With over 80 chapels and oratories located throughout its marble halls, the Basilica offers a plethora of places to seek God and contemplate His grace. Honoring Marian traditions from around the world, these spaces were designed to encourage and inspire visitors as they reflect on Mary’s example of faithfulness.
Today, we invite you to discover five Marian chapels with dedication anniversaries and associated feast days this month.
October 4 – The Our Lady of Pompei Chapel
October 4 marks the 17th anniversary of the dedication of the Basilica’s Our Lady of Pompei Chapel. Located in the Great Upper Church of the Basilica, this chapel features a mosaic recreation of the painting of Our Lady of the Rosary displayed in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of Pompei. This depiction portrays Mary against a backdrop of shimmering gold, with 12 stars encircling her head. Sitting on her knee is the infant Jesus, who holds a Rosary in one hand. The chapel is adorned with a crucifix that was blessed by Pope Benedict XVI on his visit to the Basilica, as well as depictions of the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary.
October 6 – The Byzantine-Ruthenian Chapel
Dedicated on October 6, 1974, the Byzantine-Ruthenian Chapel honors the Ruthenian Catholic tradition not only in its art, but also in the design of the sanctuary. Behind the altar, a mosaic of vibrant red, blue, and gold tiles depicts the Blessed Mother holding her maphorion (holy veil). The iconostasis (icon screen), a distinctive feature of any Eastern Rite Church, is a wall that separates the sanctuary from the rest of the chapel and is made up of many different icons and religious symbols. The iconostasis here features Christ the Teacher and Mary as Theotokos (God-bearer), while the sanctuary doors show the four evangelists. The two side doors portray Saints Lawrence and Stephen, two Deacons of the early Church.
October 7 – The Our Lady of the Rosary Chapel
October 7 marks the celebration of the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, who is honored at the Basilica in the Our Lady of the Rosary Chapel. This chapel memorializes the tradition that the Blessed Mother appeared to Saint Dominic during the 13th century and bestowed on him the devotion of the Rosary. It features a Botticino marble statue of Our Lady of the Rosary offering her son Jesus to the world, set against a flaring reredos carved with 15 golden flames signifying the 15 mysteries that are prayed in the Dominican Rosary. The dome mosaic is a study in blue, spangled with eight-pointed stars – one of the symbols of Saint Dominic and the Blessed Mother. The pendentives of the dome mosaic feature the beginning text of the Hail Mary prayer drawn from Luke 1.
The chapel is flanked by a lateral chapel on each side, both of which are connected to the Dominicans and were gifted to the Basilica by the Dominican Order: the St. Dominic Chapel and the St. Catherine of Siena Chapel.
October 14 – The Mary, Queen of Missions Chapel
Did you know that October 14 of this year marks the 58th anniversary of the dedication of the Mary, Queen of Missions Chapel in 1967? This colorful chapel depicting Mary and the faithful from around the world honors Mary’s unique role in global missions with brilliant mosaics and carvings. In the central mosaic, Mary is portrayed crowned with 12 stars, holding a globe surmounted by a cross, with the moon and the serpent beneath her feet. On either side of Mary are men and women from the various continents and cultures evangelized by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, including the Asian-Pacific region, South America, and the Arctic Circle.
October 21 – The Our Lady of La Vang Chapel
Dedicated on October 21, 2006, the chapel of Our Lady of La Vang stands in memory of the Vietnamese Catholics persecuted during the 18th century, who looked to the Blessed Mother for protection after fleeing to the La Vang jungle. The main focus of the chapel is a five-foot-tall statue of Our Lady of La Vang, depicted holding the Christ Child and wearing the same cloak as she wore in her appearance to the Vietnamese people. Featuring Argentina Blue, Red Carrara from Northern Italy, Oriental Black, and Portuguese marbles, this statue is made with a unique multi-marble style, which only a handful of the world’s artists can produce.
On the right wall is a Venetian glass mosaic depicting the initial event, and the villagers who sought Mary’s intercession. The glass mosaic on the left is a copy of the painting, The Martyrs of Vietnam, representing some of the 130,000 to 300,000 men and women that were tortured and killed for their faith during this time. Inscribed in a bronze plaque are the names of the 117 canonized martyrs.
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.
