Callista Gingrich, U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, invited the Choir of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception to the Eternal City in May 2019 to help mark this significant milestone.

The Choir of the Basilica provided sacred music for a special Mass of Thanksgiving at the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls on May 7;

Notre Dame de Paris: A Benefit Concert

Basilica Choir Honors U.S.-Vatican Anniversary

Johann Vexo, Notre Dame organist, plays during the benefit concert at the National Shrine.

Monsignor Walter Rossi, Rector of the Basilica, has invited Monseigneur Patrick Chauvet, Rector-Archpriest of Notre Dame, to Mary’s Shrine so that he may personally present the collective donations and prayers of America’s Catholic Church to Our Lady’s Cathedral in Paris. Stay tuned for an upcoming announcement in this regard. ❦


performed a special concert at the Basilica of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva on May 8; and, on May 10, sang for the Rite of Blessing and dedication of Mater Ecclesiae, a new statue gifted to the Vatican Gardens to commemorate the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and the Holy See.

Ambassador Gingrich, a one-time member of the Basilica Choir, remarked that, “It is fitting that the Choir of the Basilica is here this week to help us celebrate our 35th Anniversary. The Choir, like our Embassy, is engaged in a special kind of diplomacy. The members of the Choir, in many ways are spiritual ambassadors of the Basilica.

“While we work to advance peace, freedom, and human dignity around the world,” Ambassador Gingrich continued, “the Choir works to transform the hearts and minds of pilgrims, far and wide, through the power and beauty of music.”

Ambassador Gingrich thanked Monsignor Walter Rossi, Rector of the Basilica, Dr. Peter Latona, Director of Music, and the Choir of the Basilica for making the weeklong celebration of this historic anniversary so meaningful and memorable. ❦

Upcoming Pilgrimages to Mary’s ShrineSeptember 7 Indian American

Catholic Association October 19 Archdiocese of Philadelphia

September 8 Croatian Catholic Community October 26 Archdiocese of Newark

September 14 Marian Rosary Congress November 2 International Day of Prayer and Fasting

September 28 Mother of Africa December 7 Haitian Catholic Community

October 5 Diocese of Wilmington December 14 Archdiocese of Washington Our Lady of Guadalupe

October 12 Diocese of Richmond January 23-24 National Prayer Vigil for Life

Next year will mark 100 years since the laying of the cornerstone of the National Shrine. As we prepare to commemorate

our centenary year, we will also be celebrating you and the millions of other Catholics and visitors around the globe who have contributed to Mary’s Shrine over the last century.

As Christian stewards, the gifts God bestows on all of us in His infinite generosity are to be shared with others. Through your own generosity, those gifts are magnified and returned to the Lord. All of us at Mary’s Shrine are honored and grateful you choose to support the ministry of America’s Catholic Church. Thank you! We, therefore, thought you might be interested in knowing some of the ways over the past century in which your gifts to the Shrine have been used and how we have returned to the Lord the generosity you and many others have shown to the Shrine.

To begin, the cornerstone of the Shrine itself was donated to the National Shrine! Yet, fundraising for the magnificent Shrine dedicated to Our Lady began years earlier. Initial support helped erect the Crypt Church, in which the first public Mass was celebrated on Easter Sunday, 1924.

Construction began on the Great Upper Church in 1955. Donations by hardworking Americans funded many aspects of the project such as hiring brick masons and carpenters, assembling the immense scaffolding, and purchasing necessary materials such as concrete, bricks, and the magnificent Botticino marble that adorns and supports the structure.

More recently, in September of 2015, Mary’s Shrine was honored to host our Holy Father, Pope Francis, for the Mass and Canonization of Saint Junípero Serra on the East Portico, the first-ever canonization to take place on American soil. Your support assisted us in co-hosting this historic event.

One Hundred Years of Giving

In 2017, donations from people across the country enabled us to complete the magnificent Trinity Dome Mosaic. This tremendous work of art brought to completion the construction of the Great Upper Church, which began more than sixty years prior. Every dollar raised for the completion of the Trinity Dome went directly to its construction, and if you have not seen it, we encourage you to visit the Shrine and appreciate this masterpiece in person.

