National Shrine of The Divine Mercy
Encyclopedia
The National Shrine of The Divine Mercy
is a Roman Catholic shrine located in Stockbridge
, MA
.
The priests and brothers of the Congregation of Marians of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary
have resided on Eden Hill in Stockbridge, MA, since June 1944. Father Walter Pelczynski, MIC, with the assistance of local clergy and friends of the Marian community, initially purchased 50 of the 370 acres (1.5 km²) that constituted the "Eden Hill" estate in November, 1943. The house was to serve as the novitiate
for a newly forming province. An image of the "The Divine Mercy" was enshrined in one of the small chapels where the members of the community prayed daily a perpetual novena
to the Divine Mercy
.
Pilgrim
s began to arrive the very next spring to celebrate the Feast of The Divine Mercy
(just after Easter). By the end of World War II in 1945, pilgrims in growing numbers came to offer thanksgiving for graces received through the Divine Mercy message and devotion. They urged the Marians to build a shrine to Jesus, The Divine Mercy, as a votive of thanks. The Fathers decided to accede to the requests since there was also a need for a larger chapel to accommodate a growing community.
The construction of the present Shrine began in 1950 and was completed and solemnly dedicated by Springfield Bishop Christopher Weldon
in 1960. In 1996, the United States Catholic Bishops Conference
declared it a National Shrine
in accord with Church law
. The National Shrine has drawn thousands of pilgrims from around the world.
Divine Mercy
The Divine Mercy is a Roman Catholic devotion to the merciful love of God and the desire to let that love and mercy flow through one's own heart towards those in need of it...
is a Roman Catholic shrine located in Stockbridge
Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Stockbridge is a town in Berkshire County in Western Massachusetts. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,947 at the 2010 census...
, MA
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
The priests and brothers of the Congregation of Marians of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary
Congregation of Marian Fathers
The Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary is a Roman Catholic male clerical religious congregation founded, 1673, in Poland...
have resided on Eden Hill in Stockbridge, MA, since June 1944. Father Walter Pelczynski, MIC, with the assistance of local clergy and friends of the Marian community, initially purchased 50 of the 370 acres (1.5 km²) that constituted the "Eden Hill" estate in November, 1943. The house was to serve as the novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
for a newly forming province. An image of the "The Divine Mercy" was enshrined in one of the small chapels where the members of the community prayed daily a perpetual novena
Novena
In the Catholic Church, a novena is a devotion consisting of a prayer repeated on nine successive days, asking to obtain special graces. The prayers may come from prayer books, or consist of the recitation of the Rosary , or of short prayers through the day...
to the Divine Mercy
Divine Mercy
The Divine Mercy is a Roman Catholic devotion to the merciful love of God and the desire to let that love and mercy flow through one's own heart towards those in need of it...
.
Pilgrim
Pilgrim
A pilgrim is a traveler who is on a journey to a holy place. Typically, this is a physical journeying to some place of special significance to the adherent of a particular religious belief system...
s began to arrive the very next spring to celebrate the Feast of The Divine Mercy
Divine Mercy Sunday
Divine Mercy Sunday is a Roman Catholic solemnity celebrated the Sunday after Easter. It is based on the Catholic devotion to the Divine Mercy due to Saint Faustina Kowalska, and is associated with specific indulgences.-Background:...
(just after Easter). By the end of World War II in 1945, pilgrims in growing numbers came to offer thanksgiving for graces received through the Divine Mercy message and devotion. They urged the Marians to build a shrine to Jesus, The Divine Mercy, as a votive of thanks. The Fathers decided to accede to the requests since there was also a need for a larger chapel to accommodate a growing community.
The construction of the present Shrine began in 1950 and was completed and solemnly dedicated by Springfield Bishop Christopher Weldon
Christopher Joseph Weldon
Christopher Joseph Weldon was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Springfield in Massachusetts from 1950 to 1977.-Biography:...
in 1960. In 1996, the United States Catholic Bishops Conference
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
declared it a National Shrine
National shrine
A National Shrine is a Catholic church or other sacred place which has met certain requirements and is given this honor by the nation's Conference of Catholic Bishops to recognize the church's special historical, cultural and religious significance.- Process:...
in accord with Church law
Canon law (Catholic Church)
The canon law of the Catholic Church, is a fully developed legal system, with all the necessary elements: courts, lawyers, judges, a fully articulated legal code and principles of legal interpretation. It lacks the necessary binding force present in most modern day legal systems. The academic...
. The National Shrine has drawn thousands of pilgrims from around the world.
See also
- Divine Mercy Sanctuary (Krakow)Divine Mercy Sanctuary (Krakow)The Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Kraków, Poland is a Roman Catholic basilica dedicated to the Divine Mercy devotion, as the resting place of Saint Faustina Kowalska....
- Divine Mercy Sanctuary (Plock)Divine Mercy Sanctuary (Plock)The Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Plock, Poland is a Roman Catholic chapel dedicated to the Divine Mercy devotion, originated by Saint Faustina Kowalska.Plock is where Faustina reported some of her early visions....
- Divine Mercy Sanctuary (Vilnius)Divine Mercy Sanctuary (Vilnius)The Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Vilnius, Lithuania is a Roman Catholic shrine dedicated to the Divine Mercy devotion, originated by Saint Faustina Kowalska.-See also:* Divine Mercy Sanctuary * Divine Mercy Sanctuary...
- Divine Mercy Shrine (Misamis Oriental)Divine Mercy Shrine (Misamis Oriental)The Divine Mercy Shrine in Misamis Oriental, Phillipines is located in Divine Mercy Hills, overlooking Macajalar Bay on the Mindanao island, southern part of the Philippines....
- National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, PhilippinesNational Shrine of The Divine Mercy, PhilippinesThe National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Marilao, Bulacan, is the major church dedicated to Divine Mercy in the Philippines...