As the preeminent Marian shrine in the United States, the Basilica is proud to honor the Blessed Mother with over 80 chapels and oratories reflecting diverse Catholic traditions from around the world. This month, we’re delighted to highlight sacred art as it corresponds to important Church celebrations and moments in the life of the National Shrine. In this post, we invite you to discover three breathtaking Marian chapels we’re celebrating this September– from the Our Lady of Šiluva Chapel to the Our Mother of Sorrows Chapel!
September 4 – The Our Lady of Šiluva Chapel
Did you know that the Basilica’s Our Lady of Šiluva Chapel was dedicated 60 years ago on September 4, 1966? Dating back to the 15th century, this Marian devotion is a testament to the steadfast faith of the Lithuanian people.
In 1457, a nobleman named Petras Gedgaudas built a church in Šiluva in honor of the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Mary, bringing an icon from Rome for the church. It became a place of pilgrimage for many, with crowds of the faithful from all over the country and neighboring Prussia coming to celebrate the Nativity of Mary.
In the Basilica’s Our Lady of Šiluva Chapel, you can find a Trani marble statue of Our Lady and the Infant Jesus in native dress, created by Lithuanian sculptor Vytautas Kašuba. Pinecones and boughs, a symbol of Šiluva, are also incorporated throughout the chapel, while the altar frontal depicts the Hill of Crosses. Mosaics reminiscent of the fabric art of Lithuania line the side walls of the chapel, displaying images of Saint Casimir and the sufferings of the Lithuanian people, relating them to the sufferings of Christ.
September 8 – The Our Lady of Vailankanni Oratory
The devotion to Our Lady of Good Health, Vailankanni, first originated in the mid-16th century following the occurrence of three miracles. First, there was the apparition of Mary and the Christ Child to a slumbering shepherd boy. Then, a lame buttermilk vendor was miraculously healed. And finally, after a group of Portuguese sailors were saved from a violent storm at sea, they were inspired to build a shrine to Our Lady at Vailankanni. The chapel was dedicated on the feast of the Nativity of Mary, the day of their safe landing.
The Basilica’s Our Lady of Vailankanni Oratory features a gilded statue that is a replica of the original and was crowned and consecrated in Vailankanni before coming to Washington, D.C. Gifted by the Indian-American Catholic Association of Washington, D.C., the Oratory is designed in an Indian motif, with carved cherrywood pews, a vaulted brass ceiling, and a multi-colored marble floor patterned after an Indian carpet, featuring the design of the flag of India in the center. Through Carrara marble bas-relief sculpture, the stories of the three miracles are depicted. The oratory also includes two bronze plaques engraved with the history of Vailankanni and the Ave Maria in the major languages of the Indian subcontinent.
September 15 – The Our Mother of Sorrows Chapel
Each year on September 15, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, honoring the Blessed Mother’s steadfast faith amidst suffering. Catholic tradition recognizes seven sorrows of Mary:
- The prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35)
- The flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15)
- The loss of the Child Jesus for three days (Luke 2:41-50)
- Mary meets Jesus on his way to Calvary (Luke 23:27-31; John 19:17)
- The crucifixion and death of Jesus (John 19:25-30)
- The body of Jesus is taken from the Cross (Luke 23:50-54; John 19:31-37)
- The burial of Jesus (Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42; Mark 15:40-47)
At the Basilica, the Our Mother of Sorrows Chapel is located in the Great Upper Church. It prominently features a life-size marble sculpture of the Pietà, depicting the sixth of the Seven Sorrows: Mary holding Jesus as he is taken from the Cross. The other sorrows are sculpted in bronze and flank the Pietà. The chapel is a gift of the Slovak Union of the United States and Canada. Inscribed in Slovak above the altar is the text: “Our Mother of Sorrows, Virgin Mary, Patroness of the Slovak People, Pray for Us.”
Source:
Rohling, Geraldine M., PhD, MAEd. The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception: Guide and Tour Book. Washington, D.C.: Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 2018.