In addition to these important projects, your donations also fund basic necessities, such as purchasing candles and liturgical vestments, paying the electric bill each month, and maintaining this magnificent and sacred place. Literally, your continuing support helps Mary’s Shrine keep the lights on as a tool of ministry and evangelization for our nation.

Mary’s Shrine is a unique place of excellence and great majestic beauty. It is America’s Catholic Church and, as you can see, our leadership and staff take seriously the trust you put in us with every sacrificial donation you make to Mary’s Shrine.

Thank you once again for your prayers and support. Mary’s Shrine is here because of your support over the last 100 years and, with your support, we look forward to bringing the light of Christ and hope of Our Lady to our nation and to visitors from around the world for the next 100 years and beyond. ❦

Arch

ival

pho

to

Laying the Conerstone in 1920.


September 14 Marian Rosary Congress Pilgrimage Mass 2:00 pm

October 4 Worldwide Children’s Eucharistic Holy Hour 10:00 am

November 1 The Solemn Mass of All Saints 12 noonNovember 2 Concert for the Commemoration of All Souls 7:30 pmDecember 9 The Solemn Mass of the Immaculate Conception 12 noonDecember 24 Choral Meditations/Solemn Mass of Christmas Eve 10:00 pmDecember 25 The Solemn Mass of Christmas 12 noonDecember 25 Spanish Christmas Mass (EWTN Español) 2:30 pmJanuary 23 National Prayer Vigil for Life Opening Mass 5:30 pmJanuary 24 National Prayer Vigil for Life Closing Mass 7:30 amJanuary 28 CUA Mass in Honor of Saint Thomas Aquinas 12:10 pm

Upcoming Basilica Broadcasts on EWTN (all times Eastern)


1909 Society Recognitions

Joayn and Stephen BahrMr. and Mrs. Robert and Kathleen BakerMr. Harry K. BallantyneMr. and Mrs. Dwayne Bellow and FamilyMr. and Mrs. Robert D. BolanMr. and Mrs. Joseph J. BroganMs. Florence T. ChloeMrs. Suzanne CobbMr. and Mrs. Thomas L. CrovoMr. James J. DillonJeff and Michele DodsonDr. Maureen B. DoyleMr. John F. DurbinMr. and Mrs. George V. EggeFrank and Carolyn EwasyshynMs. C. Tutty FairbanksMr. Gerald P. Curran and Mrs. Nida Fe Bitoin – CurranMr. John GagliardoJack and Georgie GibbsClara A. GorskiMr. John W. HartCol. and Mrs. Michael J. Healy, USA Ret.Capt. Deborah Ann Hinkley, USN Ret.Mr. and Mrs. Kevin HughesMs. Clara HungerMr. and Mrs. David and Annette IngramMr. Ryan IsraelGuan-Kooi JimMs. L.K. JonesGeorge Kalinski, Col. USA Ret.Ms. Nancy Kearney

Ms. Kathleen KeenanMrs. Sharon KellerMs. Mary Pat KenlonMr. and Mrs. Dan KrumenakerElizabeth C. KurianMrs. Regina C. LancasterMs. Joan LewisMs. Margaret LiebertonMr. and Mrs. Frank LiebschMr. Ronald G. MacalaMr. and Mrs. Joseph M. MattoneSally and Patrick McAleerMr. and Mrs. Michael and Theresa McCueMr. and Mrs. Sean McGinnMcGonigle FamilyJeffrey McGovern and FamilyStephen and Debra McGregorMr. Mark J. McKnightMr. Robert E. McLaughlin, Sr.Rev. Msgr. James W. McLoughlinDr. Robert T. Means, Jr.Mr. and Mrs. Albert MladineoCol. and Mrs. Douglas and Cathy MorrisonChristopher and Maureen MuchaCarolyn F. MuellerMs. Theresa M. NewmanMr. Vincent H. NoconMr. and Mrs. Jeff and Mary NoonanChief (Sir) Godwin N.P. Onukaogu CJS (KofC)Ms. Kimberly OttCol. Julius D. Pantalone, USA Ret.Mr. Vincent A. PariseMr. and Mrs. Steven and Nancy Payne

Members of the 1909 Society generously provide financial resources to maintain the National Shrine throughout the year and in perpetuity, in loving and everlasting tribute to Mary Immaculate. For more information, please visit www.nationalshrine.com/1909society.

