Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation

The Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation is a significant Roman Catholic site located in Carey, Ohio. Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Consolation, it holds the distinction of being a national shrine and was elevated to the status of a Minor Basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1971.

Significance and Devotion

This basilica is one of only a few in Ohio and serves as a prominent center for Catholic pilgrimage in the United States. It is particularly known for hosting an annual pilgrimage of Roman Catholics, many of whom are of Middle Eastern origin, to observe the Feast of the Assumption of Mary on August 15th each year. The veneration of Mary as Our Lady of Consolation, or Mary, Consoler of the Afflicted, dates back to the second century and is a title found in the Litany of Loreto. Devotion to this title was fostered in the United States by European immigrants.

History and Development

The history of the shrine in Carey began with the arrival of a statue from Luxembourg in 1875, mirroring an established devotion to Our Lady of Luxembourg there. The first church, originally named St. Edward, began construction in 1868 and was completed in 1873. Upon its completion, the congregation renamed it in honor of Our Lady of Consolation. A pivotal moment occurred during the statue's procession to the church from a neighboring parish in 1875, where it is said a severe storm miraculously spared the procession from rain. The growing number of pilgrims necessitated the construction of a larger church, which was completed in 1924, forming the foundation of the current basilica.

Architectural Features and Complex

The present basilica is a red-brick structure with Byzantine styling, situated at the corner of Clay & West streets. Its main floor includes a sanctuary with an altar that retains its pre-Vatican II configuration, separated by an altar rail and adorned with religious statuary and votive candles. A choir loft housing a pipe organ is located above the narthex. The statue of Our Lady of Consolation is prominently displayed at the right side altar, with the left side altar dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows. A secondary sanctuary is located in the basement, which also contains confessionals and display cases exhibiting items from individuals who reported miraculous healing.

The basilica complex is extensive, encompassing the original wooden church, a parish school, a rectory for Franciscan priests, a provincial house for friars, a convent for nuns, a retreat center for pilgrims, a gift shop, and a cafeteria. Adjacent to the basilica is Shrine Park, featuring a mile-long Stations of the Cross path and an outdoor altar under a large, gold-domed structure topped with a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, visible from a distance. Shrine Park serves as the destination for the traditional religious procession on the Feast of the Assumption.