A Visit to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

Yesterday, Maddie's Confirmation Group had a retreat at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. Neither of us had ever been to the Basilica, which is surprising because we spend so much time in Washington.

The Basilica is extraordinary. It is so incredibly beautiful that it takes your breath away. It is the depository for the largest collection of modern religious art works in the world. Obviously, the largest collection of antique religious art resides at the Vatican. We've seen both, and both Maddie and I were equally impressed and awed by the mosaics and artworks at the Basilica.

We were surprised to find a mosaic depicting 'Our Lady of China'. I was eager to learn more about this vision of Mary. It is extremely difficult to find a link between China and Catholicism. It's important for us to link Josie to her homeland in any way we can, so this was a great find for us. The Basilica did not have any details on OLO China and this was all I was able to find so far:



BACKGROUND OF OUR LADY IN CHINA
Our Lady of China appeared near Peiping. It stands in a village named Tong Lu. A Poor Mission was started there by the Vincentian Fathers. It was a poor place, perhaps the poorest in the whole region, formerly called "the place of beggars." In 1900, there were some seven hundred Christians gathered about the little hamlet. Suddenly, the famous Boxer rebellion swept China and grew to such proportions, that even small places like Tong Lu could not escape its fury. In April 1900, a force of ten thousand rioters attacked Tong Lu. The soldiers, in senseless rage, started to shoot into the sky. Then suddenly they fled, frightened, and never came back again. According to the legend, a woman in white appeared above the settlement, and the rioters' bullets were aimed at her. When the apparition did not fade, attackers had not even time to reorganize because a strange horseman put them to flight. Soon after they had disappeared beyond the horizon. Father Wu, a Chinese priest, confessed to his flock that he invoked the help of Mary. A new church was built on the site and Father Wu placed a picture of Our Lady on the main altar. He asked the painter to dress Our Lady in the royal robes of the dowager Empress Tzi-Hsi. The image of the Blessed Virgin in the royal robes of the pagan Empress, with the Christ Child on her knees, is vivid expression of Chinese tradition. It is a shrine of the Mother and her Son. Though her robes be pagan, she belongs to every age, to all people and to every race. As was told and promised in the Old Testament: "I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge and of holy hope."

The Tong Lu church was completely destroyed recently by the Chinese Communists, but the picture of Our Lady of China remains intact because only a copy of the picture was used in the church. The original was hidden in the wall behind the copy, and this was recovered and found intact. It is now in possession of Chinese priests who carry out their activities in disguise.

We all really enjoyed our visit to the Basilica and it was great to be with the kids when they were in such a reflective (and quiet!) place. We hope to visit again during the Christmas season.

Here is a slide show of the beautiful interior of the Basilica: (Click on the Slideshow to see larger view with captions.)