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Marian Shrines and Apparitions

There have been hundreds of reported Apparitions of Mary throughout the world, especially during the last few hundred years. Until the age of mass media, apparitions were mostly regional affairs. Although some apparitions have had great influence with a particular region, (such as Guadalupe in Mexico), the local Bishop, rather than the Vatican, evaluated their validity, and the phenomenon itself was not considered of great consequence for the world wide Church.

In recent times, however, Marian apparitions have taken on a much more complicated international aspect. The Vatican now has a role in recognizing potentially valid apparitions and exposing hoaxes, but apparitions based entirely on individual witness are inherently subjective. There are guidelines for 'canonical' recognition of an apparition but they consist mostly in evaluating the character and trustworthiness of witnesses. Because of this, belief in any particular Marian apparition is not considered an essential dogma of the Catholic faith and in some cases there is reason for skepticism.

Nevertheless, Shrines and Churches dedicated to the Blessed Virgin have been erected near the site of many apparitions. And many of the most visited pilgrimage sites throughout the world are shrines dedicated to Marian apparitions or relics.

Traditional or Legendary Apparitions

Our Lady of the Pillar (40 AD) — Mary appeared to Saint James the Greater on the banks of the Ebro river in Zaragoza Spain and instructed him to build a chapel on the site. The vision is now called Our Lady of the Pillar and is the only reported Marian apparition during apostolic times. A chapel built near the site is said to be the first Church ever dedicated to Mary. The Church has been rebuilt many times, and has long been a place of pilgrimage. It was most recently rebuilt in 1681 as the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar.

Our Lady of the Snow (360 AD) — Our Lady of the Snow, and the Church associated with it is based on a legend that during the pontificate of Pope Liberius, during the night of August the 5th, snow fell on the summit of the Esquiline Hill in Rome. Roman patrician had prayed the previous night asking for a sign telling him where to build a Church dedicated to Mary, so based on a private vision, he build a Church on the spot that had been covered in snow. The church built there is now the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. August 5th was recognized in the Roman Calendar as the feast of 'Our Lady of the Snows' from the 15th century until Vatican II, when it was renamed as a feast in commemoration of the 'Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

Our Lady of Walsingham (1061) — According to tradition the Virgin Mary appeared in a vision to a Saxon noblewoman, in 1061 in Walsingham, England, and instructed her to build a shrine in honor of the Annunciation. The original shrine was a popular pilgrimage site until it was destroyed by Henry VIII during the Reformation. Today there are two shrines at Walsingham, one in the care of the Catholic Church (feast day October 15), and the other in the care of the Anglican order.

Our Lady of the Rosary (1208 / 1571) — According to Dominican tradition, Our Lady of the Rosary appeared to Saint Dominic in 1208 in Prouille, France and presented him with the rosary as a weapon against heresy. The Feast of 'Our Lady of the Rosary' in the current calendar, however, is celebrated on October 7, in honor of the victory of the Christian fleet over the Mohammedans at the Battle of Lepanto. The feast day was formerly dedicated to "Our Lady of Victory".

Our Lady of Mount Carmel (~1260) — According to Carmelite tradition, the Blessed Virgin appeared to Saint Simon Stock, Prior of the Carmelite Order, holding a brown scapular and saying 'This is for you and yours a privilege; the one who dies in it will be saved.' Our Lady of Mount Carmel generally refers to Mary's role as patron of the Carmelite order and her feast is celebrated on July 16.

Major Canonically Approved Apparitions

Our Lady of Guadalupe (1531) — The 1531 apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe was reported by Saint Juan Diego. He saw an early morning vision of the Virgin Mary in which he was instructed to build an abbey on the Hill of Tepeyac in Mexico. The local prelate did not believe his account and asked for a miraculous sign, which was later provided as an icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe permanently imprinted on the saint's cloak where he had gathered roses. Our Lady of Guadalupe is an important symbol of the Catholic faith in Mexico and her feast day is celebrated on December 12.

