Shrine of Our Lady of Europe (Italy)
Encyclopedia
The Shrine of Our Lady of Europe is a Roman Catholic
shrine
at Campodolcino
, Italy
. It is devoted to Our Lady of Europe
and is currently the headquarters of the European Ecumenical Centre for Peace.
movements would need a Catholic dimmension and thought of placing Europe
under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary
. However, they were unaware that such a devotion was already in existence, albeit at a local level, in the British territory of Gibraltar
(where the original Shrine
devoted to Our Lady still exists to this day) and to a lesser extent in some neighbouring locations in Spain
. The movement, supported by the Archbishop of Milan, decided to place a statue in the region of the Italian
Alps
, which marks the hydrological
centre of Europe, since it was the watershed separating the basins
of the rivers Rhine, Danube
and Po.
The monument was blessed by the Archbishop of Milan Giovanni Montini (later Pope Paul VI
) on 14 September 1958.
in Motta, a frazione
of the comune
of Campodolcino
on the western slopes of the Valle Spluga
to the north of Chiavenna. It is a gilt bronze
statue, which was sculptured by Egidio Casagrande taking inspiration from the Shroud of Turin
. The statue rests on a circular structure atop a sanctuary with an altar below. The structure weighs 4 tonnes (8,818.5 lb).
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
shrine
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....
at Campodolcino
Campodolcino
Campodolcino is a comune in the Province of Sondrio in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 100 km north of Milan and about 50 km northwest of Sondrio, on the border with Switzerland...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It is devoted to Our Lady of Europe
Our Lady of Europe
Our Lady of Europe is a consecrated title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary in Gibraltar, where devotion began, and to a lesser extent in Algeciras, Spain. The entire European continent was consecrated under the protection of Our Lady of Europe in the early 14th century from the Shrine in Gibraltar...
and is currently the headquarters of the European Ecumenical Centre for Peace.
History
During the late 1950s, Catholic sectors felt that the EuropeistEuropeanism
Although this term is occasionally used to describe support for European integration , it is more commonly used in relation to the idea that Europeans have common norms and values that transcend national or state identity, that have been promoted most actively...
movements would need a Catholic dimmension and thought of placing Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Blessed Virgin Mary (Roman Catholic)
Roman Catholic veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary is based on Holy Scripture: In the fullness of time, God sent his son, born of a virgin. The mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God through Mary thus signifies her honour as Mother of God...
. However, they were unaware that such a devotion was already in existence, albeit at a local level, in the British territory of Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
(where the original Shrine
Shrine of Our Lady of Europe
The Shrine of Our Lady of Europe is a Roman Catholic shrine at Europa Point in Gibraltar. It is the church where Our Lady of Europe, the Catholic patroness of Gibraltar is honoured....
devoted to Our Lady still exists to this day) and to a lesser extent in some neighbouring locations in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The movement, supported by the Archbishop of Milan, decided to place a statue in the region of the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
, which marks the hydrological
Hydrology
Hydrology is the study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth and other planets, including the hydrologic cycle, water resources and environmental watershed sustainability...
centre of Europe, since it was the watershed separating the basins
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
of the rivers Rhine, Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
and Po.
The monument was blessed by the Archbishop of Milan Giovanni Montini (later Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
) on 14 September 1958.
Statue
A 13 metres (42.7 ft) high statue in honour of Our Lady of Europe was erected at 2000 metres (6,561.7 ft) above sea levelMeters above sea level
Meters above sea Level is a standard metric measurement of the elevation of a location in reference to historic mean sea level; the determination of what actually constitutes mean sea level over time however, may be determined by other parameters, such as the effects of climate history and climate...
in Motta, a frazione
Frazione
A frazione , in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a comune; for other administrative divisions, see municipio, circoscrizione, quartiere...
of the comune
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
of Campodolcino
Campodolcino
Campodolcino is a comune in the Province of Sondrio in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 100 km north of Milan and about 50 km northwest of Sondrio, on the border with Switzerland...
on the western slopes of the Valle Spluga
Valle Spluga
The Valle Spluga, also known as the Val San Giacomo, is an Alpine valley in the north Italian Province of Sondrio , which extends from the Splügen Pass, on the border with Switzerland, south to Chiavenna. It is the valley of the river Liro....
to the north of Chiavenna. It is a gilt bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
statue, which was sculptured by Egidio Casagrande taking inspiration from the Shroud of Turin
Shroud of Turin
The Shroud of Turin or Turin Shroud is a linen cloth bearing the image of a man who appears to have suffered physical trauma in a manner consistent with crucifixion. It is kept in the royal chapel of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Turin, northern Italy. The image on the shroud is...
. The statue rests on a circular structure atop a sanctuary with an altar below. The structure weighs 4 tonnes (8,818.5 lb).