Our Lady of Carey Consolation

Marian Advocation of Carey (Ohio)

La Basilica and National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Consolation is located in Carey, in the northwest of Ohio, United States, within the diocese of Toledo. Since 1875 it has become an important center of Marian pilgrimages, especially around the feast of the Assumption.

Main data

Origin and history

La Basilica and National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Consolation is located in Carey, in the northwest of Ohio, United States, within the diocese of Toledo. Since 1875 it has become an important center of Marian pilgrimages, especially around the feast of the Assumption.

Documented history. The devotion to Mary under the title of Our Lady of Consolation / Consoler of the Aflids It is very old and dates back, as a Marian title, to the first centuries of Christianity. In the 17th century it gained special strength in Luxembourgwhen, during an epidemic of plague, the people established a particular devotion to Mary Consoladora of the Afligids; a chapel was erected outside the city, an image was consecrated there and the fame of many favors granted to the pilgrims was spread. In 1652 a Pope (not specified in the source) encouraged this devotion by erecting a fellowship under this Marian title. The devotion was later extended to the United States, where the first sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Consolation was built in Carey, Ohio. For this sanctuary a replica de la estatua de Luxemburgowhich arrived in Carey in 1875, the date that marked the beginning of the great influx of pilgrims.

Tradition and pious elements. The very spirituality of the sanctuary stresses that "since 1875, countless pilgrims" have come to Carey to entrust their needs to the Virgin Mary under this title and that, through her intercession, many sick and afflicted have found health and comfort. These are testimonies of perceived grace and favors received that are part of the devotional tradition of the sanctuary, without entering the field of formal apparitions or other extraordinary events subject to specific approval processes.

The image and the sanctuary

The venerated image in Carey is a copy of the statue of Our Lady of the Consolation of Luxembourg, brought specifically for the sanctuary in 1875. The official sources consulted describe this replica relationship, but do not specify in detail the material or all the technical characteristics of the size (wood, polychrome, etc.); therefore, not accurately recorded the image material in the basic accessible documentation. It is clear that Marian ownership is that of Mary, Consoladora de los Afligidosand that the image is part of this iconography of the Virgin who welcomes and comforts, inspired by the Luxembourg model.

The temple is officially called "Basilica and National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Consolation" (Basílica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation). Es una minor basilica of the Catholic Church and National Marian Sanctuary, entrusted to Franciscan friars. It belongs to the diocese of Toledo in Ohio and is one of two Catholic basilics in this state, as well as one of the approximately 60 basilics in the United States. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has recognized it as National sanctuary.

Sponsorship and coronation

As for its ecclesial reach, the sanctuary is officially recognized as National Sanctuary by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of the United States, which gives it a particular highlight within the whole Marian sanctuaries of the country. It is not clear from the sources consulted that the advocation of Our Lady of the Consolation of Carey has been proclaimed. patron of the city of Carey, the diocese of Toledo or another constituency, although in fact it acts as a reference centre of Marian devotion for large areas of the Middle West.

On the canonical coronation, the basic sources (encyclopedic article, Franciscan page and divulgative reviews) do not mention a date, pontifical decree or papal delegate concerning a solemn canonical coronation of Carey's image. Therefore, following the required criterion of rigour, it should be indicated: does not contain a documented canonical coronation.

Party and devotion

La main party linked to the sanctuary of Carey is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, August 15. Each year a great annual pilgrimage of the faithful, mainly from the Middle West region, who come to commemorate this solemnity and honor the Virgin of Consolation. Throughout the year, the sanctuary organizes various special events and events of Marian prayer and devotion, in which pilgrims present their intentions and thanks.

Since 1875, "countless pilgrims" have travelled to the Basilica and National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Consolation to entrust their needs to the Mother of God and to thank the favors received. The spirituality of the place is marked by the experience of Mary as Consuelo of the afflictedand the testimonies of people who attribute to their intercession comfort in disease, proof or pain are frequent. Although the sources consulted do not provide specific attendance figures, they do present the sanctuary as a consolidated goal of mass pilgrimage, especially around 15 August.

Link to the Rosary

The specific sources on the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Carey Consolation do not detail a singular or exclusive bond of this advocation with the prayer of the Rosary (for example, a rosarian fellowship of its own or a feast strictly linked to this prayer); therefore, no consta a differential feature in this regard in the basic documentation available.

However, since it is a Marian sanctuary of great tradition, the Rosary in fact occupies a natural place within the devotional life of the temple: the contemplation of the mysteries of Christ next to Mary deeply harmonizes with the title of Consolador de los AfligidosFor the Rosary allows the faithful to travel with Mary the joyful, luminous, painful and glorious mysteries of the life of the Lord. In this context, the Rosary becomes a school of Christian trust and comfortThose who pilgrim Carey and welcome Our Lady of Consolation find in the repetition of the Hail Mary and in the meditation of the mysteries a simple and constant way to present their sorrows, sufferings and hopes to God, from the hand of the Virgin.