Mrs. Rosalba PerezMrs. Teresa L. PhilippyDr. Christopher PojeMr. John PtakMr. and Mrs. Mark J. ReddingMr. Peter A. RichardsonMr. Paul G. RomanekMs. Virginia RoscoeMs. Nancy S. SappingtonMr. and Mrs. Robert E. and Penny G. SchaferMrs. Mary E. SchmitzMr. and Mrs. Joseph and Elaine ScuderiMs. Angela ShieldsMr. Jerome E. StauberMr. James J. StoneThomas F.P. SullivanMr. and Mrs. Salvador T. TarrozaThe Deehan, Bisch, and Garner FamiliesMrs. Margaret J. TroneMs. Lily TuMr. Richard L. VogelMr. and Mrs. Kevin W. VollbrachtMs. Linda WaksmunskiMr. and Mrs. Richard B. WalkerMr. and Mrs. Scott WatkinsMs. Rosemarie S. WeberMrs. Loretta WilsonDr. and Mrs. Rudolph and Mavis WolfMs. Judy WoodsonMr. and Mrs. James and Carol WybleMr. and Mrs. Richard C. Zwierko

M a r y ’s S h r i n e v F a l l 2 0 1 9

The custom of blessing is as old as creation itself. In the book of Genesis, we read that at the end of each “day,”

God blessed the work. Thus, on the third day, God created “the dry land, ‘Earth,’ … [and] God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:10-12). All was made holy. There are many types of blessings; among them, blessings for churches and the land upon which they stand. This blessing designates the structure and the acreage for divine service and creates a distinct spiritual relationship; an abiding quality of sacredness. The church and the land are made inviolably sacred.

A Question of LocationIn 1885, Walter S. Perry (trustee for the Middletons) and Mary V. Middleton recorded a deed of sale to James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, for a 62-acre tract of land known as “Turkey Thicket.” This purchase was part of the effort of the American bishops of the Roman Catholic Church to establish a graduate school for the “sacred sciences” in Washington, D.C. that would rival similar institutions of Europe.

The wisdom of this purchase—not the land but its location—came into question two years later. Situated three or four miles from the “heart of the city,” it was considered “incon-venient” and too far outside of the city of Washington, D.C. Earlier maps and publications occasionally referred to this part of the District as “the northeast frontier,” with Boundary Road (Florida Avenue, NE), marking the limits of the city. Further objections were raised because of the proximity of the acreage to the cattle yards of the B & O Railroad that formed its eastern boundary (now the Metro line). Consequently, there was talk of selling the estate and purchasing a tract of land closer to downtown. Consideration was also given to property just east of Howard

University but its proximity to Glenwood Cemetery and other burial grounds made it similarly unpleasant. The location question was thoroughly discussed both privately and, with the help of the press, publicly. During their fall meeting of 1887, the bishop trustees agreed

to retain the Middleton estate in northeast D.C. and proceed with the original plan.

The city was growing and within two years, the ex-tension of the “Eckington electric railway” (street-car) up Fourth Street to Michigan Avenue, would open up the area previ-ously tagged as “unavail-able property.” With the extension of the streetcar line came the addition of streetlights, another sign of urbanization. To enable further access, the bishops planned to give the B&O Railroad “sufficient ground” for the construc-

tion of “a handsome depot,” Cardinal Station, which, in February of 1978, would become the Brookland/CUA station on the Metro Red Line. Such improvements aided in the development of the surrounding community of “Brookland.” Whether by chance or just shrewd business, the 1887 development of the adjacent 134 acres of the estate of Colonel Jehiel Brooks, in tandem with the rise of “little Rome,” was a venture that would and did pay well. During the commencement exercises of June 1909,

The Blessing of the LandGeraldine M. Rohling, Ph.D., M.A.Ed.

