Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a Catholic shrine located in

La Crosse, Wisconsin La Crosse ( ) is a city in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. Positioned alongside the Mississippi River, La Crosse is the largest city on Wisconsin's western border. La Crosse's population was 52,680 as of the 202 ...

. It is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of

Our Lady of Guadalupe Our Lady of Guadalupe (), also known as the Virgin of Guadalupe (), is a Catholic title of the Blessed Virgin Mary associated with four Marian apparitions to Juan Diego and one to his uncle, Juan Bernardino reported in December 1531, when t ...

. The grounds include a visitors' center and outdoor devotional areas such as a rosary walk,

Stations of the Cross The Stations of the Cross or the Way of the Cross, also known as the Via Dolorosa, Way of Sorrows or the , are a series of fourteen images depicting Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ on the day of Crucifixion of Jesus, his crucifixion and acc ...

, and a votive candle chapel.

Mass Mass is an Intrinsic and extrinsic properties, intrinsic property of a physical body, body. It was traditionally believed to be related to the physical quantity, quantity of matter in a body, until the discovery of the atom and particle physi ...

and the

sacrament of Penance The Sacrament of Penance (also commonly called the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession) is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church (known in Eastern Christianity as sacred mysteries), in which the faithful are absolved from si ...

are celebrated daily by Norbertine canons of St. Michael's Abbey. The construction of the shrine church began on May 13, 2004, with a dedication on July 31, 2008. The shrine was founded and later dedicated by Archbishop

Raymond Leo Burke Raymond Leo Burke (born June 30, 1948) is an American Catholic prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as patron of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta from 2014 to 2023. He previously served as Archbishop of St. Louis from 2004 to 2008 and ...

History

The shrine was an inspiration of Cardinal

, while he was Bishop of La Crosse, who wanted to establish a place of lasting worship for Roman Catholics to go on pilgrimage to in the

Diocese of La Crosse The Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse () is a Latin Church diocese in west-central Wisconsin in the United States. The metropolitan for the diocese is the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The mother church is the Cathedral of Saint Joseph the Workman ...

. On September 28, 1999, a letter was sent for consideration to the Vatican, and on November 11, 1999, the Holy See gave the project its approval and blessing. of woodland near the south end of La Crosse were then donated by Robert and Lucille Swing. Groundbreaking began on June 17, 2001. The first phase of construction included a Pilgrim Center, which features an orientation room, information desk, the Flores Mariae gift shop, and the Culina Mariana restaurant, and the Mother of Good Counsel Votive Candle Chapel. This phase was completed and dedicated December 12, 2002. The second phase included an outdoor

, a devotional area to

Saint Joseph According to the canonical Gospels, Joseph (; ) was a 1st-century Jewish man of Nazareth who was married to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and was the legal father of Jesus. Joseph is venerated as Saint Joseph in the Catholic Church, Eastern O ...

the Workman and a

rosary The Rosary (; , in the sense of "crown of roses" or "garland of roses"), formally known as the Psalter of Jesus and Mary (Latin: Psalterium Jesu et Mariae), also known as the Dominican Rosary (as distinct from other forms of rosary such as the ...

walk, in addition to construction on the shrine church. Groundbreaking for the church was on May 13, 2004. The

were dedicated December 9, 2004, followed by the devotional area to Saint Joseph the Workman on September 21, 2007, and the rosary walk on December 8, 2007. Excavation for the third phase, the Memorial to the Unborn, began on October 29, 2007. On July 31, 2008, the shrine church was dedicated. The dedication Mass was also presided over by Burke, who by then had been named Prefect of the

Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura The Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura () is the highest judicial authority in the Catholic Church (apart from the pope himself, who as supreme ecclesiastical judge is the final point of appeal on any ecclesiastical matter). In addition, ...

, having previously served as Archbishop of Saint Louis and before that as Bishop of La Crosse, and who would be named a Cardinal in 2010. Burke was joined by Cardinals

Justin Francis Rigali Justin Francis Rigali (born April 19, 1935) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church. After a diplomatic and academic career in Rome, he served as Archbishop of St. Louis from 1994 to 2003. He then served as Archbishop of Philadelphia f ...

of Philadelphia, who had previously served as Archbishop of Saint Louis before Burke was named as his successor, and Francis Eugene George of Chicago, the closest cardinalatial see to La Crosse. The ceremony included an honor guard made up of members of the local area

Knights of Columbus The Knights of Columbus (K of C) is a global Catholic Church, Catholic Fraternal and service organizations, fraternal service order founded by Michael J. McGivney, Blessed Michael J. McGivney. Membership is limited to practicing Catholic men. ...

and Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre. Also in attendance were over 100 priests, and members of the St. Juan Diego Guild and Marian Catechist Apostolate. The Memorial to the Unborn was completed on December 12, 2008, and was also dedicated by Archbishop Burke. In August 2021, the

Norbertine The Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré (), also known as the Premonstratensians, the Norbertines and, in Britain and Ireland, as the White Canons (from the colour of their habit), is a religious order of canons regular in the Catholic Church ...

canons of St. Michael's Abbey took over pastoral care of the shrine from the

Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate The Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate (; abbreviated FFI or FI) is a religious institute founded in 1970 by Conventual Franciscans Stefano Maria Manelli and Gabriel Maria Pellettieri and canonically erected by Pope John Paul II in 1998. Their r ...

