Leading up to the 250th Anniversary of July 4, we're taking time to publish stories about the history of Catholicism in the United States. Please enjoy this latest entry!
If you step inside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., you may feel for a moment as though you have been transported to Rome.
The scale, the mosaics, the chapels, the domes, and the sheer sense of Catholic grandeur feel almost unexpected in the heart of the nation’s capital. And yet this immense basilica is not in Rome. It belongs to the Catholic story of America.
Construction began in 1920, when the foundation stone was blessed by Cardinal James Gibbons before a crowd of more than 10,000 people. The Crypt Church opened for public Mass in 1924, but the Great Depression and World War II delayed the larger project for decades. The Great Upper Church was finally dedicated on November 20, 1959.
Today, the National Shrine is the largest Roman Catholic church in North America and one of the ten largest churches in the world. It is dedicated to Our Lady under her title of the Immaculate Conception, the patroness of the United States.
That patronage reaches back to the earliest days of the American Church. In 1792, Bishop John Carroll, the first Catholic bishop in the United States, consecrated the newly formed nation to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception. In 1846, the bishops of the United States formally named Mary, conceived without sin, as patroness of the country.
The Basilica is not only a massive, stunning church. It is a national act of devotion to Mary.
One of the details of the basilica is that it contains dozens of Marian chapels honoring Our Lady under titles from around the world. These chapels reflect the many immigrant communities, religious orders, and Catholic traditions that helped build the Church in America.
In a city filled with monuments to presidents, wars, and national ideals, the basilica stands as a different kind of monument. It points beyond politics and power toward the Mother of God, under whose patronage this nation was entrusted.
The Basilica stands as a national tribute to Our Lady under the title of the Immaculate Conception. Bringing an image of Mary into the home can serve as a daily reminder of her maternal care and intercession. Our Murillo's Immaculate Conception Rosary Rack combines beautiful sacred art with a simple way to keep your rosary ready for prayer. Find yours today at The Catholic Company!