Archivist-Curator


Gera

ldin

e M

. Roh

ling

1890 Map

BNSI

C Ar

chiv

esCreation, Mary Reardon (1973)

Rector Thomas J. Shahan noted, “the university found Northeast Washington an undeveloped section of the city. Gradually this section has de-veloped [in tandem with the university] … until Brookland … was rightly accounted among the most desirable parts of our beautiful city.”

The Gaffe of the SecretaryIn 1910, Rev. Patrick J. Waters of Boston, a Ph.D. candidate appointed to the Anna Hope Hudson Fellowship in Philosophy, became the private secretary to Rector Shahan. One day in the spring of 1911, Shahan invited Waters to go for a walk. As they wandered about the grounds admiring the beauty, Shahan told Waters of his plan to “erect a beautiful national shrine.” In a letter written some fifty years later, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Waters sheepishly admitted that he “tried to discourage” Shahan by saying “there were already beautiful churches in Baltimore and Washington,” and suggested a smaller project, “a church for students.” Shahan, ever the visionary, had his mind set on a magnificent shrine modeled after similar churches in Europe. In this same letter, Waters stated that Shahan pointed out to him the site he had chosen for this magnificent church. Once again, the young cleric expressed his opposition claiming that the location “was too near the road and there would be no room for lawns or landscaping.” The “kid” was 0 for 2. Whether it was because of this discussion or the needs of his archbishop, that June, Waters was recalled to Boston to join the faculty of the archdiocesan seminary. Mr. Leo F. Olds, the brother of Rev. Alonzo J.Olds, pastor of St. Augustine’s Church and the found-er of the Sanctuary Choir of the parish, replaced him. Olds was enthusiastic about the project. Sadly, Olds resigned in 1915 for health reasons; he died two years later (39). Rev. Bernard A. McKenna of Philadelphia, a former student of Shahan and alumnus of the university, was then appointed secretary “with a special view to the work of the National Shrine.” The saying “third times the charm” could never have been truer. McKenna became Shahan’s right-hand-man; the most devoted champion of the National Shrine and Bishop Shahan, and the first director of the National Shrine.

The location for the National Shrine, however, was not as cut and dry as Msgr. Waters seemed

to imply. Frederick V. Murphy, who Shahan chose to establish the school of architec-ture, stated in a 1957 interview that Msgr. Edward A. Pace, the first dean of the School of Philosophy, offered to donate some property located on Fort Totten Hill, the location of one of the Civil War defenses that encircled the city. He added the suggestion that the Brothers of Mary from Dayton, Ohio, might also be approached about selling some of their property at that location. Shahan however, felt that the church needed to be on the premises of the university not only for the students but also for administrative reasons.

Another proposed location was where the John K. Mullen of Denver Memorial Library stands today. A detail from a 1914 lithograph shows the “university cathedral” at the center of the campus. This plan was developed by Murphy at the request of Shahan. According to Murphy, it was at this time that the idea of a “crypt church” came into focus, as it would fill in “the hollow space at the site.”

The perfect location was yet to be found. A preliminary survey of the campus grounds was made. The Olmsted Brothers, landscape

architects from Brookline, Massachusetts, made a careful study of the survey and recommended the location where the National Shrine stands today. Frederick regarded this location as central to the university and the surrounding scholasticates and religious houses, all of which would serve and be served by the Shrine.

Even though the chosen site was on level ground, the idea of a “crypt church” had taken hold. This had a major impact on the architectural style and which part of the Shrine would first be constructed.

