The Holy House (or Santa Casa) of Loreto stands as one of the most visited Marian shrines in the world. From mediaeval times, it has been held that the Holy House is the very home in which Mary dwelt, conceived and raised the child Jesus. Nowadays a large basilica houses the small shrine that attracts around 4 million Catholic pilgrims annually. I had the joy of visiting it on 5 January.
Tradition has it that angels miraculously transported the Santa Casa to Loreto. In actual fact what happened was that in 1291 a Christian family, named Angeli, moved piece by piece the Holy House from its original site, Nazareth, to Dalmatia, and later on, in 1295 the aforementioned family transported it once again to the Italian town of Loreto. One can understand the rationale behind the legend that the angels themselves brought the Holy House to Loreto.
The present basilica was built in 1469. In 1507 the Holy House was covered with a marble enclosure, a masterpiece of the Loreto-Art, commissioned by Pope Julius II, drawn by the outstanding architect Donato Bramante and realized by Andrea Sansovino. The niches are decorated by statues of Sybilles and Prophets. Three years later the place was officially declared as a site for pilgrimages. Throughout the centuries countless multitudes of people flocked to the basilica of the Holy House to seek God’s protection through the intercession of the Virgin Mary. In 1910, Our Lady of Loreto had been chosen as the patron saint of pilots, due to the tradition of the house’s miraculous flight from Nazareth. In effect, on every 8 September, the day of the Virgin’s birth, pilots assemble at the shrine to pray as well as take part in a colourful procession.
The basilica, which preserves the Holy House, has been constantly repaired from time to time since its construction in 1469. Today one can notice its Renaissance exterior and Gothic interior. Inside the basilica, the Holy House is the principal point of interest. The Santa Casa is a small stone edifice measuring 13 by 31 feet, with traces of mediaeval murals on the inner walls. On the east wall (which is not part of the original construction) there is an altar with the Latin inscription Hic Verbum Caro Factum Est, “Here the Word was made flesh”. The wooden statue of the Virgin Mary, which stands above the altar, was graven into the wood of a cedar of Lebanon in 1922. It replaces the original one which was lost in a fire in 1921. The actual statue was modelled by Enrico Quattrini and painted by Leopoldo Celani and it is covered by the Dalmatica Cloth, following tradition. The pastoral care of this holy sanctuary has been entrusted to the Capuchin Order.
I summarise the immense spiritual benefit which I personally received from this much revered Marian shrine, by making my own passage from Pope John Paul II’s Angelus Address, delivered at the Esplanade of Montorso, himself a pilgrim to Loreto on 5 September 2004. “I consign to you three duties: the first is ‘contemplation’: strive to walk on the path of holiness, keeping your gaze fixed on Jesus, the one Teacher and Saviour of all. The second duty is ‘communion’: endeavour to promote the spirituality of unity with the Pastors of the Church, with all the brethren in the faith and with the other ecclesial associations. Be the leaven of dialogue with all people of good will. The third duty is ‘mission’: … take the leaven of the Gospel to homes and schools, to places of work and recreation. The Gospel is a word of hope and salvation for the world.”
This is also my heartfelt wish for every pilgrim who visits the Santa Casa of Loreto with an open mind and heart to God’s saving intervention.
■ Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap