Pope Francis designates shrine in Philadelphia to basilica status

The Miraculous Medal Shrine, a Marian devotional destination and ministry of the Vincentians of the Eastern Province in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, has been elevated by the Vatican to Minor Basilica status, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced Jan. 25.

The designation is shared by only one other church in the city — the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul —  and 91 others across the United States. The shrine, along with the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception that houses it, are now known as The Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.

The new designation followed an application process of multiple years and culminated in a decree issued by Pope Francis. The Shrine is now promoted as an exemplary site of liturgical and pastoral activity within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Minor Basilicas are given prominence among other churches and shrines, receive certain honorifics, and are tasked with special responsibilities.   

Among the faithful who have visited the shrine are the Altar Rosary Society at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Milltown. The group, which included Father Edward Czarcinski, pastor, and parishioners and members of other local parishes, visited the shrine May 17, 2016.

The group took a tour of the shrine, then had time for reflection, prayed the rosary and worshiped at Mass.

After Mass, the group visited the shrine’s museum.

Among the pilgrims was Bernadette Olson, a member of the Altar Rosay Society and a past president.

“Our visit had a very positive impact on me,” Olson said in an interview with the ‘The Catholic Spirit.’ “Prior to the visit, I prayed the rosary and occasionally wore the Miraculous Medal. This visit made me wish to learn more about both the rosary and the Miraculous Medal and to more seriously reflect on both.”

Olson said she also read the biography of Catherine Laboure to better understand the story of the Miraculous Medal. As a result, she has become more devoted to the Blessed Mother and the Miraculous Medal.    

“I am thrilled that the Miraculous Medal Shrine has been elevated to the Minor Basilica status,” she said. “I was impressed at how the Shrine is a place for reflection and prayer for visitors but is still a neighborhood church supported by the local residents. The Shrine reflects the message of Jesus and his mother that we can find salvation through our faith in God.”

Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez of Philadelphia, said, “I am deeply grateful to the Holy Father for bestowing this tremendous honor on The Miraculous Medal Shrine. This moment is one of great joy for the entire Church in Philadelphia. The Miraculous Medal Shrine is a great gift drawing souls closer to Christ through the intercession of the Blessed Mother.

“I congratulate the Vincentians and all those working to sustain the Shrine and its ministry. May their work continue to bear great fruit.”

The central functions of a basilica are rooted in the sacramental life of the Church as a site of pilgrimage, an historical landmark, and a house of significant sacred art. The basilica title gives the Shrine certain privileges and responsibilities, principally the celebration of the feast of the Chair of St. Peter; the solemnity of the Holy Apostles, Peter, and Paul; and the anniversary of the pope’s election into pastoral ministry.

Additionally, since the designation denotes a special bond of communion with the residing pope, the Basilica Shrine can remove all temporal consequences of sin to individuals, which remain even after the person’s sin has been forgiven (plenary indulgence).

As a basilica, the Basilica Shrine will be outfitted with an umbrellino, a canopy of yellow and red silk; and together with a tintinnabulum, a bell mounted on a pole used for papal visits. The Basilica Shrine is also granted the privilege of displaying Vatican City’s coat of arms on its facade and the crossed keys of St. Peter on all its furnishings and liturgical appointments.

As a ministry of the Congregation of the Mission priests and brothers — commonly known as the Vincentians — the Basilica Shrine has held historical significance in the Philadelphia area, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and the Eastern United States for more than 140 years. The Vincentians, founded by St. Vincent de Paul in 1625, arrived in Philadelphia in 1841, where they established a seminary in the city’s Germantown section, including construction of a chapel for use by the priests and seminarians. At the request of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the Vincentians modified their plans for the chapel and in 1878 opened its doors for liturgical celebrations and pastoral assistance for the poor, working-class, and largely immigrant residents of the surrounding neighborhood, who at the time did not have a parish church.

In 1927, under the leadership of Father Joseph A. Skelly, CM, the Vincentians commissioned an expansion of the chapel for the creation of a shrine to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, a title of the Blessed Mother originating with her apparitions to St. Catherine Labouré at the Rue du Bac Chapel, Paris, in 1830.

In 1930, Father Skelly established the Perpetual Novena of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, a devotion that has been prayed at the Shrine every Monday since then and continues every Monday at the Basilica Shrine.

Chris Donahue, Editor-In-Chief, “The Catholic Spirit,” also cotributed to this article