Our Lady of Victory National Shrine & Basilica~ Buffalo, NY

There is just something so special and deeply spiritually resounding as a Cathedral.
And a Basilica is an amazing place of both architecture and also a place of spiritual significance.

From the dictionary, it says "In architecture, the term basilica signifies a kingly, and secondarily a beautiful, hall."

We visited "Our Lady of Victory National Shrine & Basilica" and the "Father Baker Museum and OLV Gift Shop" while we were in Buffalo, NY. (actually, it was Lackawanna...but close enough to Buffalo to give you the location approx.)

And INDEED, it was AMAZING.

 It was almost as if we had traveled to Italy....to Rome....

 From the Basilica's website it gives the very brief history of what you'd think would be an epic time frame building project:

"In 1916, tragedy struck what was then St. Patrick’s Parish. Fire ripped through the small church, completely destroying the spire and damaging the assembly area considerably.Within days, the pastor, 74-year-old Father Nelson Baker, ordered the church to be repaired, but, oddly, held off on fixing the spire. He had something else in mind . . .

Later, at a routine parish meeting, Father Baker unveiled his plan to build a beautiful shrine to rival the majestic churches of Europe. Speaking before an astonished crowd, the humble priest outlined his desire to have the finest materials and artists come together to create a true masterpiece — his way of paying homage to his patroness, Our Lady of Victory.

On May 7, 1921, Father Baker celebrated the last Mass at St. Patrick’s, which was then immediately dismantled to make way for something much more magnificent.

Knowing that he had not set aside a penny for the new shrine’s construction did not seem to bother the aging priest. He was confident that, yet again, the Blessed Mother would look kindly on him, and she did. Father Baker sent out a call for support and it was answered by thousands of loyal donors, happy to assist such a project. Some contributed through the Association of Our Lady of Victory, Father Baker’s pioneering direct-mail fundraising program, while countless others sent donations both large and small.

Another call for help, this one to craftsmen and artisans worldwide, was answered by a group of some of the biggest names in religious works. The chief designer of the shrine was Emile Ulrich. A graduate of the Academy of Paris, he migrated to America in 1894 and opened an architectural firm in Cleveland, Ohio. It was Ulrich himself who personally inspected all of the artists’ work both in the United States and Europe in order to guarantee Father Baker’s wish for the finest materials and craftsmanship.

From floor to ceiling it is beautiful!

Planning the interior artwork of the shrine was the task of master artist Professor Gonippo Raggi. Born and trained in Italy, Raggi’s handiwork is seen in the magnificent oil paintings throughout the shrine.

Aiding him was Buffalonian Marion Rzeznik. Born in Poland, Rzeznik studied painting and sculpture in Krakow, Vienna, and New York City before settling in Buffalo. The beautiful stained glass throughout the shrine was the work of Otto Andrle, a Buffalo-native and renowned artisan at the time.

By Christmas 1925, construction of the great Shrine of Our Lady of Victory had not only been completed, but was entirely paid for."

Just THINK ABOUT THAT.

This amazing building was built in FOUR YEARS...

There are 46 kinds of marble in it.
There are 1500-2500 carved Angels in it.

A specially designed 54 rank pipe organ.

Pews of African Mahogany.

At the time of construction, the Basilica’s dome was the nation’s second largest behind only the U.S. Capitol Building.

Items of Papal Significance
"Three very special symbols are found within the Basilica’s interior. At opposite ends of the front row of pews stand two items of Papal significance. Both can only be found within churches which have the title of Basilica, which means “House of the King.”

The tintinnabulum is a small gold bell surrounded by a golden frame crowned with the Papal tiara and keys. If the Pope were to say Mass within the Basilica, the tintinnabulum would be used to lead the procession down the center aisle."

"The canopeum is a symbolic shield of protection for the Pope during his travels. The canopeum remains open anticipating the Pope’s arrival."

"Those two items, along with the Papal Coat of Arms, hanging just above the Basilica’s main entrance, signify the shrine’s sacred place within the Catholic Church, and its relationship to the Holy Father."

BOTTOM LINE: (and really where the "Miracle" lives...)

COST $3.5 Million dollars and Father Baker raised it ALL and it was entirely PAID FOR by the time it was completed! (Father Baker had no money set aside for the project when he began, yet, through donations from all over the country, the Basilica was finished on time and completely debt-free in 1925.)

Sean was so happy to show us this place! 
It was exciting to deliver this kind of amazement to your friends.
Indeed, it was a treat!

Ok, so I have to say that while I was here, this wonderful feeling of enchantment came over me. Just mind boggling about the beauty. And the awe of the craftsmanship here.

And then, just after the bliss ebbed....another empathic wave hit me and it was a feeling of sadness...
so many vibes within this place.

Such intense emotions...and when you think about it, people usually come to a church in times of need, and bring their feelings of loss and bereavement....those feelings are here, too.

But those feelings of JOY and WONDER...and AMAZEMENT!

Like HERE is where you acquire your holy water for blessings...
not your normal fingertip well...

 Marble columns so tall and thick....to the ceiling!!

It really boggles my mind tho, that the Catholic religion doesn't officially acknowledge Mary as a Goddess because....she IS.
This church is dedicated to her. It makes me believe she IS all that.
She IS a Goddess in my mind.

Even Our Lady at Lourdes was represented here in a Grotto Shrine!

We also found Masonic symbols...
There are of course the two towers in the facade...

and this "All Seeing Eye" is apparent on one of the Tabernacles that showed the builder's pride.

Awesomeness.

We also found some really amazing things in the Gift Shop.


And hey!
No wonder I've always been attracted guys who look like Jesus.
Just look at this.
He is just so beautiful. And calm. And Kind.

 Statues like my mom used to collect....

And these amazing little trinkets, that Liz found:
Patron Saint of Sports medals!
YUP.
Evidently, St. Sebastian is the patron saint of Athletics.
Baseball was all sold out :)

We had such a lovely day walking these grounds....
thinking our thoughts...
saying our prayers....
sitting in the pews...
silent....
meditating...
thinking of our lives, and parents....
feeling close to them...

It was just so lovely.
It's in a place like this, that your thoughts go to Grand and Powerful wavelengths....
it's in times like these that you do feel very close to God.

Whatever Deity or God or Goddess that you ascribe to, or even if it's The Universe itself...

A place like this really made us get in touch with our hearts and Souls. ...and we are better for it.

Go visit if if you can, if you are ever in the Buffalo area.

You just won't believe how awesome it is.

A little bit of Rome, Italy right here in New York State!

Thanks for reading!