Our Lady of Siluva (1608) — Our Lady of Siluva refers to a fifteenth century icon of the Madonna and child, and also to an apparition which occurred in Lithuania leading to the discovery of the icon. In 1608 the region was largely Calvinist, and most Catholic Churches in the area had been destroyed. The Blessed Virgin is said to have appeared on two consecutive days at the sight where the last priest had buried a box for safekeeping and the apparitions led to its rediscovery. The box contained the Icon as well as property deeds which needed to rebuild on the site of the old Church. Our Lady of Šiluva is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Lithuania and its Feast day is celebrated as that of the Nativity of Mary, September 8.

Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (1830) — The vision of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal appeared to Catherine Labouré in 1830 in the convent of Rue du Bac, Paris. She reported that one night the Blessed Virgin appeared and asked that a medallion be made to a design that she dictated. The lady added that, "All who wear this medal will receive great graces." After spending two years examining her claims, her priest eventually took the information to his archbishop. The medal eventually produced came to be referred to as the Miraculous Medal. The front of the medal displays a picture of the virgin as she appeared to Catherine Labouré. The design on the reverse includes the letter M and a cross.

Our Lady of La Salette (1846) — The apparitions of Our Lady of La Salette were reported in La Salette in France in 1846 by two shepherd children, Mélanie Calvat and Maximin Giraud, followed by numerous accounts of miraculous healings.

Our Lady of Lourdes (1858) — Bernadette Soubirous was a 14-year-old shepherd girl who lived near Lourdes in France. While gathering firewood she reported a vision of a miraculous Lady who identified Herself as "the Immaculate Conception". According to Bernadette, the Lady held a string of Rosary beads and led her to the discovery of a buried spring and requested that the local priests build a chapel at the site of the visions and lead holy processions there. Lourdes is now a major Catholic pilgrimage site.

Our Lady of Knock (1879) — Knock Shrine, in County Mayo, Ireland, is the site of a nineteenth-century apparition. In the evening of 21 August 1879, Our Lady, St. Joseph, and St. John the Evangelist appeared in a blaze of Heavenly light at the south gable of Knock Parish Church. Behind them and a little to the left of St. John was a plain altar. On the altar was a cross and a lamb with adoring angels. The appearance of St Joseph, St John and the Lamb make the apparition unique in church history. The Apparition was seen by fifteen people who watched the Apparition in pouring rain for two hours, while not a drop of rain fell on the vision.

Our Lady of Fátima (1917) — The visions of the Virgin Mary appearing to three shepherd children at Cova da Iria, in Fátima, Portugal, in 1917 were declared worthy of belief by the Catholic Church in 1930. In 1925, eight years after the Fátima events, Sister Lúcia reported another set of apparitions, which became known as the Pontevedra apparitions. Also Blessed Alexandrina of Balazar reported several apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary (following the Our Lady of Fátima request of World Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary).

Lesser Known Approved Apparitions

Our Lady of Laus (1664–1718) — Our appeared to a young shepherdess several times between 1664 and 1718 in Saint-Étienne-le-Laus, France. The apparitions was first recognized by the diocese in 1665.

Our Lady of Pontmain (1871) — The apparitions at Our Lady of Pontmain, France also called Our Lady of Hope were reported in 1871 by a number of young children.

Our Lady of Gietrzwald (1877) — In the year 1877 the Virgin Mary was revealed to little girls Barbara Samulowska and Justyna Szafrynska. She appeared several times, speaking the Polish language and explained how important it is to pray and say the rosary.

Our Lady of Beauraing (1932–1933) — The 33 apparitions of Our Lady of Beauraing were reported in Belgium between November 1932 and January 1933 by five local children ranging in age from 9 to 15 years. These apparitions are also known as the Virgin of the Golden Heart.

Our Lady of Banneux (1933) — The apparitions of Our Lady of Banneux were reported by a young child, Mariette Beco a native of Banneux, Belgium in the 1930s. They are also known as the Virgin of the Poor. Beco reported seeing a Lady in White who declared herself the Virgin of the Poor and told her: "Believe in me and I will believe in you". In one vision, the Lady reportedly asked Mariette to drink from a small spring and later said that the spring was for healing.