Shrine church

Architecture

The shrine church was designed by the

New Classical New classical macroeconomics, sometimes simply called new classical economics, is a school of thought in macroeconomics that builds its analysis entirely on a neoclassical economics, neoclassical framework. Specifically, it emphasizes the import ...

architect Duncan G. Stroik, in collaboration with River Architects. The architecture is in

Italian Renaissance The Italian Renaissance ( ) was a period in History of Italy, Italian history between the 14th and 16th centuries. The period is known for the initial development of the broader Renaissance culture that spread across Western Europe and marked t ...

style, one of the first Catholic structures to be designed in such a way in 50 years. The exterior is made of stone from Minnesota and Wisconsin, designed to recall buildings of Tuscany.

Interior

In July 2011

Pope Benedict XVI Pope BenedictXVI (born Joseph Alois Ratzinger; 16 April 1927 – 31 December 2022) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 19 April 2005 until his resignation on 28 February 2013. Benedict's election as p ...

affiliated the shrine church to the papal basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, which inspired much of the interior design. The floor plan is a cruciform with a large narthex and an ambulatory connecting the nave to two sacristies. The interior of the sanctuary was designed to look like a high renaissance or baroque church. The marble was supplied by Twin City Tile & Marble Co. of St. Paul, Minnesota. The pews, doors and other woodwork are of mahogany provided by Heebink Architectural Woodwork of Baldwin, Wisconsin. Art work was a collaboration of many artists and includes a variety of styles. The decorative painting and ornamental plastering was done by the John Canning Company of Connecticut with moldings crafted by Felber Ornamental Plastering Corp. of Norristown, Pennsylvania. The dome ceiling features a turquoise sky with gold-leaf constellations composed with assistance from astronomers at the

Talcott Mountain Science Center Talcott Mountain Science Center for Student Involvement ("TMSC") is a non profit corporation in Avon, Connecticut. It is dedicated to the improvement of science education and does so by working directly with students, teachers, and the general pub ...

in Avon, Connecticut. The dome is intended to replicate the night sky on the Winter Solstice as viewed from Mexico City in 1531. Thirty-one stained-glass windows were created and installed by Rohlf's Stained & Leaded Glass Studio of Mt. Vernon, New York. A

fresco Fresco ( or frescoes) is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaster, the painting become ...

inside the

narthex The narthex is an architectural element typical of Early Christian art and architecture, early Christian and Byzantine architecture, Byzantine basilicas and Church architecture, churches consisting of the entrance or Vestibule (architecture), ve ...

inside the main entrance painted by Anthony Visco is titled “Visions of Guadalupe.” The images are of the apparitions of Mary to

Juan Diego Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin (1474–1548), also known simply as Juan Diego (), was a Nahua peasant and Marian visionary. He is said to have been granted apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe on four occasions in December 1531: three at the hill o ...

from the time of his approach to the hill of Tepeyac until the time of the healing of his uncle. Surrounding the outside the fresco are images of workers of the faith. On the aisles inside the church are six paintings of saints, five of whom lived in the 20th century:

Peregrine Laziosi Peregrine Laziosi (Pellegrino Latiosi; c. 1260 – 1 May 1345) is an Italian saint of the Servite Order (Friar Order Servants of Mary). He is the patron saint for persons suffering from cancer, AIDS, and other life-threatening illnesses. Life ...

Gianna Beretta Molla Gianna Beretta Molla (4 October 1922 – 28 April 1962) was an Italian Catholic pediatrician. Although aware of possible fatal consequences, Molla refused both an abortion and a hysterectomy during her pregnancy with her fourth child in order ...

Miguel Pro José Ramón Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez, also known as Blessed Miguel Pro, SJ (January 13, 1891 – November 23, 1927) was a Mexican Jesuit priest executed under the presidency of Plutarco Elías Calles on the false charges of bombing and at ...

, and

Thérèse of Lisieux Thérèse of Lisieux (born Marie Françoise-Thérèse Martin; 2 January 1873 – 30 September 1897), religious name, in religion Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, was a French Discalced Carmelites, Discalced Carmelite who is widely v ...

were painted by Neilson Carlin, and

Faustina Kowalska Maria Faustyna Kowalska of the Blessed Sacrament, Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, OLM (born Helena Kowalska; 25 August 1905 – 5 October 1938) was a Catholic Church in Poland, Polish Catholic religious sister and Christia ...

and Divine Mercy and

Maria Goretti Maria Teresa Goretti (; 16 October 1890 – 6 July 1902) was an Italian virgin martyr of the Catholic Church, and one of the youngest saints to be canonized. She was born to a farming family. Her father died when she was nine, and the family ...

by Noah Buchanan. There are also three paintings by Brett Edenton in the lower narthex of the church that depict

Samuel Mazzuchelli Samuel Charles Mazzuchelli, Order of Preachers, OP (November 4, 1806 – February 23, 1864) was a pioneer Italian Dominican Order, Dominican friar and Catholic missionary priest who helped bring the Church to the Iowa-Illinois-Wisconsin tri-stat ...

