Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception — Jack Parrott

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Patronal church of the United States of America A road with trees in front of the main facade of the basilica, showing the large rose window above the entrance, a dome on top, and a tall bell tower attached to the left of the basilica Main façade of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Map of the city of Washingotn, D.C. with a red dot on the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Map of the city of Washingotn, D.C. with a red dot on the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Location of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. 38°56′0″N 77°0′02″WCoordinates: 38°56′0″N 77°0′02″W LocationWashington, D.C. CountryUnited States DenominationCatholic TraditionRoman Rite WebsiteBasilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Architecture StatusMinor basilica, National shrine Architect(s)Maginnis & Walsh Architectural typeBasilica StyleNeo-Byzantine and Neo-Romanesque Groundbreaking1920 Completed1961 Specifications Capacity10,000 Length500 feet (150 m) Width240 feet (73 m) Nave width157 feet (48 m) Height329 feet (100 m) Dome height (outer)237 feet (72 m) Dome height (inner)159 feet (48 m) Dome diameter (outer)108 feet (33 m) Dome diameter (inner)89 feet (27 m) Administration ArchdioceseArchdiocese of Washington Clergy RectorMonsignor Walter R. Rossi Priest(s)Walter R. Rossi Vito A. Buonanno Michael D. Weston Raymond A. Lebrun Laity Director of musicDr. Peter Latona Organist(s)Peter Latona Benjamin Laprarie Nathan Davy Robert Grogan The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is a prominent Roman Rite Catholic basilica located in Washington, D.C., United States of America, honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Immaculate Conception, the principal Patroness of the USA. The shrine is the largest Catholic church in the United States and North America, one of the ten largest churches in the world, and the tallest habitable building in Washington, D.C.[1][2][3] Construction of this church, notable for its Neo-Byzantine architecture, began in 1920 under Philadelphia contractor John McShain. It opened unfinished in 1959 and currently hosts an estimated one million pilgrims each year. The basilica is designated both as the national and patronal Catholic Church of the United States,[1] honoring the Virgin Mary, under the title Immaculate Conception, by which Pope Pius XI donated a mosaic of the same image in 1923. The basilica is not the cathedral church of the Archdiocese of Washington as the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle has served in this capacity since the creation of the archdiocese in 1939. The shrine hosted Popes John Paul II, who designated the National Shrine as a Minor Basilica on October 12, 1990; Benedict XVI, who bestowed the honor of a Golden Rose on the basilica on April 16, 2008; and Francis, when he celebrated Mass on the east steps for the canonization of Junípero Serra, O.F.M. on September 23, 2015. The basilica does not have its own parish community, but serves the adjacent Catholic University of America which donated the land for its construction, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and hosts numerous Masses for various organizations of the Church from across the United States. The rector of the shrine is the Monsignor Walter R. Rossi, who holds a Licentiate of Canon Law. The basilica is on Michigan Avenue in the northeast quadrant of Washington. It is served by Brookland-CUA Metro Station on the Red Line, roughly 0.3 miles (0.5 km) away. Contents [hide] 1Architecture 2History 2.1Patronage of the Immaculate Conception 2.2Construction of the shrine 3Priests 4Photo gallery 5See also 6References 7Further reading 8External links Architecture[edit] View of the basilica from Mary's Garden looking southeast. The basilica houses 70 chapels honoring Mary and reflecting the origins of the Catholic immigrants and religious orders whose generosity erected them. Its Greek-styled interior is crowned with numerous domes decorated in mosaics, similar to the Basilica of St. Mark in Venice, Italy, but much larger. The mosaics feature American renditions of traditional Catholic images. Artist Jan Henryk De Rosen, who presided over the shrine's iconography committee was also responsible for much of its decor, including composing the large mosaic over the northern apse. The exterior of the basilica is 500 ft (152 m) long, 240 ft (73 m) wide, and 237 ft (72 m) tall to the top of the cross on the dome.[4] The diameter of the main (Trinity) dome of the basilica is only 7 feet (2 m) smaller than that of the dome of the United States Capitol. The shrine was built in the style of medieval churches, relying on masonry walls and columns in place of structural steel and reinforced concrete. It was designed to hold 10,000 worshipers and includes modern amenities such as a basement cafeteria, hidden public address speakers to carry speech at the altar to the rear of the building, air conditioning and the largest (in 1959) radiant heating slab in the world.[5] In all, 70 chapels and sacred images flank the sides of the upper church and crypt.[6] It contains many works of art. There are arches outlined with iridescent Pewabic Pottery tile, large ceramic medallions set in the ceiling, and fourteen Stations of the Cross for the crypt.