Holy Hill National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians

The Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians ( Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians ) on the Holy Hill in Erin, Wisconsin, is a Roman Catholic pilgrimage site, which is hosted by the Order of Discalced Carmelites. The 1931 completed neo-Romanesque Church has the status of a national sanctuary, and, since 2006, a minor basilica.

History

The religious significance of that since the 19th century Holy Hill 410 m high hill west of Lake Michigan is already back to the Jesuit mission of the 17th century. 1858 taught German -born Catholic settlers on the summit, a 4.60 m wide oak wood cross on which is preserved to this day. It bears the inscription in German, "I am the life. He who believes in me will be saved. " Around 1860 came the French-born François Soubrio as a hermit on the hill. After initial distrust supported him, the farmers of the surrounding area. The first wooden chapel at the place under the patronage of Mary Help of Christians was dedicated on May 24, 1863 by a native of Bavaria and consecrated in Milwaukee priest George Strickner.

In the 1870s, simple Stations of the Cross were erected and improves the access road to the mountain. 1879/80 and a brick church and a rectory with guest rooms were built. The number of pilgrims increased rapidly. For the pilgrims pastoral care came at the request of the Archbishop of Milwaukee 1906 Bavarian Carmelites (OCD ) on the Holy Hill. In the following years, the first convent building, later replaced by the current ensemble was born.

1925, the Chicago architect Herman Gaul was entrusted with the plans for a large new sanctuary. The completed building was dedicated on July 19, 1931 by William Richard Griffin, Auxiliary Bishop of La Crosse.

In the 1960s, more guest houses and meeting rooms were created, as well as a lift tower. In the 1980s, the grounds were redesigned and the Theresienwiese - crypt refurbished.

Today, every year hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to the Shrine. Annual pilgrimages are carried out by dioceses and ethnic groups.

Architecture and Facilities

The pilgrimage church of the Holy Hill is a three-aisled neo-Romanesque brick basilica with a short transept, servatives - roof skylights and retracted rectangular choir. The portal to the southwest facade is divided rich and flanked by two tall towers with octagonal floor and cone tip. Under the basilica one of St. Teresa of Ávila is consecrated crypt. While this was a modern design in the 1980s, the original colors and joyful ornament features of the 19th century is largely retained in the main church.