Marian Devotion: The link between Rome and the American Midwest

Every year on August 5th, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Dedication of the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome. Located atop Rome’s Esquiline Hill, it is the oldest and most important church in the West dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Its treasures include the ancient Marian Icon Salus Populi Romani, a collection of 5th-century mosaics, and the reliquary of the Holy Manger of Bethlehem. But what many Catholics do not know is its links to another beautiful Marian shrine in the American Midwest: the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

I recently had the privilege of studying in Rome with the Thomistic Institute last Spring semester. For me, Saint Mary Major was the place where I felt the Virgin Mary’s closeness most while studying there. When I learned of the affiliation between the Basilica and the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, I resolved to visit the Shrine to thank Mary for her intercession during my studies in Rome. The recent Shrine Mass commemorating the Feast, offered by His Eminence Raymond Cardinal Burke, presented me with the perfect occasion to do so.

Upon arriving at the Shrine grounds, I was in awe of the natural beauty surrounding them. A feature throughout the grounds was its beautiful rose flowers, evoking the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Saint Juan Diego’s cloak. I then made my way up through the Pilgrim Path, along which are the Votive Candle Chapel, the Butterfly Garden, and devotional areas to Saint Joseph and Saint Kateri Tekakwitha. At the end of my walk along the path was the heart of the grounds – the Shrine Church.

The Shrine Church, dedicated by then-Archbishop Burke in July 2008, is of the Italian Renaissance style of architecture. Inside this magnificent church, people can visibly and spiritually experience the bond between this church and Saint Mary Major in Rome. Its altar and baldacchino are modeled after those of the Papal Basilica. Because of the papal affiliation between the two churches, shrine pilgrims can receive the same spiritual benefits as they would in Rome. This includes a plenary indulgence on specific days, including August 5th.

The mass for the feast was a Solemn Pontifical Mass at the Throne by Cardinal Burke, the founder of the Shrine. This March, he initiated a 9-month novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of the shrine and of the Americas. He aims with this novena to encourage Catholics and all of goodwill to, like the Romans of old, return to Our Lady for the conversion of hearts. Here I think of the images of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Salus Populi Romani, Marian images that Catholics, in America and Rome, have turned to in times of trial.

The Pontifical Mass at the shrine was a lovely experience. Conducted entirely in Latin, it featured Palestrina’s sublime musical setting “Missa Brevis”. In his homily, Cardinal Burke alluded to the special relationship between the shrine and Saint Mary Major. He also encouraged the faithful to participate in the novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe, culminating in a special consecration to her on December 12th this year. He expressed his hope that we, together with the Virgin Mary, be instruments by which others know God and embrace the Gospel of her son, Jesus Christ.

I encourage all to make a pilgrimage to Saint Mary Major in Rome if they are able, especially during the upcoming Jubilee Year of 2025. For those unable to visit Rome, they can still receive the same spiritual benefits at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse. From there, they will be inspired to follow her and Our Lord better, calling to mind the Latin inscription on the shrine church’s cornerstone: “QUODCUMQUE DIXERIT VOBIS, FACITE” (DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU).