Looking Back: Bringing The Grotto to You

A Place of Sanctuary

Bringing The Grotto to You

Day 63: The Chapel Saints

The Chapel of Mary

The Chapel of Mary was dedicated in 1955. It seats approximately 500 people, and is known around the region for its amazing acoustics. Behind the bronze doors, beautiful mosaics, statues and murals embrace all who enter.

The Statues of Saints

All the statues you see are made from Carrara marble, a historic marble quarry in Italy (and the same marble Michelangelo use in the original Pieta). Most are from the Eredi Studios in Pietrasanta, Italy, a religious art colony near Pisa.

We have statues in churches as a reminder of the significant people in our lives. These statues depict holy people in the life of the church and the Servite community.

At the front of the church you find statues of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Joseph holding the child Jesus.

Mary, the Blessed Virgin Mother, is the Mother of Jesus, and the Spiritual Mother of us all.

She is the model of a faithful servant, saying yes to God, and following her Son Jesus to the Cross.

The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother is a Shrine to Mary.

St. Joseph is the earthly father of Jesus. He was a carpenter by trade.

Joseph, too, is a model of faithfulness. He was faithful to Mary and Jesus, in and through circumstances that were difficult to understand.

He is the patron saint of carpenters and woodworkers.

Servite St. Peregrine Laziosi (1265-1345)

St. Peregrine labored for years as a brother in the Order and at age 60 was diagnosed with cancer of the leg. On the night before the scheduled amputation of his leg, Peregrine dragged himself to the foot of the cross in the community chapter room and fell into a deep trance-like sleep. Upon waking, he discovered that this leg was completely cured. Because of the miracle wrought by prayer, the Church canonized him in 1726 and named him patron of those with cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

The lesson of Peregrine’s life is not that God worked a miracle, but that a faithful, trustful servant placed himself, unconditionally, in the hands of our Lord.

Peregrine’s trust in God can be a model for us in dealing with the pain, sickness and crosses of our lives.

Servite St. Philip Benizi (1233-1285)

Born to a noble family in Florence, Italy, Philip studied in Padua and Paris, earning a doctorate in medicine and philosophy. He joined the Servite Order in 1253; in time he became renowned for his preaching. He was instrumental in the future Saint Peregrine Laziosi joining the Servite order.

In 1267 Philip was chosen as general superior (prior general) of the order. He was influential in reforming the religious order, and was eventually considered a possible candidate for the Papal Throne, after Pope Clemete IV dies in 1268. This so distressed Philip that he fled and lived in a cave until the papal election was over.

Servite St. Juliana Falconieri (1270-1341)

St. Juliana Falconieri was the niece of St. Alexis Falconieri, one of the Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order.

At the age of 15 she received a habit of the Third Order of Servites. She remained in her parent’s home. After her mother's death, she and several companions moved into a house of their own, which became the first convent of the Sisters of the Third Order of Servites.

Juliana remaining the superior until the end of her life. She is a patron saint of the sick, and those who suffer bodily infirmities.

St. Pius X

(1835-1914)

St. Therese of Lisieux

(1873-1897)

Pope Pius X is perhaps best remembered for his encouragement of the frequent reception of Holy Communion, especially by children.

The second of 10 children in a poor Italian family, Joseph Sarto became Pius X at age 68.

His legacy includes the improvement of priestly formation, instituting improved liturgies and music, including Gregorian Chant.

He also insisted on quality preaching from his priests and bishops.

He modernized Canon law and introduced progressive scholarship through the biblical institute of Rome, under the direction of the Jesuits.

St. Therese entered the Carmelite convent in Lisieux at age 15. She lived a hidden, simple life of prayer.

St. Therese loved nature, and often used the imagery of nature to explain how God’s Presence is everywhere. Therese saw herself as "the Little Flower of Jesus" because she was just like the simple wild flowers in forests and fields, unnoticed by the greater population, yet growing and giving glory to God.

Therese did not see herself as a brilliant rose, but as a small wildflower, simple and hidden, but blooming where God had planted her.

