View of the east side of the basilica.

Exterior view of the basilica from Mary's Garden which is situated to the North West of the Shrine.

Interior of the main dome (still without its mosaic art).

Interior view of the "Glorification of the Lamb" dome, just past the sanctuary.

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is a prominent basilica of the Catholic Church located in Washington, D.C., honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the Patroness of the United States. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 114 KB)[edit] Summary Exterior of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC, 2003 photo by John Workman [edit] Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 114 KB)[edit] Summary Exterior of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC, 2003 photo by John Workman [edit] Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2592x1944, 824 KB)[edit] Summary Photo by M. Turner, 2006. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2592x1944, 824 KB)[edit] Summary Photo by M. Turner, 2006. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1536x2048, 1194 KB)Interior of Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, taken summer 2004. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1536x2048, 1194 KB)Interior of Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, taken summer 2004. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 827 KB)[edit] Summary Photograph of the Fifth Dome of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, The Glorification of the Lamb. Photograph by Kevin Osmers. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 827 KB)[edit] Summary Photograph of the Fifth Dome of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, The Glorification of the Lamb. Photograph by Kevin Osmers. ... Ajax prepares to violate the sanctuary of Athena by abducting Cassandra by force: red-figure vase, c. ... St. ... The name Catholic Church can mean a visible organization that refers to itself as Catholic, or the invisible Christian Church, viz. ... For other uses, see Washington, D.C. (disambiguation). ... Our Lady redirects here. ... Generally, patronage is the act of supporting or favoring some person, group, or institution. ...

It is the largest Catholic church in America and one of the largest religious structures in the world. Millions of pilgrims from around the country and the world visit the basilica each year. The basilica is located on Michigan Avenue in the northeast quadrant of Washington on land donated by The Catholic University of America. Nearby is the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center. Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... This article is about the religious or spiritual journey. ... Color-enhanced USGS satellite image of Washington, DC, taken April 26, 2002. ... The Catholic University of America (abbreviated CUA), located in Washington, D.C., is unique as the national university of the Roman Catholic Church and as the only higher education institution founded by U.S. Roman Catholic bishops. ... The Pope John Paul II Cultural Center is a museum and think tank in Washington, D.C. The Center displays art from the Vatican Museums and interactive museum exhibits about religious faith. ...

The church began to be built in 1920 and was completed under Philadelphia contractor John McShain and opened in 1959. It is designated as a National Historic Landmark on the National Register of Historic Places. For other uses, see Philadelphia (disambiguation) and Philly. ... John McShain (December 21, 1898 - September 9, 1989) was a highy successful United States building contractor known as The Man Who Built Washington. ... This article or section needs additional references or sources to improve its verifiability. ... A typical plaque showing entry on the National Register of Historic Places. ...

The Basilica is the Patronal Catholic Church of the United States, honoring Mary, Mother of God, under the title Immaculate Conception. It is not the cathedral church of the Archdiocese of Washington; the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle serves as church of the Archdiocese. It is accessible on the Metro Red Line via the Brookland-CUA station. For other uses, see Cathedral (disambiguation). ... The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington is home to the patronal church of the United States, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. ... The Cathedral of St. ...

The Basilica is often - and wrongly - said to be the official church of the United States, which it is not. The United States has no official religion; thus, there is no official church. The Basilica is sometimes confused with the Washington National Cathedral, also a National Historic Landmark, which is an Episcopal church chartered by Congress as the National House of Prayer. The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution states that: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion Together with the Free Exercise Clause, (or prohibiting the free exercise thereof), these two clauses make up what are commonly known as the religion clauses. ... Washington National Cathedral has been the site of three presidential state funerals: for Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ronald W. Reagan, Gerald R. Ford and a presidential burial for Woodrow Wilson and a memorial service for Harry Truman. ... This article is about the Episcopal Church in the United States. ... Type Bicameral Houses Senate House of Representatives President of the Senate President pro tempore Dick Cheney, (R) since January 20, 2001 Robert C. Byrd, (D) since January 4, 2007 Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, (D) since January 4, 2007 Members 535 plus 4 Delegates and 1 Resident Commissioner Political...

The Basilica does not have its own parish community, but it serves the adjacent University, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (located down the street), and hosts numerous Masses for organizations of the Church from across the United States. It houses dozens of chapels honoring Mary and reflecting the origins of the Catholic immigrants and religious orders whose generosity erected them. Its Greek-styled interior is crowned with numerous domes decorated in mosaics, similar to the Basilica of St. Mark in Venice, Italy, but much larger. The mosaics feature American renditions of traditional Catholic images. For the Basilica di San Marco in Rome, see Basilica di San Marco (Rome). ...

The diameter of the main (Trinity) dome of the Basilica is only 7 feet shorter than that of the dome of the United States Capitol.

