The Shrine of Our Lady of Einsiedeln holds miraculous statue

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
8/12/2011
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Swiss shrine contains the Black Madonna, and attracts 200,000 visitors annually

The Shrine of Our Lady of Einsiedeln is located about 20 miles southeast of Z�rich, in the town of the same in Switzerland. The shrine is perhaps best known for its miraculous Black Madonna statue. The village itself is also home to the world's largest nativity scene, the Diorama Bethlehem.

The most important part of the basilica is the Lady Chapel, near the entrance in the west end. Destroyed in 1798 by French invaders, and rebuilt in 1817, above the chapel's altar is the Black Madonna, resplendent in rich robes and surrounded by gold clouds.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The shrine's origins begin in the 9th century, when the monk St. Meinrad arrived to built a hermitage in the wilderness that would later become Einsiedeln. He took with him a miracle-working statue of the Virgin Mary given to him by the Abbess Hildegarde of Z�rich. On January 21, 861, two thieves murdered Meinrad for the treasure in the hermitage. According to legend, the killers were caught after two ravens followed them into town and drew attention to them with loud squawking.

A group of Benedictine monks transformed Meinrad's little hermitage into the Lady Chapel in 940. The chapel is said to have been consecrated by Christ himself on September 14, 948, when the bishop who was to consecrate the new site had a vision of Christ himself approaching the altar. The miracle was confirmed by Pope Leo VIII 16 years later in a papal bull.

St. Meinrad had the Black Madonna statue, its color explained by years of candle smoke as part of his altarpiece. After his death it was placed in the Lady Chapel for veneration. Many miracles were attributed to the intercession of "Our Lady of Einsiedeln," and pilgrimages to Einsiedeln began shortly after 1000 AD. As many as 50,000 pilgrims streamed into the monastery each week in the middle ages.

Despite temporary setbacks. Such as suffering major destruction during the French Revolution, Einsiedeln continues to receive pilgrims, about 200,000 each year.
What to See

The abbey church at Einsiedeln is a majestic baroque edifice with elaborately decorated pastel ceilings, many marble side altars, and a large high altar in the east end.

The most important part of the basilica is the Lady Chapel, near the entrance in the west end. Destroyed in 1798 by French invaders, and rebuilt in 1817, above the chapel's altar is the Black Madonna, resplendent in rich robes and surrounded by gold clouds. Many services take place here each day.

A short walk from the abbey is the world's largest nativity scene, the Diorama Bethlehem, with more than 500 carved wooden figures, and the justifiably famous Panorama, a circular painting more than 300 feet long and 30 feet high depicting Jerusalem and the Crucifixion. Open from Easter to the end of October, they have narrative explanations in five languages.

� 2011, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM

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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: The Shrine of Our Lady of Einsiedeln, Black Madonna, Nativity scene

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1 - 10 of 11 Comments

henry navarro ongchua
1 year ago
deep in my heart I pray God will give my present family (Tessie, Thea and me) the opportunity to visit this beautiful place and touch the black statue of the blessed virgin mary. Sadly I never heard nor had the opportunity to visit this lown when I was in Schaffhausen. Again I pray God to give us this opportunity to visit the church.
ADAEZE
1 year ago
SURPRISINGLY, I HAVENT HEARD OF THE BLACK MADONNA BEFORE, I WAS KIND OF SKEPTICAL AT FIRST TILL I OPENED THE PAGE AND I/M SO HAPPY THAT THERE REALLY OS A BLACK MADONNA COS I'M BLACK AND SO PROUD OF MY HERITAGE. I WANT TO SEE THE STATUE FACE TO FACE.
Gary A.McGinn Jrmytam
1 year ago
First time but never the last time to see a beautiful Lady in color of Light .
vance
1 year ago
Thank you for a great article. This is a remarkable thing. This is something that I would love to visit someday.
Aunt Raven
1 year ago
This article did not mention that the Einsiedeln madonna is also "Our Lady of Hermits" and has long been venerated as such by contemplative recluses and solitaries. Nor did it say that there was no treasure in the hermit's cell, for Meinrad lived in evangelical poverty. Supernatural witnesses to St Meinrad's vocation as hermit as well as martyr are the two ravens who were the providential instruments of retribution for his murderers--ravens have since the old testament been the servants of the prophets and saints who pray to God in the wilderness.
"G.G." a Pro-Life Catholic American
1 year ago
What a beautiful story! Thank you...I pray that I may have the opportunity to go visit this chapel....It truly touched me....
Bernadette
1 year ago
Can we send petitions to \our Lady at this place of pilgrimage?
Mary
1 year ago
Each evening the monks march in procession from the main altar down to the Lady Chapel, as they have done for centuries. I believe the older ones at one end and the younger at the other. They fill the tiny chapel and sing the Salve Regina.
It is one of the most moving sights I've ever seen.
Einsedeln is a wonderful place to visit with beautiful scenery, super-clean authentically Swiss hotels and delicious cakes! It's easily reached from Zurich by a scenic train ride.
Sandra Arispe
1 year ago
THANK YOU
Carmen R. Villanueva
1 year ago
I was touched by the story. i will spread the word on the existence of thi
miraculous statue. If I get a chance to be in Zurich I will try to go to
this chapel
carmen Villanueva

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