Therese lived and taught a spirituality of attending to everyone and everything well and with love. She is he patron saint of missionaries, florists and the sick.

St. Anthony Pucci

(1195-1892)

St. Maria Goretti

(1890-1902)

St. Anthony Pucci was born in 1819 at Poggiole, Italy. He entered the Servite Order at the age of eighteen.

After his ordination to the priesthood he was sent to Viareggio where he was soon made pastor, an office he held for forty-five years, until his death.

He gave himself totally to the service of God and Our Lady, and with loving care he was a father to all his parishioners, especially the needy. He was canonized in 1962. His feast is celebrated January 12th.

St. Maria Goretti is the youngest canonized saint in the Church.

Her father died when she was 9 years old and her mother went to work in the fields. Maria cared for her five siblings, and also cooked and cleaned for two neighbors.

She died tragically at the age of eleven, defending her virginity from a 20-year old neighbor boy.

She is the patron saint of Chastity.

Saints on the Tower

On the north side of the Chapel is a 110-foot bell tower, crowned with a dome and cross.

A beautiful mosaic of the Mother and Child, along with statues of the four evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, are clearly visible on the tower.

The Four Evangelists

Saints Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, are the authors of the Four Gospels.

They are often called the Four Evangelists as they were among the first to write down the Story of our Salvation: writing the teachings, miracles, life, suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

They are often represented with their attributes: the Angel for St. Matthew, the Lion for St. Mark, the Ox for St. Luke and the Eagle for St. John. Sometimes these symbols stand in for the Evangelists.

The Chapel Exterior

Statues of St. Paul and St. Peter stand at the exterior corners of the Chapel of Mary.

St. Paul was originally known as Saul, a Roman citizen and a Pharisee. He presided over the persecutions of the early Christians and was present at the martyrdom of St. Stephen.

Saul experienced a powerful vision that caused him to convert to Christianity while on the road to Damascus. He was duly baptized and took the name Paul.

St. Paul traveled the world. During these travels, he preached , often drawing criticism and ire from those who rebuffed his message. Jews, in particular, hated his preaching as they saw him convert people to Christianity from Judaism.

St. Paul is among the most famous and influential of the apostles. He is the patron saint of missionaries, evangelists, writers, and public workers.

St. Peter was one of the twelve apostles.

He was a fisherman along the Sea of Galilea. He was a simple man, with the capacity for doing good works, but now and again afflicted by sudden weakness and doubt.

After the death and resurrection of Jesus, Peter manifested courage and strength. He was ‘the Rock’ on which the Church was built.

It is perhaps St. Peter’s capacity to reconcile and grow that makes his story so inspiring to others.

St. Peter was the first Bishop of Rome, martyr, and keeper of the keys of heaven”.

He is the patron saint of Popes, Rome, and locksmiths.

Saints at the Chapel Entrance

The bas-relief over the bronze doors and marble entrance to the Chapel portray the Baptism of Christ. The statues to each side represent St. Alexis, Falconieri, OSM, and St. Juliana Falconieri, OSM.

St. Alexis (1200 - 1310) was born into a wealthy family in Florence. He is one of the Holy Founders of the Servite Order, and the only one still living when the Order was approved by Pope Alexander IV in 1256. He was known for his great humility and devotion.

St. Juliana was the neice of St. Alexis, and is featured earlier in this email.

The Mosaics of Saints

Inside the Chapel of Mary you find two special mosaics, St. Anne, the mother of Mary and grandmother of Jesus, and the Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order.

St. Anne

Seven Holy Founders

The Lectern Saints

Three saints adorn the lectern in the chapel, St. John, St. Peter and St. James.

St. James was one of the disciples. He was brother to St. John the Evangelist, and son of Zebedee. He is also sometimes called St. James the Greater.

James was one of the favored three who had the privilege of witnessing the Transfiguration, the raising to life of the daughter of Jairus, and the agony in the garden of Gethsemani.

St. John and St. Peter are featured earlier in this email.