Basilica of the National Shrine, Washington, D.C.
Exterior of the Basilica of the National Shrine. Photo by Daniel Stout.
Photo by Jennie.
Byzantine-style tiled dome. Photo by Jennie.
Side entrance. Photo by Jennie.
Interior as seen from the entrance. Photo by Icep Lee.
Interior during a ceremony. Photo by Patrick Swift.
Mosaic over the altar. Public domain photo.
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. is an important Catholic minor basilica dedicated to the patron saint of the United States.
An important Marian shrine that took over a century to build to its present state, it receives millions of pilgrims from around the country and the world each year.
Built on land donated by Catholic University of America, construction still continues today. It is designated as a National Historic Landmark on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Basilica of the National Shrine is often confused with the Washington National Cathedral, an Episcopal church chartered by Congress that serves occasionally as a gathering place for the nation.
Contrary to common assumption, the Basilica is neither the Catholic cathedral of Washington nor the mother church of the nation. The Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle serves as mother church of the archdiocese.
History
In 1792, Bishop John Carroll of Baltimore, the country's first Catholic bishop, consecrated the new American nation under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title of Immaculate Conception.
In 1847, Pope Pius IX formalized Bishop Carroll's acclamation and officially proclaimed the Immaculate Conception as patroness of the United States. In subsequent years, a few priests imagined an elaborate shrine in honor of their country's patroness.
Bishop Thomas J. Shahan, also rector of the Catholic University of America, proposed the construction of a national shrine to commemorate the Immaculate Conception. He took his appeal to Pope Pius X on August 15, 1913 and received the pope's enthusiastic support. Bishop Shahan then 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, Bishop 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, DC.
In 1915, Father Bernard McKenna of Philadelphia was appointed by Bishop Shahan as first director of the national shrine, bringing the bishop's dream one step closer to reality. Bishop Shahan would oversee the construction of the shrine till his death on March 9, 1932. His body would be the only one interred at the national shrine.
By 1919, architectural drawings were chosen by Bishop Shahan and Father McKenna for the construction of the national shrine by a Boston firm. At first a traditional Gothic architectural style was considered. Bishop Shahan wanted his shrine to be bold and glorious and opted instead for a Byzantine-Romanesque design.
James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, blessed the foundation stone on September 23, 1920. More than 10,000 people attended the mass, including foreign ambassadors, United States government officials, military officers, and other dignitaries. In 1929, the Great Depression halted the construction above the crypt level. United States entry in World War II stalled plans to proceed even further.
Finally 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 their bishops for the dedication of the Great Upper Church. The construction of the Basilica continues today.
What to See
The National Shrine is a blend of Romanesque and Byzantine styles, with a bell tower inspired by St. Mark's Basilica in Venice.
Inside is an upper church with mosaic-tiled ceiling and a baldacchino over the altar and a lower church (crypt) with numerous chapels.
Quick Facts
| Names: | Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception; National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception; Basilica of the National Shrine |
| Type of site: | Catholic shrine; Minor Basilica |
| Faith: | Roman Catholic |
| Status: | Active |
| Date: | 1959 |
| Architecture: | Romanesque and Byzantine |
| Location: | 400 Michigan Avenue, Washington DC |
| Phone: | 202/526-8300 |
| Website: | www.nationalshrine.com |
| Hours: | Apr-Oct: daily 7-7; Nov-Mar: daily 7-6 |
| Cost: | Free |
| Services: | Sat. vigil mass at 5:15; Sun. mass at 7:30, 9, 10:30, noon, 1:30 (in Latin), and 4:30. |
Location Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Washington D.C. Map or get our free Google Earth download.
Sources
- Wikipedia under GFDL.
- Fodor's Washington D.C.
More Information
- Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception - Official Website