Frederic Baraga Irenaeus Frederic Baraga (June 29, 1797 – January 19, 1868; ) was a Slovenian Catholic missionary to the United States, grammarian and author of Christian poetry and hymns in Native American languages. He was the first Bishop of Sault ...

, and

Solanus Casey Solanus Casey, OFM Cap (born Bernard Francis Casey; November 25, 1870 – July 31, 1957) was an American Catholic priest of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. He was known as a healer and for his abilities as a spiritual counselor, but especial ...

Sculptures

The many sculptures inside and outside the church were sculpted in Italy of Carrara marble. Outside the church above the entrance is a statue of Jesus the Good Shepherd, to his right St. Peter, and to his left St. Paul. In the middle of the plaza is a statue of Juan Diego showing his

tilma The 'New West Partnership'' is set of agreements that economically integrate the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. They were created on April 30, 2010. It is composed of: * the New West Partnership Trade A ...

to Bishop Zumárraga. Inside the church are statues in each of the transepts. The south transept holds statues of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and of Juan Diego. In the north transept are statues of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and of St. Joseph and Jesus.

Mosaic

The sanctuary of the church contains a mosaic of Our Lady of Guadalupe, created by The Vatican Mosaic Studio. The mosaic measures in height and in width.

Relics

1st Class relics

* Miguel Pro - in the altar of the church and in the side-aisle shrine *

Kateri Tekakwitha Kateri Tekakwitha ( in Mohawk), given the name Tekakwitha, baptized as Catherine ("Kateri" in Mohawk), and informally known as Lily of the Mohawks (1656 – April 17, 1680), is a Mohawk/ Algonquin Catholic saint and virgin. Born in the Mohawk v ...

- in the altar of the church * Therese of Lisieux- in the side-aisle shrine under the painting by Neilson Carlin * Peregrine Laziosi - in the side-aisle shrine under the painting by Neilson Carlin * Maria Goretti - in the side-aisle shrine * Faustina Kowalska - in the side-aisle shrine * Gianna Beretta Molla - in the side-aisle shrine

The grounds

The shrine is handicap accessible, with motorized carts and volunteers to assist people with mobility challenges. The Stations of the Cross were designed by Anthony Visco and done in bronze relief. The Rosary Walk has four alcoves, with each alcove made up of five blue tiles, each depicting a mystery of the rosary. The alcoves were also designed by Visco.

Saint Joseph the Workman devotional area

This area includes a fountain and a bronze relief designed by Anthony Brankin showing Saint Joseph the Workman instructing Jesus. Background images depict Archbishop Burke, founder of the shrine, and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Swing, donors of the land. The Saint Joseph the Workman Devotional Area was dedicated September 21, 2007.

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha devotional area

This secluded devotional area features a larger-than-life-sized bronze statue of Kateri Tekakwitha, Lily of the Mohawks, by artist Cynthia Hitschler. It was dedicated July 30, 2008. The work depicts Kateri in native buckskin in a natural setting, kneeling in reverence to a rough, hand-made cross, with a basket at her side filled with strawberries, a calla lily and the three "sister" plants; corn, squash and beans.

Memorial to the Unborn

The Memorial to the Unborn arcade provides a means of memorializing unborn children and providing a place of spiritual healing and closure for parents, relatives and friends. Also, there is a series of plaques that present teachings of the Catholic Church on abortion, contraception, embryonic stem cell research, and the dignity of the human person. The memorial was designed by River Architects.

Mother of Good Counsel Votive Candle Chapel

The Mother of Good Counsel Votive Candle Chapel contains 576 votive candles. It is surrounded by seven stained glass windows, designed by Willet-Hauser Stained Glass Studio, each depicting a different title or apparition of Our Lady. The central candle structure measures high, and across.

Culina Mariana Café

The Culina Mariana Café is a European bistro style restaurant located in the Pilgrim Center.

Flores Mariae Gift Shop

The Flores Mariae is a gift shop in the Pilgrim Center that provides literature about the Catholic faith and other religious items.

Notes

External links

Shrine of Our Lady of GuadalupeShrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
at the ''La Crosse Tribune''
Duncan G. Stroik's description of shrine"Citadel of Orthodoxy" Meaning, Message and Pilgrimage at Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine in LaCrosse, WI
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shrine Of Our Lady Of Guadalupe Churches in La Crosse County, Wisconsin Shrines to the Virgin Mary Churches in the Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse Roman Catholic churches completed in 2004 Tourist attractions in La Crosse County, Wisconsin New Classical architecture in the United States