On 8 January 1919, the Committee on the National Shrine listed the names of eight architects for the job and discussed

BNSI

C Ar

chiv

es


1914 Murphy-Olmsted Plan

BNSI

C Ar

chiv

es


The Blessing of the Land


the qualifications of each: John T. Comès, Pittsburgh; Henry Dandurand Dagit (Henry D. Dagit & Sons), Philadelphia; Edward T. P. Graham, Boston; Charles R. Greco, Boston; F. Burrall Hoffman, New York and Florida; Charles D. Maginnis (Maginnis and Walsh), Brookline; Paul Monaghan, Philadelphia; Frederick V. Murphy (Murphy & Olmsted), Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia. Each nominee was esteemed in the field of church architecture. In the end, the minutes would record that by “unanimous consent,” the committee favored “a Romanesque Church” and recommended “Mr. Charles Maginnis of Boston ... as the architect of the building” with Mr. Frederick V. Murphy as associate architect. That same year, plans for the National Shrine presented by Charles Maginnis were approved and adopted at the December meeting of the Board of Trustees. The bishop trustees further authorized the Building Committee to select the material and award the contract for the con-struction of “the Crypt of the apse at the cost of $280,000 more or less.” (This would be a little more than $3.5 million in 2019.) The location was also finalized. As platted by the Olmsted Brothers on 28 June 1919, the Shrine would be located at “the western side of the University property, parallel with Harewood Avenue (Road) and five hundred feet from Michigan Avenue.”

1919 Olmsted Brothers Plan

Following a concerted effort to acquire the necessary funds to begin construction, includ-ing papal approval, a papal blessing, and even a papal donation, plans were made for the actual work to begin. As with all things, it would begin “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

The Blessing of the SiteOn Sunday morning, 16 May 1920, at 9:00 a.m. more than 6,000 persons, including a delega-tion of 1500 Knights of Columbus from New York City and 600 members of the New York Chapter of the Daughters of Isabella, attended an open air Mass and the blessing of the site for the future National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. An al fresco breakfast and lunch were provided for all who attended the event.

1920 Knights of Columbus

Archbishop Giovanni Bonzano, the Apostolic Delegate to the United States, was the celebrant. After blessing the site, Archbishop Bonzano removed the cope and prepared for Mass by donning the vestments worn by Archbishop John Carroll, the father of the American hierarchy.

Mass was celebrated on a small wooden altar built in 1774 and used by Father Carroll at the family home at Forest Glen near Rock Creek in Maryland, until his elevation to the See of Baltimore in 1789. This treasured artifact became the main altar in the Crypt Church beginning with the celebration of the first public Mass on Easter Sunday, 20 April 1924, until the installa-tion of the onyx altar in honor of Our Lady of the Catacombs (Mary Memorial Altar) in 1927.

The chalice used on this day was the first vessel made specifically for the National Shrine. It was also used at the first public Mass in the Crypt Church and on 8 December 2017, at the bless-ing of The Trinity dome mosaic, which marked the completion of the interior of the National Shrine. In addition to its use at such historical celebrations, the chalice is part of the daily rota-tion of sacred vessels used at the National Shrine.

BNSI

C Ar

chiv

es

BNSI

C Ar

chiv

es

M a r y ’s S h r i n e v F a l l 2 0 1 9 M a r y ’s S h r i n e v F a l l / W i n t e r 2 0 1 9

Blessing of the Site

The outdoor sanctuary was situated within the outline of the Shrine that was marked by white cord strung along a series of stakes. American flags marked the angles and turns in the exterior walls. The altar stood on the spot where the baldachin altar in honor of the Immaculate Conception now stands in the Great Upper Church.

Following the Mass, Bishop Thomas J. Shahan addressed the gathering. “At the present time,” said Shahan, “when the modern world is ... given over to corruption and impurity of various kinds ... a shrine to the Immaculate Conception” is needed more than ever.

A choir of 487 voices provided the music for the solemn occasion. In addition to members of the various religious communities, 100 children from St. Vincent’s Orphan Asylum, located just south of the Shrine, were also numbered among the singers. The Rev. Dr. A. L. Gabert, professor of Plain Chant, was the director.

Entrance Procession

In addition to the blessing of the site, Archbishop Bonzano also blessed a statue of Joan of Arc, who was canonized in Rome concurrently. The fate of this statue is unknown. In addition to the statue, the National Shrine also received a stone from the dungeon where Saint Joan was imprisoned until her death. The stone is displayed in the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Leading the liturgical procession that day was a cross bearer and two candle bearers, one of whom was a young priest (indicated in photo with an arrow), ordained just eight months earlier in Peoria, Illinois.