Other Historical Marian Shrines

There are thousands of Churches and Shrines dedicated to Mary throughout the world. Most are of national or regional interest and draw mostly local rather than international pilgrims. Virtually all canonically approved Marian apparitions have a shrine associated with them and these tend to be International pilgrimage sites. In addition to the Apparition sites, there are several other Shrines and Churches dedicated to Mary that are international pilgrimage sites. Most are Cathedrals or Basilicas in Western Europe or the Holy Lands.

Nazareth — Basilica of the Annunciation is a Church in the Holy lands erected on the site where the Angel Gabriel is said to have announced the Incarnation to Mary. The Current church was built in 1969 over the site of an existing Crusader-era church. The lower level is said to contain the Grotto of the Annunciation and relics of Mary's childhood home.
Rome, Italy — The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore was is the largest and most significant Marian Shrine in Rome. It was originally associated with the "Our Lady of the Snows", and built on a hillside where Rome miraculously received snowfall in August. It was originally built in the 5th century, but has been renovated several times, most recently in the 1700s.
Loreto, Italy — Santuario della Santa Casa is known in English as the Shrine of the Holy House is said to contain within it material from the house in which Blessed Virgin Mary lived. It is a popular pilgrimage destination and is associated with the Marian Litany of Loreto.
Paris, France —Notre Dame of Paris is probably the most famous Marian Cathedral in the world. It is not alone, however, about the Cathedrals in France are dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and most all of the largest, most Famous Cathedrals are named for "Our Lady". For example, the Cathedrals of Chartres, Reims, Amiens, and Stousbourg are named "Notre Dame", but to avoid confusion are generally referred to by their location.
Florence, Italy — The Cathedral of St. Mary of the Flower, better known as the Cathedral of Florence, is one of the most architecturally and artistically famous Churches in the world, and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Vallarpadam, India — The Basilica of Our Lady of Ransom, is built on the Malabar coast of Indian at the location of an early Portuguese Church first built in the 16th century. It houses an icon of Mary and Jesus brought by Portuguese merchants in 1524. It was rebuilt and dedicated as a Marion Shrine in Indian in the 18th century.
Greece — The Shrine of Our Lady of Tinos is was built in 1830 soon after Greece freed itself from centuries of Moslem Rule. It is the largest Marian Shrine in Greece and is associated with an Icon known in Greece as Panagia Evangelistria, meaning "Holy Bringer of Good News". The shrine was built on the site where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to St. Pelagis.

Modern McMarian McShrines

Many of the largest and most tourist friendly Marian McShrines were built in the twentieth century in regions of the world far from Europe or the Holy lands. Some are associated with a Marian statue or relic of national interest, and were built as regional pilgrimage sites. Many of these modern Churches are extremely large and were funded by regional governments or private organizations rather than by local communities of the faithful. And unfortunately, some of the artwork associated with major Post-Vatican III shrines is less than saintly.

Brazil — The Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, consecrated in 1980 is the second largest church in the world, after St. Peters Basilica. It was built to honor an 18th century statue of Mary found by fishermen in a Brazilian village that is said to have worked miracles. The Shrine has been declared a Basilica and receives over 6 million visitors a year.
Washington D.C, United States — Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is the largest Catholic Church in North America. It was started in 1920 and dedicated in 1959, but construction continued until 2017.
Phillippines — The Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag was built to honor an ivory statue of Mary brought to the Philippines in the 17th century. It is located several hours north of Manila and is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the Philippines. The current church was built after World War II after a church on the site of a Benedictine monastery was destroyed.
India — The Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health located in the town of Velankanni where an apparition of the Virgin Mary is said to have occurred in the 16th century. The original church was built in 1771, but it was consecrated as a Basilica in 1962. It is one of the largest pilgrimage sites in India.
Ivory Coast — The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro was built in 1990 by the President of the Ivory Coast. It is located in West Africa and is one of the Largest Churches in the world, but it is not associated with any historical relic or image of the Blessed Virgin. The Ivory Coast is only about 30% Catholic. Something is fishy here.