[7] History[edit] The Blessed Virgin Mary under the venerated title of the Immaculate Conception is the Principal Patroness of the country and its national shrine, as accorded by Pope Pius IX in 1847. Patronage of the Immaculate Conception[edit] In 1792 John Carroll, the bishop of Baltimore and America's first Roman Catholic bishop, consecrated the newly created United States under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of The Immaculate Conception. In 1847, the 7th Provincial Councils of Baltimore reiterated this episcopal choice to name the title Virgin Mary, conceived without sin as the principal patroness of the land, which Pope Pius IX formalized on February 7, 1847, but was not publicly proclaimed until July 2, 1847. Construction of the shrine[edit] Bishop Thomas Joseph Shahan, the fourth rector of The Catholic University of America in Washington, proposed the construction of a national shrine to commemorate the Immaculate Conception in the country's capital. Bishop Shahan took his appeal to Pope Pius X on August 15, 1913.[8] Shahan received the pope's enthusiastic support and personal contribution of US$400. Shahan returned to the United States and persuaded the Board of Trustees of The Catholic University of America to donate land at the southwest corner of the campus for his shrine. In January 1914, Shahan published the first issue of Salve Regina, a newsletter meant to stir enthusiasm for his project. He wrote that the shrine would be a "monument of love and gratitude, a great hymn in stone as perfect as the art of man can make it and as holy as the intentions of its builders could wish it to be." His newsletter was circulated to dioceses throughout the country and financial donations began to pour into Washington. In 1915, Shahan appointed Father Bernard McKenna of Philadelphia as first director of the national shrine. Shahan oversaw the construction of the shrine until his death on March 9, 1932. His are the only remains interred at the national shrine. By 1919, Shahan and McKenna chose architectural drawings by the Boston firm of Maginnis & Walsh for construction of the national shrine. Initially, they considered a traditional Neo-Gothic architectural style, but Shahan opted instead for a Byzantine Revival-Romanesque Revival design.[9] Cardinal James Gibbons, archbishop of Baltimore, blessed the foundation stone on September 23, 1920. More than 10,000 people attended the Mass, including ambassadors, government officials, and military officers. In 1929, the Great Depression halted the construction above the crypt level. The beginning of American involvement in World War II stalled plans even further. Interior view, including the mosaics completed in 2006. After the war, in 1953, American bishops under the leadership of John Noll, archbishop ad personam of Fort Wayne, and Patrick O'Boyle, archbishop of Washington, pledged to raise the funds necessary to complete the upper church of the national shrine. On November 20, 1959, thousands of Catholics gathered with the bishops for the dedication of the Great Upper Church. The crypt has displayed the Papal Tiara of Pope Paul VI since 1968.[10] In 1990, Pope John Paul II named the national shrine as the United States' 36th minor basilica. In August 2006, work was completed on a mosaic covering the Redemption Dome in the Upper Church. This is the first new work done in many years and was part of the original architectural plans. Following its completion in the summer of 2007, the Incarnation Dome was blessed on November 17, 2007.[11] A small chapel on the crypt level honoring Our Lady of La Vang (Vietnam) was completed in 2006.[12] In 2008, during his apostolic visit to the United States, Pope Benedict XVI bestowed the Golden Rose upon the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.[13] In June 2011, a new chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Lebanon was erected within the basilica, commemorating the fidelity of the Maronite Church and its faithful. A mosaic of Saint Maroun and the Crucifixion was copied from the 6th-century Rabboula Maronite manuscript, and was donated by Cardinal Donald Wuerl. The chapel was formally consecrated by Maronite Bishop Gregory J. Mansour on September 23, 2011.[14] On January 26, 2013, the basilica held a televised thanksgiving Mass and enshrined two first class relics of Americans Catherine Tekakwitha and Marianne Cope, who were both canonized October 20, 2012.[15] Pope Francis visited the shrine on September 23, 2015, and celebrated a Mass for the canonization of Junípero Serra, O.F.M. on the mall of The Catholic University of America. The altar, ambo, and chair used for this Mass match the existing marble in the basilica. After the Mass, the Papal altar was placed in front of the High Altar, and is now used as the altar in the Great Upper Church.[16] On February 20, 2016, the Basilica was the site of the funeral mass of US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia at which his son Fr. Paul Scalia was the celebrant.[17] Priests[edit] Walter R. Rossi, Rector of the National Shrine Vito A. Buonanno, Associate Rector and Director of Pilgrimages Michael D. Weston, Associate Rector and Director of Liturgy Raymond A. Lebrun, O.M.I., Spiritual Director