Our Lady of Loreto of Burgenland

Marian Advocation of Loretto (Burgenland)

La advocación de Our Lady of Loreto of Burgenland is linked to the spread, in Central Europe, of devotion to the Holy House of Nazareth venerated in Loreto (Italy), whose liturgical feast is celebrated 10 December.

Main data

Origin and history

La advocación de Our Lady of Loreto of Burgenland is linked to the spread, in Central Europe, of devotion to the Holy House of Nazareth venerated in Loreto (Italy), whose liturgical feast is celebrated 10 December.

According to the universal laurethane traditionthe house of the Virgin in Nazareth would have been moved prodigiously by the angels, first to Dalmatia (1291) and, on the night of the 9-10 December 1294, to the place of Loreto, in the Italian region of the Marches. This tradition, very widespread since the Middle Ages, gave rise to numerous shrines with "Santa Casa" or "Casa de Loreto" throughout Europe, including that of Loreto, in the current Burgenland (Austria).

As for the documented history of the sanctuary of Loretto (Burgenland), it is found that it was founded in the 17th century for the family Esterházy, one of the great noble lineage of the Central Europe of the Habsburg era, which has promoted the construction of a replica of the Holy House of Loreto as a focus of regional Marian pilgrimage. The town of Loretto, in the current federal state of Burgenland (Austria), has since been consolidated as an important center of pilgrimage of the Historical panonia (area covering territories now spread between Austria, Hungary and other neighbouring countries). The exact chronological details (year of foundation, concrete founder within the Esterházy family) are not readily recorded in the sources consulted; only its origin in the 17th century and its character as a regional Marian sanctuary is firmly attested.

The image and the sanctuary

The devotion in Loretto (Burgenland) is organized around a “Santa Casa” or Capilla de Loreto which reproduces, on a local scale, the model of the House of the Virgin venerated in the Italian basilica of Loreto. In the Laurean tradition, the most widespread image is that of the Madonna Lauretana, a representation of the Virgin with the Child, standing, often covered with rich blankets, associated with the Holy House. However, for the specific case of Loretto in Burgenland no reliable technical data on the main image (exact type of sculpture, author, material or detailed iconography); therefore, these specific aspects no constan of documented manera.

The sanctuary is located in the iglesia de Loretto (Burgenland, Austria), which works like iglesia- Marian pilgrimage sanctuary regional level. It is documented that the town of Loretto developed precisely around this sanctuary and its Holy House, as a place of pilgrimage within the Panonia. It is not found in the consulted sources that the temple has the title of minor basilica not declared National sanctuary; its recognition is mainly diocesano/regional as an important Marian shrine of Burgenland. Consequently, there is no specific pontifical title (minor basilica) associated with the temple.

Sponsorship and coronation

La advocación de Our Lady of Loretoin general, it enjoys very extensive patterns (especially in the world of aviation and aeronautics, by statement of the Pope Benedict XV in 1920). However, for the specific case of Our Lady of Loreto of Burgenland (Loreto im Burgenland) they do not contain, in accessible sources, precise data which they officially designate as specific patrona of the town, the state of Burgenland or a specific diocese. It is reasonable to consider that the Virgin of Loreto is de facto employer of the community of Loretto and of the pilgrims who come to the sanctuary, but this condition is not expressly documented in the terms of a canonical or civil decree of patronage; therefore, no specific official patronage beyond local and regional devotion.

As regards a canonical coronation of the image venerated in Loretto (Burgenland), the sources consulted do not record any clear reference to a decree of coronation by the Holy See or a pontifical delegate, or to an officially recognized canonical coronation ceremony. It should therefore be stated that does not contain a documented canonical coronation for this advocation in Loretto (Burgenland).

Party and devotion

La main party of Our Lady of Loreto, according to the universal tradition of the advocation, the 10 December, memory of the Holy House of Loreto. This date is firmly rooted in the liturgical calendar and has been reaffirmed by the insertion of the memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Loreto into the Roman Calendar by the Congregation for Divine Veneration in 2019. Everything indicates that the sanctuary of Loretto (Burgenland) follow this same date for the celebration of his main feast, in communion with the universal Lauretana devotion.

The sanctuary of Loretto is described in historical documentation as a important destination of panonic pilgrimage, that is, a place to which faithful come from various regions of the old Panonia (now Eastern Austria, Hungary and neighbouring areas), especially around the feast of December 10 and other Marian celebrations. There are no specific figures of inflow in the sources consulted, but their importance as a focus of regional pilgrimages. No precise and verified data are found on particular processions, promises or popular traditions (e.g. specific romaneries, symbolic offerings, etc.); therefore, beyond the general character of Marian pilgrimage, no specific local devotional details in available sources.

Link to the Rosary

In the Loreto tradition, Marian devotion has historically fed on the prayer of the Rosary, very widespread practice among pilgrims and Marian co-fradies linked to the Holy House. However, for the specific invocation of Our Lady of Loreto of Burgenland (Loreto im Burgenland) do not contain, in the sources consulted, specific data documenting a the Rosary, un Rosary of pilgrims or other rosarian practices of the sanctuary. It should therefore be noted that there is no particular documented link with the Rosary prayer beyond ordinary Marian devotion.

From a general mariological perspective, Lauretana spirituality is naturally harmonized with the Rosary, for in the mysteries are the central moments of the life of Christ and Mary that tradition associates with the Holy House: Announcementthe hidden life in Nazareth and the presence of Mary at the beginning of the Church. The Rosary, prayed for the image of Our Lady of Loreto of Burgenland and with the replica of the Holy House, allows the faithful to "enter" spiritually into the house of Nazareth, accompanying Mary in her listening to the Word, in her faith and in her availability to the will of God. In this way, even without any documented rosarian practices, the Rosary is presented as the prayer that best accompanies and deepens the devotion to Our Lady of Loreto of Burgenland.