History

In 1792, John Carroll, the bishop of Baltimore and America's first Roman Catholic bishop, consecrated the newly-created United States under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of The Immaculate Conception. In 1847, Pope Pius IX formalized Carroll's acclamation, proclaiming the Immaculate Conception as the Patroness of the United States. In subsequent years, a few priests imagined an elaborate shrine in honor of their country's patroness. John Carroll (January 8, 1735 – December 3, 1815) was a priest of the Catholic Society of Jesus. ... As of 2005, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore covers the City of Baltimore as well as Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, and Washington counties, Maryland. ... Mary, mother of Jesus as the Immaculate Conception. ... Pope Pius IX (May 13, 1792 – February 7, 1878), born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, reigned as Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from his election in June 16, 1846, until his death more than 31 years later in 1878. ...

Bishop Thomas Joseph Shahan, the fourth rector of the Catholic University of America proposed the construction of a national shrine to commemorate the Immaculate Conception in the country's capital. Bishop Shahan took his appeal to Pope Pius X on August 15, 1913. Shahan received the pope's enthusiastic support and his personal contribution of $400. Shahan returned to the United States and persuaded the Board of Trustees of the Catholic University of America to donate land at the southwest corner of the campus for his shrine. Thomas Joseph Shahan, S.T.D., J.U.L. (September 11, 1857–March 9, 1932) was an American Roman Catholic theologian and educator, born at Manchester, N.H., educated at Montreal College (1872), at the American College, and at the Propaganda in Rome. ... The word rector (ruler, from the Latin regere) has a number of different meanings, but all of them indicate someone who is in charge of something. ... Pope St. ...

In January 1914, 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. In 1915, Father Bernard McKenna of Philadelphia was appointed by Shahan as first director of the national shrine, bringing the bishop's dream one step closer to reality. Shahan oversaw the construction of the shrine until his death on March 9, 1932. His body is the only one interred at the national shrine.

By 1919, architectural drawings were chosen by Shahan and McKenna for the construction of the national shrine by the Boston firm of Maginnis & Walsh. 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. Cardinal James 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. The beginning of American involvement in World War II stalled plans even further. Boston redirects here. ... Maginnis & Walsh is an architecture firm started by Charles Donagh Maginnis and Timothy Walsh in 1905. ... Interior of Cologne Cathedral Interior of San Zanipolo, Venice, photo Giovanni dallOrto. ... Byzantine architecture is the architecture of the Byzantine Empire. ... South transept of Tournai Cathedral, Belgium, 12th century. ... James Cardinal Gibbons (July 23, 1834 - March 24, 1921) was the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Baltimore from 1877 until his death, and in 1886 became the second man from the United States to be made a Cardinal. ... As of 2005, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore covers the City of Baltimore as well as Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, and Washington counties, Maryland. ... For other uses, see The Great Depression (disambiguation). ... Crypt is also a commonly used name of water trumpets, aquatic plants. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

After the war, 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. Most Rev. ... Nickname: Location in the state of Indiana, USA Coordinates: , Country State County Allen Founded October 22, 1794 Incorporated February 22, 1840 Government  - Mayor Graham Richard (D)  - City Clerk Sandra Kennedy (D)  - City Council John N. Crawford (R) Samuel J. Talarico, Jr (R) John Shoaff (D) Tom Smith (R) Donald J... Patrick Aloysius OBoyle (1896 - 1987) was made a U.S. cardinal in 1967. ...

The crypt has displayed the Papal Tiara of Pope Paul VI since 1968. In 1990, Pope John Paul II named the national shrine as the U.S.'s 36th minor basilica. In August 2006, work was completed on a mosaic covering the Redemption Dome in the Upper Church. This is the first new work to be done in many years and was part of the original architectural plans. Future plans include finishing the intended mosiacs for the Incarnation Dome and the largest of the domes, the Trinity Dome. A small chapel on the crypt level was recently completed honoring Our Lady of La Vang (Vietnam). The Papal Tiara, also known as the Triple Tiara, or in Latin as the Triregnum, and in Italian as the Triregno, is the three-tiered jewelled papal crown, supposedly of Byzantine and Persian origin, that is a prominent symbol of the papacy. ... This article cites very few or no references or sources. ... Coat of Arms of Pope John Paul II. The Letter M is for Mary, the mother of Jesus, to whom he held strong devotion Pope John Paul II (Latin: , Italian: Giovanni Paolo II, Polish: Jan PaweÅ‚ II) born   []; 18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005) reigned as the 264th Pope of... This article is about a decorative art. ... La Vang or Lavang is a locale in Quảng Trị Province, Vietnam. ...

See also

• Tiara of Pope Paul VI

Pope Paul VI, wearing his tiara, at the 1963 papal coronation. ...

External links

• Official website

Photo Gallery