English
Documentation
Einsiedeln
The shrine of Einsiedeln lies in the canton of Schwyz, whose name has turned into that of the whole country – Switzerland. Einsiedeln is about 40 minutes’ drive from Zurich. The shrine is of ancient origin; part of its history is found in a letter by Pope Leo VIII in the year 948.
“Our Lord Jesus Christ has raised up and consecrated a throne of grace for His Blessed Mother in the monastery in the forest. In this way Our Lord has given us to understand His desire to honour that corner of the world with the same dignity as the Holy Places in which He dwelt with his Blessed Mother. He has given us to understand, accordingly, that a pilgrimage to the Shrine in that dark forest is of the same value as the pilgrimages that are made to the Holy Land. In His Name I announce today a plenary indulgence for all debts due for the sins of pilgrims.”
No certain information is available about the precise date when the statue of our Lady was enthroned in the little chapel. The first statue was destroyed in a fire, and immediately replaced by the one that is venerated today.
The shrine soon became a focus of interest throughout Switzerland, especially in difficult times. St Nicholas of Fluë – “Bruder Klaus” – the patron saint of Switzerland, often used to go there, from the solitude of his cell in Ranft, to visit his “Heavenly Empress” as he called her.
The custom quickly grew up of making the shrine of Einsiedeln the starting-point for pilgrimages to the Holy Land, and returning there afterwards to thank the Blessed Virgin for the graces obtained and for her protection during the journey. In 1617 the chapel walls were covered with marble, though still preserving the original shape. In addition, an imposing baroque church was built, as well as the monastery. The most precious jewel of the whole work of art is still the Gnadenkapelle, the chapel where the little wooden statue of the Black Madonna, Our Lady of Einsiedeln, is venerated. The Basilica was consecrated on May 3, 1735. The monastery was completed in 1770.
St Josemaria at the shrine of Einsiedeln
During his journeys through Europe St Josemaria often stopped at Einsiedeln. As soon as he caught sight of the towers of the shrine from the car, he said a Salve straight away. As Bishop Alvaro del Portillo, who went with him on these visits, later recalled, “He only went to pray to our Lady. He would stop the night in Lucerne, and go on from there to Einsiedeln, where he often celebrated Mass. On other occasions he just went there to spend a while praying; first, as he always did, before the Blessed Sacrament; and then he went to the little chapel where the statue of our Lady is venerated. I don’t know what he said to her, but I am sure that his prayer was very pleasing to our Blessed Lady, because it was the prayer of a good son who loved his Mother madly. He also prayed to her for his intentions, because, as he often said towards the end of his life, he loved to beg for everything he needed” (Msgr. Alvaro del Portillo, notes taken from a family gathering, May 19, 1977).
St Josemaria would often stop in the famous café of the “Three Old Ladies”, in the main street of the town. In the café window is a clockwork model of three old ladies sitting round a table in animated conversation, with harmonious movements of their heads. The proprietress of the café was much impressed by the founder of Opus Dei. She liked him very much and after he died was one of his devotees.
A visit to Einsiedeln with Don Alvaro
One of St Josemaria’s visits to Einsiedeln took place in 1968. He started from the town of Sant’Ambrogio Olona in the north of Italy. The round trip took 32 hours, and when he arrived back, although tired, he said it had been well worth making that long journey, to visit our Lady.
In 1969 St Josemaria went back again to pray before our Lady for the Church and the Holy Father, and to place all he had in his heart into our Lady’s hands.
“Our Lord Jesus Christ has raised up and consecrated a throne of grace for His Blessed Mother in the monastery in the forest. In this way Our Lord has given us to understand His desire to honour that corner of the world with the same dignity as the Holy Places in which He dwelt with his Blessed Mother. He has given us to understand, accordingly, that a pilgrimage to the Shrine in that dark forest is of the same value as the pilgrimages that are made to the Holy Land. In His Name I announce today a plenary indulgence for all debts due for the sins of pilgrims.”
No certain information is available about the precise date when the statue of our Lady was enthroned in the little chapel. The first statue was destroyed in a fire, and immediately replaced by the one that is venerated today.
The shrine soon became a focus of interest throughout Switzerland, especially in difficult times. St Nicholas of Fluë – “Bruder Klaus” – the patron saint of Switzerland, often used to go there, from the solitude of his cell in Ranft, to visit his “Heavenly Empress” as he called her.
The custom quickly grew up of making the shrine of Einsiedeln the starting-point for pilgrimages to the Holy Land, and returning there afterwards to thank the Blessed Virgin for the graces obtained and for her protection during the journey. In 1617 the chapel walls were covered with marble, though still preserving the original shape. In addition, an imposing baroque church was built, as well as the monastery. The most precious jewel of the whole work of art is still the Gnadenkapelle, the chapel where the little wooden statue of the Black Madonna, Our Lady of Einsiedeln, is venerated. The Basilica was consecrated on May 3, 1735. The monastery was completed in 1770.
St Josemaria at the shrine of Einsiedeln
St Josemaria would often stop in the famous café of the “Three Old Ladies”, in the main street of the town. In the café window is a clockwork model of three old ladies sitting round a table in animated conversation, with harmonious movements of their heads. The proprietress of the café was much impressed by the founder of Opus Dei. She liked him very much and after he died was one of his devotees.
Ante el Santuario de Einsiedeln, 1959, con don Álvaro del Portillo
One of St Josemaria’s visits to Einsiedeln took place in 1968. He started from the town of Sant’Ambrogio Olona in the north of Italy. The round trip took 32 hours, and when he arrived back, although tired, he said it had been well worth making that long journey, to visit our Lady.
In 1969 St Josemaria went back again to pray before our Lady for the Church and the Holy Father, and to place all he had in his heart into our Lady’s hands.
Prayer
RSS
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
YOUTUBE