Basilica della Santa Casa

Basilica della Santa Casa
The façade edifice of the Basilica della Santa Casa.
Map
LocationLoreto, Marche, Italy
DenominationCatholic Church
History
StatusPontifical minor basilica
Architecture
StyleLate Gothic
Completed16th century
Administration
Episcopal areaTerritorial Prelature of Loreto
1894 Medal 600th Anniversary of the Holy House Re-erection at Loreto

The Basilica della Santa Casa (English: Basilica of the Holy House) is a Marian shrine in Loreto, in the Marches, Italy. The basilica is known for enshrining the house in which the Blessed Virgin Mary is believed by some Catholics to have lived. Pious legends claim the same house was flown over by angelic beings from Nazareth to Tersatto (Trsat in Croatia), then to Recanati, before arriving at the current site.[1][2]

The basilica is also known for enshrining the Madonna and Child image of "Our Lady of Loreto". Pope Benedict XV designated her under this title as patroness of air passengers and auspicious travel on 24 March 1920. Pope Pius XI granted a Canonical Coronation to the venerated image made of Cedar of Lebanon wood on 5 September 1922, replacing the original Marian image consumed in fire on 23 February 1921.[3]

  1. ^ ""The Sanctuary of Loreto", Agenzia Nazionale Turismo". Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  2. ^ Frederick Hartt, David G. Wilkins (2010) History of Italian Renaissance Art: Painting, Sculpture, Architecture "Sixtus's nephews who appears in the group portrait, called Melozzo to Loreto, on the Adriatic coast, to decorate the sacristy of the basilica of the Santa Casa (fig. 14.26)."
  3. ^ Miller, Jennifer Gregory. "The New Advent Feast, Our Lady of Loreto", Catholic Culture, 11 December 2019