Black Madonna Shrine, Missouri
Encyclopedia
The Black Madonna or Virgin Mary Shrine and Grotto is a shrine
located in the unincorporated area south of Pacific
and Southwest of Eureka
in the state of Missouri
, United States
. It was constructed in 1938 by Brother Bronislaus, a Polish native, of the Franciscan
order.
The shrine is dedicated to Black Madonna Our Lady of Częstochowa Mother of Jesus and is a replica of the shrine in Częstochowa
. The image is referred as the Black Madonna
Mother of Jesus because of its dark brown skin tones.
The shrine has been subjected to arson and vandalism many times in its history such as in 1958 when an arsonist set fire to the altar which burned the chapel.
to the Pacific, Missouri
exit. Go east on Business Route
44 to Highway F. Take Highway F 4 miles south of Pacific. The shrine is on the right side of the road, about a mile past Highway FF.
The scenic route is to take Interstate 44 to the Eureka
exit. Turn onto Highway W. Make a right onto Highway FF and keep going until it terminates at Highway F. Make a left onto highway F. The shrine is located about a mile beyond of the junction, on the right.
Shrine
A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....
located in the unincorporated area south of Pacific
Pacific, Missouri
Pacific is a city in Franklin and St. Louis counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 7,002 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Pacific is located at . The city straddles the Franklin County/St. Louis County line, which lies halfway on the blocks between Elm and Neosho streets. St...
and Southwest of Eureka
Eureka, Missouri
Eureka is a city located in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States, between St. Louis and Pacific, Missouri, along Interstate 44. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 10,189. The city is west of the former site of Times Beach, the site of dioxin contamination discovered in...
in the state of Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was constructed in 1938 by Brother Bronislaus, a Polish native, of the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
order.
Czestochowa
Częstochowa is a city in south Poland on the Warta River with 240,027 inhabitants . It has been situated in the Silesian Voivodeship since 1999, and was previously the capital of Częstochowa Voivodeship...
. The image is referred as the Black Madonna
Black Madonna
A Black Madonna or Black Virgin is a statue or painting of the Virgin Mary in which the Virgin Mary is black. The term was especially applied to those created in Europe in the medieval period or earlier...
Mother of Jesus because of its dark brown skin tones.
The shrine has been subjected to arson and vandalism many times in its history such as in 1958 when an arsonist set fire to the altar which burned the chapel.
Driving directions
The most direct route to the shrine is to take Interstate 44Interstate 44
Interstate 44 is a major highway in the central United States. Its western terminus is in Wichita Falls, Texas at a concurrency with US 277, US 281 and US 287; its eastern terminus is at the Illinois state line on the Poplar Street Bridge over the Mississippi River in St...
to the Pacific, Missouri
Pacific, Missouri
Pacific is a city in Franklin and St. Louis counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 7,002 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Pacific is located at . The city straddles the Franklin County/St. Louis County line, which lies halfway on the blocks between Elm and Neosho streets. St...
exit. Go east on Business Route
Business route
A business route in the United States and Canada is a short special route connected to a parent numbered highway at its beginning, then routed through the central business district of a nearby city or town, and finally reconnecting with the same parent numbered highway again at its...
44 to Highway F. Take Highway F 4 miles south of Pacific. The shrine is on the right side of the road, about a mile past Highway FF.
The scenic route is to take Interstate 44 to the Eureka
Eureka, Missouri
Eureka is a city located in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States, between St. Louis and Pacific, Missouri, along Interstate 44. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 10,189. The city is west of the former site of Times Beach, the site of dioxin contamination discovered in...
exit. Turn onto Highway W. Make a right onto Highway FF and keep going until it terminates at Highway F. Make a left onto highway F. The shrine is located about a mile beyond of the junction, on the right.