For Catholics, sacred art isn’t simply pretty pictures and sculptures; it directs our minds to contemplate the divine, illuminating eternal truths. Throughout the Basilica, you’ll find art that not only reflects the tenets of Catholicism, but art that relates to the celebrations of the liturgical calendar.
This month, we’re delighted to share the fifth post in our Walk Through Art blog series, highlighting the sacred art of the Basilica as it corresponds to important Church celebrations and moments in the life of the National Shrine. In this post, discover four art pieces we’re highlighting this December – from the Immaculate Conception Mosaic to the Nativity Chapel!
December 8 – The Immaculate Conception Mosaic
On December 8, the Basilica celebrates its patronal feast day, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Amongst the numerous depictions of Mary under this title in the National Shrine, the Immaculate Conception mosaic in the Great Upper Church is distinguished by its softness and fine detail. A gift from Popes Benedict XV and Pius XI, this breathtaking mosaic contains 250,000 pieces of natural stone in 35,000 different hues, sanded smooth to resemble a painting. Created over the course of about five years, it is based on a famous oil painting by the Spanish artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, La Purísima Bionda.
From the dramatically shaded clouds to the rippling motion of Mary’s robes, an aura of numinous wonder shines through this masterful depiction.
December 12 – The Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel
Celebrated on December 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe commemorates Mary’s appearance to Juan Diego outside Mexico City. In the Basilica, you can find Mary honored under this title in the Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel of the Great Upper Church. With sinuous blue walls giving the impression of the apparition, this chapel features a procession of peoples from the Americas carrying lit candles to the Blessed Virgin. Among those portrayed include St. Rose of Lima, Juana Inés de la Cruz, St. Juan Diego, and other significant figures from the history of the Americas.
As the major Marian apparition of the New World, Our Lady of Guadalupe holds a special place in the hearts of Latin American Catholics.
December 13 – The St. Lucy Chapel
Celebrated on December 13, St. Lucy is honored in the east apse of the Crypt Church along with four other women saints known for their courage and devotion. According to tradition, St. Lucy was martyred under the emperor Diocletian after a spurned suitor reported her for practicing Christianity. In the centuries that followed, Lucy came to be associated with light – not only because of the meaning of her name, but because in Scandinavian countries, the celebration of her feast day heralds the coming of light in the darkness, marking the beginning of the Christmas season.
In this portrayal, Lucy is depicted in robes of gold, green and red, holding a cross and flanked by a flower on the right, and a burning lamp on the left. The Latin text translates: “Fair speech has graced your lips, for God has blessed you forever,” (Psalm 45:3). The symbolism of light also continues in the altar frontal, which depicts a lighted lamp suspended from a chain with the initials “S-L.”
December 25 – The Nativity Chapel
Did you know the Basilica has a Nativity Chapel? Amongst the sprawling dome mosaics and towering statues of the Great Upper Church, you’ll find glittering chapels honoring the mysteries of the Rosary. In the west apse, the Nativity Chapel honors the miracle of Christ’s birth in vibrant mosaic alongside the other Joyful Mysteries.
On the left, Mary and Joseph are portrayed in robes of blue and red, and the Infant Jesus sits on Mary’s knee. On the right, three magi carry gifts, and two shepherds kneel before the newborn King. Beneath is a mosaic depicting the Old Testament parallel to the Nativity story, of Isaiah prophesying the Messiah’s virgin birth in Isaiah 7:14:
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign; the young woman, pregnant and about to bear a son, shall name him Emmanuel.”
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.