At that time, Reverend Fulton John Sheen was a theology student at the university. In his auto-biography, Treasure in Clay, Archbishop Sheen recounted a meeting with the “brilliant, gifted, saintly rector” who saw in this young priest, someone “destined to shed … light and luster.” The relationship that began that day between this young priest and the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception was to last more than a lifetime. A life-long friend of the Shrine, the broadcasts of Fulton J. Sheen from the Crypt Church, Masses and sermons in the Great Upper Church, whether nationally televised or not, contributed much to its growth.

1964 Midnight Mass

In 1989, friends and benefactors installed a marble and hand-carved wood lectern in the Crypt Church as a tribute to the memory of this man of rhetorical and philosophical eloquence. On July 6, Pope Francis approved the miracle attributed to the intercession of Venerable Fulton J. Sheen. The date of his beatification is yet to be determined.

Pilgrims and visitors are encouraged to come to the National Shrine, to walk the historic and beautiful grounds and gardens, to visit the shrines of the world under this one roof, and to pause and remember the thousands of faithful souls, the true Body of Christ, who have made and continue to make this church and this land inviolably sacred.

“God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning …” (Genesis 1:31). ❦

BNSI

C Ar

chiv

es

BNSI

C Ar

chiv

es

BNSI

C Ar

chiv

es


GIFTS from MARY’S SHRINE

use attached order form or call toll-free 1-800-333-4411

All proceeds from your purchases of Mary's Shrine directly support the mission and ministry of the Basilica. Thank you for your support!

Beautiful Nativity Bracelet 703 Handmade in USA this bracelet

features Baby Jesus in the Manger and cross charms, glass beads and toggle closure. Fits 7 1/2” Comes boxed with message card “Wisemen still seek Him” $45.95

Advent Wreath and Candles 704 Celebrate the Advent Season with

this The Holy Family Candle Holder 10” long $79.95

705 Set of 4 tapers in traditional colors, 3 purple and 1 pink. Comes boxed (not shown) $7.95

2020 Mary and the Saints Wall Calendar700 Designed to inspire

greater devotion to The Blessed Mother every day of the year and contains special feasts and is marked with days of Fasting, special Saints Days, and the Sundays of the Liturgical Year for both the Ordinary and Extraordinary Calendars. $14.95

Glass Ornaments Feature traditional Catholic images on both sides. 4" discs $14.95ea 701 Holy Family 702 Madonna & Child

Tiny Bell Nativity 706 Red Bell with pewter nativity

inside. 3” $12.95

2020 St. Joseph Sunday Missal 709 A complete annual Sunday

Missal with each Sunday’s Prayers, Readings, Responses for the calendar year and the Masses for Holy Days. $5.95

Through the Year with Fulton Sheen Book710 The master storyteller and

preacher shares words of encouragement, counsel and direction for each day of the year. $16.95

Delicate Our Lady Charm Bracelet 711 4mm beads and tiny charms are gold plated

over sterling. Fits 7½” $29.95

Madonna and Child Christmas Cards707 Share the Advent and Christmas

season with your friends and family with this beautiful card. Verse inside: May you keep in your heart the miracle of Christmas today and forever. Box has 18 cards and envelopes $18.00

Immaculate Heart of Mary and Child Jesus Tapestry Pouch 708 Will hold your rosary and holy cards

perfectly. $14.95



Immaculate Waters Soaps and Lotions made with Lourdes Grotto Water Follow the words of Our Lady to St. Bernadette: “Go to the spring, drink of it and wash yourself there.”720 Lavender Bar Soap 4oz $6.95721 Lavender Hand and Body Lotion 8oz $12.95722 Lavender Liquid Soap 8oz $12.95723 Rose Bar Soap 4oz $6.95724 Rose Hand and Body Lotion 8oz $12.95725 Rose Liquid Soap 8oz $12.95726 Rose Spritzer 4oz $9.95727 Lavender Spritzer 4oz $9.95

