Shrines of Italy: The Holy House of Loreto

The Holy House of Loreto is one of the most significant shrines in Christian history. According to legend, it was once the house of Our Lady, and it was in this house that the Annunciation took place.

As the inscription at the eastern end of the Basilica states: “It is here that most holy Mary, Mother of God, was born; here that she was saluted by the Angel, and here that the eternal Word of God was made Flesh. In the beginning of the pontificate of Boniface VIII, this house was carried by the ministry of angels and placed upon this hill. Thus, this holy house is held in great reverence by all nations.”

The house itself is contained within a much grander basilica, which was constructed in 1468 as a replacement for the original church which had protected the holy house for several centuries. Despite everything that we know about this house and its associated legends, it nonetheless remains an enigma and a subject of debate for many people.

Archeological analysis conducted in 1962 determined that the holy house not only lacks a foundation, but is also constructed of a type of limestone and cedar that is not available in the region of Loreto, but is commonly found in many regions of the Middle East. This fact alone is enough to prove that the house did not originate in Loreto, and was certainly transported here many centuries ago.

Presently, there are two prevailing theories about how this happened. One being that it was carried miraculously by angels in the year 1263 in order to protect it from desecration during the Muslim conquest of Middle East.

The other theory suggests that the crusaders brought it here by sea, for the same reason. According to one source, the crusaders were commonly referred to as "angels" during that time, which if true may help to explain the origin of the first theory.

Regardless of who transported the house, it’s obvious that great pains were taken to protect this place, suggesting that it may in fact be the original house of Our Lady. 

The house itself is quite small, consisting of a single room with an altar containing an image of the Black Madonna. In 1468, the larger Basilica was built over the Holy House. Having been remodeled and reconstructed numerous times over the ensuing centuries, the Basilica today has a Renaissance exterior and a Gothic interior.

Surrounding the Holy House is a marble concourse which pilgrims often use to encircle the shrine, with many choosing to kneel on the marble step while reciting the rosary and slowing making their way around the perimeter. The millions of people who have done this devotional act have worn a notable indentation into the hard stone.

In 1510 the holy house was officially approved for pilgrimages, and it soon became extremely popular in Italy, to the point that by the 16th century it had begun receiving pilgrims from all over Europe, with may notable saints having visited the site. These include St. Therese of Lisieux, who wrote about the experience in her autobiography, as well as Saint Francis de Sales, Saint Louis de Montfort, and Pope Saint John Paul II, just to name a few.

In her autobiography, Saint Therese of Lisieux recalls how she was overwhelmed with emotion upon finding herself in the very place where the Blessed Virgin was born, where the Incarnation of the Son of God took place, and where the Holy Family had once lived.

For my part, I would say the Holy House of Loreto is my new favorite shrine. There are few places in which I feel the weight of Christian history as heavily as I do here. From the primitive shelter of the house itself to the grandiose design of the basilica surrounding it; everything here is pervaded by a sense of grace and beauty.

While that may have something to do with the peaceful, rolling hills of the Italian countryside, I prefer to think it’s because the spirit of Our Lady continues to reside here in some way, even today.