OUR LADY OF BAVARIA

 Day 4: May 14




The devotion to Our Lady of Bavaria is centered around the oldest Marian Shrine in Germany. This is an octagonal chapel built around the year 660. This shrine houses the image of Our Lady known as the Black Madonna. Historians suggest that the image was carved out in linden wood possibly in 1330. Even though its artist remains anonymous, the parish chronicle refers to him as a holy hermit of Alltotting. That goes well with the historical lines as we understand that Emperor Ludwig IV founded a Benedictine monastery there in 1330. The popularity of the shrine as well as of the Marian image has its roots in a miracle dating back to the fifteenth century. It happened in 1489. A young boy had drowned. His mother was a great devotee of the Blessed Mother. She brought her son's body to the chapel and placed him at the feet of the image of Our Lady. Her prayers were granted; her son was restored back to life. Since then, the shrine became a popular destination of pilgrims. Many miracles occurred there through the intercession of the Blessed Mother.

Basilica of St Anna

The number of pilgrims grew year after year that it was necessary to build a bigger church. Construction works started at the beginning of the 20th century and was completed in 1912. This new church could hold as many as eight thousand people and is the largest church in Altotting. The church building was constructed in the Neo-Baroque and Historicist styles. The church has twelve side altars and a huge high altar. The saintly Pope Pius X elevated this church to the status of a Papal Basilica.

"The Black Madonna"

Contrary to the usual portrayals of Our Lady, this image of Our Lady presents Mary in black complexion. There are many explanations given to this different style of portrayal. Some explain it as part of the natural darkening process of wood. Others speak of the soot of the candles lit over the centuries. However, Our Lady of Bavaria has been referred to as the Black Madonna from the early 17th century.

The Image 

This beautiful wooden statue refers to our celestial Mother who guides us through the earthly valley of tears to the heavenly abode. Under this miraculous image in the altar of grace is hidden the letter of consecration from Elector Maximilian I, written in his own blood, consecrating himself and the whole of Bavaria to the maternal care and protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary holds a scepter with a lily blossom in her left hand, as a symbol of her virginity. The Child Jesus rests on her right arm and carries a celestial sphere symbolizing the omnipotence of God. Both Mary and Jesus wears elaborate crowns adorned with precious stones, obviously generous donations from the royal Wittelsbach family. Mary has been dressed in exquisite robes, popularly known as Gnadenrockln (skirt of mercy) since 1518. Pope Benedict XVI, after his election as the successor of St Peter, visited Our Lady and Altotting and adorned the scepter of the Image with his bishop's ring on September 11, 2006.

And More...

The Shrine has been run by Capuchin friars for centuries. One of those friars is Brother Conrad of Parzham (1818 -1894). He served there as a porter for 40 long years! His holy life was recognized by the Church and Pope Pius XI canonized him on May 20, 1934. Pope John Paul II paid a visit to the shrine in November 1980. He was accompanied by his later successor Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI), who would later return to the shrine in thanksgiving after becoming the Pope.

An Old Prayer of a Pilgrim on Foot

Hail, Mary!
Hail, Mary!
Hail, Mary, I greet you.
I greet you thirty-three thousand times, as the Archangel Gabriel greeted you.
Your heart rejoices, as does mine, that the Archangel Gabriel brought you this heavenly greeting:
Hail Mary, the Lord is with you . . .
O highly praised and blessed is the Virgin Mary, both now and forever!
May you be greeted thousands of times in this beautiful chapel of grace,
O dear Mother of Jesus!
Holy Mary, pray for us,
Pray to God for us poor sinners to protect us from storms and hail and all misfortunes!
Holy Virgin Mary, stay with us, free us from our sins,
Stay with us at the hour of our death, that we may receive the Blessed Sacrament.
O Mary, we must now depart from here, but our hears remain with you,
O most beautiful Mother of Jesus, pray for us.

Altötting Prayer in Time of Trouble

Mary unfurl your mantel, make it a shelter and shield for us,
Let us find refuge within until all the storms are past.
In sickness and in sorrow, O Mary send us your help,
Protect us from great need, obtain for us our daily bread.
Bring us peace once again, O Mother Mary, hear us,
remain with your people, in your land of salvation's sacred promise.
Mary, Altötting is your place of grace, be its refuge,
in these difficult times, protect your holy place from all harm,
shield us, O Mary, full of grace, in both body and soul, and look mercifully upon us here below.

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