Song of Angel Christmas Cards 728 Share the Advent and

Christmas season beautiful card with artwork by William Bouguereau. Verse inside: In His birth we are blessed, in His name we rejoice at Christmas and all through the year. Each Box has 18 cards and envelopes. $18.00

Visit our NatioNal shriNe shops Website at WWW.NatioNalshriNeshops.com

Glass Pearl Bracelet712 Is made with cross charm and a dainty

crystal “ruby” drop accent. “Her worth is more than rubies and pearls.”(Proverbs 31:10) message card included. $39.95

Tiny Bead Rosary Necklace and Scapular Bracelet This delicate rosary features Our Lady of Grace center. The Scapular bracelet fits 7-8”. Both are gold plated over sterling. 713 Rosary Necklace $36.95714 Scapular Bracelet $21.95

Love does not measure Tshirt 715 Mother Teresa quote on 100% cotton.

Sizes SMLXL $29.95

Know Thyself 716 is an invaluable resource.

Adapted from Rev. Fr. Cajetan da Bergamo's classic Humility of Heart and supplemented with writings from the saints and powerful scripture passages. Hardcover $24.95

Sterling Crystal Miraculous Necklace 719 Wear it as a reminder of the

Graces of Our Lady 18” $79.95

Our Daily Red Stemless Wine Glass 717 15oz $14.95

Forgive me Father Stemless Wine Glass 718 15oz $14.95

Please visit our website at nationalshrineshops.com


use attached order form or call toll-free 1-800-333-4411

Madonna of the Roses Christmas Cards 734 Artwork by William Bouguereau. Verse

inside: At Christmas, we remember God’s precious gifts of his own Son and of the Mystical Rose, His Mother. Box has 18 cards and envelopes. $18.00

Little Nativity Statue 737 A sweet gift for children of

all ages. Made of resin. 4x5” $34.95

St Teresa of Calcutta Love Does Not Measure Mug738 11oz. $9.95

Jesus Me and My Christmas Tree Board Book 735 Adorable illustrations and playful

rhyming text bring the story of Jesus’ birth alive for young children. This board book, die-cut in the shape of the tree is a perfect gift to help little ones understand “How the Christmas tree is connected to Jesus’ birth.” $6.99

Kneeling Santa Ornament736 That at the name of Jesus every

knee shall bow. This ornament represents this scripture. 3” $14.95

St Nicholas Tiny Saint 733 Clips on

anywhere for a cute little gift. $5.95

St Michael Tiny Saint 739 Clips on

anywhere for a cute little gift. $5.95

Our Lady of Guadalupe Rosary 729 in a lovely box is made of

rose scented wood beads and resin roses with an Our Lady of Guadalupe center. $24.95

Tiny Angel Ornament 730 Clear Krystal Angel 3” $9.95

Please visit our website at nationalshrineshops.com

St Michael Socks 740 Adult St Michael Socks – one size fits all $14.95741 Kids St Michael Socks – one size fits all $11.95

St Nicholas Socks make a wonderful gift for adults and kids alike.

731 Adult St Nicholas Socks one size fits all $14.95

732 Kids St Nicholas Socks one size fits all $11.95

Visit our NatioNal shriNe shops Website at WWW.NatioNalshriNeshops.com


St Benedict Socks 750 Adult St Benedict Socks

one size fits $14.95751 Kids St Benedict Socks

one size fits $11.95

St Benedict Cross Pint Glass 747 16oz $7.95

Good Morning This is God Mug 755 Reads “I will be handling all

your problems today.” 15oz $9.95

St Joan of Arc Socks 753 Adult St Joan of Arc Socks

one size fits all $14.95754 Kids St Joan of Arc Socks $11.95

Aqua 8mm Crystal Stretch Bracelet 756 Made with floral crystal accent beads,

miraculous medal and crucifix charms. Made in Italy. $29.95

L’Innocence Christmas Cards 757 Share the Advent and Christmas season

with your friends and family with artwork by William Bouguereau. Verse inside: May this Christmas season fill you with peace and touch you with God’s Love.Each Box has 18 cards and envelopes. $18.00

