Skip to content

The Sacred Home of Mary in Loreto

The Pontifical Sanctuary of the Holy House, perched on the hilltop town of Loreto in Central Italy, is one of the most famous and precious Marian Shrines in the world.

Stay informed with all news from the Vatican and Rome by signing up to our weekly newsletter:

click here FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

The Pontifical Sanctuary of the Holy House, perched on the hilltop town of Loreto in Central Italy, is one of the most famous and precious Marian Shrines in the world. It attracts millions of pilgrims every year and numerous miracles and conversions are continuously recorded. 

Fr. Guiseppe Santarelli, OFM, is the Director of the Universal Congregation of the Holy House. He explains, “They come from all parts of Europe but also from the Americas, from Africa, Asia, Japan, and China. We have tourist guides in 13 languages so that we can meet the various requests. So, it’s a very international shrine of devotion to the Mother of God and to the mystery that is revealed in the House of Mary.” 

Fr. Giuseppe Santarelli, a Capuchin priest, who is a living symbol of this place and has been working here for over 40 years knows very well that people visit this sanctuary enclosed in a beautiful renaissance basilica because of its remarkable history and sacred significance. 

“This is the house of Mary where she lived and where she received the Annunciation,” Fr. Giuseppe notes, “and in this sense, it is also the home of the Mystery of the Incarnation. For this reason, it is one of the greatest Marian shrines in the world due to its relic and its antiquity.” 

The Miraculous Journey of the Holy House

For centuries, numerous artistic depictions fueled the belief that angels miraculously carried the Holy House from Nazareth to Loreto in 1294. 

Others held that the Holy House was brought to Italy at the end of the Crusades, like many other relics from the Holy Land. 

In fact, in 1900, a priest found records in the Vatican archives indicating that a Byzantine Greek family named Angelos—which translates to “Angels” in English—rescued Mary’s home during the Muslim conquest of 1291. 

“There is documentary evidence that indicates the house was transported to this location by sea through human initiative, rather than by the ministry of angels. However, the angels signify a special protection from God who wishes to preserve this house which commemorates the mystery of the Incarnation, and thus it is a most precious relic,” Fr. Giuseppe explains. 

Regardless of how the House arrived in Italy, there is little doubt that its walls are those of the Grotto of the Annunciation in Nazareth. 

Studies have shown that the stones making up the walls are not native to its current location and were not cut according to local Italian methods. 

The most convincing evidence is the discovery of ancient Christian and Marian graffiti markings on the Loreto walls similar to those in ancient Judeo-Christian Churches in Palestine. 

Artistic Masterpieces and Loreto’s Universal Appeal

The relic of the Holy House is covered by the marble ornamentation that is one of the highest expressions of 16th-century sculpture for its artistic quality and the size of design –  610 meters of masterpiece. 

The four gates of the Holy House were made with the chains of Christian slaves bound during the battle of Lepanto against Turks in 1571. Christian soldiers turned to the Lady of Loreto for her protection, and after the victory they brought their chains to the shrine. 

Inside the Basilica, numerous national chapels showcase a stunning array of artistic beauty, among them the American chapel showcases many historic characters like presidents and astronauts. Thousands of Americans come here to pray to Our Lady of Loreto. 

“On the right wall, there is a depiction of Our Lady, patroness of aviation, because Our Lady of Loreto was proclaimed Our Lady of Aviation in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV,” Fr. Giuseppe notes. “She is therefore considered the patroness of air travelers by Catholics worldwide.” 

Many saints and popes have visited the shrine. Saint John Paul II called the Holy House of Loreto “the true Marian heart of Christianity.” Following in his footsteps, Pope Francis visited Loreto on the Solemnity of the Annunciation in 2019. He signed the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Christus Vivit within the Holy House, anchoring the Church’s message to youth in this sacred site. This act underscored that the future of the Church is deeply rooted in Mary’s example and her “yes” to the Lord. 

Adapted by Jacob Stein 

SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE

Receive the most important news from EWTN Vatican via WhatsApp. It has become increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channel today

Share

Would you like to receive the latest updates on the Pope and the Vatican

Receive articles and updates from our EWTN Newsletter.

More news related to this article

The Vatican Speaks Out Against Taking Land from Indigenous People

The Vatican has recently made a significant statement against the exploitation of lands and historical forced assimilation of

Vatican AI: The Church and New Technology

In October, the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences hosted a conference in the Vatican to discuss the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in society and its implications for the Church.

Bonifatiuswerk: Un Ponte di Solidarietà per il Nord Europa

Celebrazione del 50° Anniversario Il Bonifatiuswerk ha celebrato il 50° anniversario del loro Aiuto per il Nord Europa

BREAKING: Vatican Closing Down Loyola Community Co-Founded by Rupnik

The Vatican has decided to shut down the religious community of sisters co-founded by accused abuser Father Marko Rupnik, the Slovenian Archdiocese of Ljubljana announced Friday.

Animal rights activists plead with Pope Francis to end bullfighting

Two animal rights activists connected to PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) temporarily interrupted Pope Francis’ Wednesday audience in Vatican City, calling on the 87-year-old pontiff to take action against bullfighting.

PHOTOS: Thousands gather for rosary in St. Peter’s Square after death of Pope Francis

PHOTOS: The Vatican on Monday evening hosted a praying of the rosary in St. Peter’s Square following the death of Pope Francis earlier in the day.

LIVE
FROM THE VATICAN

Be present live on EWTNit