Serenity Angel Figurine 752 A helpful reminder for yourself

or a friend. 4” $9.95

Home Rules Tapestry 748 Wall hanging to teach us how

to Love-One-Another 13x18" $14.95

I was Born to Do This TShirt 749 Quote from St. Joan of Arc. SMLXL $29.95

Saint Benedict Rosary 742 Multi colored crystal and boxed with

explanation of the Benedictine medal. $24.95

Murano Glass Cross Necklace 743 Each one is slightly

different and Made in Italy. 18” chain $49.95

Saint Benedict Charm Stretch Bracelets 744 Opalescence $14.95745 Light Blue $14.95746 Charcoal $14.95

con for sliece af

No

npro

fit O

rgan

izat

ion

U.S

. Po

stag

e

PAID

Bas

ilica

of

the

Nat

iona

l Shr

ine

of

the

Imm

acul

ate

Co

ncep

tion

Bas

ilic

a of

th

e N

atio

nal

Shri

neof

th

e Im

mac

ulat

e C

once

ptio

n40

0 M

ichi

gan

Ave

nue

NE

Was

hing

ton,

DC

200

17

Leaving a Legacy Remembering the National Shrine in Your Will

A publication of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

Reverend Monsignor Walter R. RossiRectoR

Reverend Monsignor Vito A. BuonannoDiRectoR of PilgRimages

Reverend Michael D. WestonDiRectoR of lituRgy

Reverend Raymond A. Lebrun, O.M.I.sPiRitual DiRectoR

Jacquelyn HayesDiRectoR of communications & eDitoR

Location 400 Michigan Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20017 Tel: 202-526-8300 Fax: 202-526-8313 [email protected] www.nationalshrine.org

Shrine Hours 7 am - 7 pm (April - October) 7 am - 6 pm (November - March)

Sunday Masses 5:15 pm (Saturday Vigil) 7:30 am, 9 am, 10:30 am 12 noon (Solemn Mass with Choir) 1:30 pm (Spanish) 4:30 pm

Sunday Confessions 10 am - 12 noon 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm (Spanish) 2 pm - 4 pm

Monday-Saturday Masses 7 am, 7:30 am, 8 am, 8:30 am 12:10 pm, 5:15 pm

MARY’S SHRINE

v v v v v

v v v v v

For many, charitable giving is an act of faith grounded in confidence in God’s abundance

and motivated by a desire to create additional resources for accomplishing God’s work.

Leaving a legacy gift to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception offers the opportunity to pass on not only your assets but also the values that have guided your life.

Remembering the National Shrine in your estate planning is a wonderful way to put your values into action, ensuring that Mary’s House is maintained for future generations as a center of worship and devotion as a personal legacy.

To remember the Basilica of the National Shrine in your will, you may contact your attorney or financial advisor for assistance in making a bequest. Or, you may simply include the following in your will:

I give, devise, and bequeath to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, a body corporate of the District of Columbia, and located in Washington, D.C., (the sum of _____) or (__ % of rest residue, and remainder of my estate) or (__ shares of _____) or all my right, title and interest in the following described property _____).

Please feel free to contact the Basilica at 202-526-8300 if we can provide you with further information or assistance.

Thank you for your prayerful consideration and continued support of Mary’s Shrine.

Monday-Saturday Confessions 7:45 am - 8:15 am 10 am - 12 noon 3:30 pm - 6 pm

Holy Days Please contact the Basilica for

Holy Day Schedules.

Guided Tours Monday - Saturday 9 am, 10 am, 11 am, 1 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm Sunday 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm, 3:30 pm

Gift Shop & Bookstore Open Daily Monday - Friday: 9 am - 5:30 pm (Year-Round) Saturday - Sunday: 8:30 am - 7 pm (April 1- October 31 ) 8:30 am - 5:30 pm (November 1- March 31)

Cafeteria Open Daily 7:30 am - 2 pm (Sundays until 3 pm)

© 2019 Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

Cove

r pho

to b

y Ro

bert

Isac

son

marys shrine...by a spiritual crisis or when tragedy strikes, we seek help at a church. in prayer we...

Documents