Shrine of Our Lady of Altötting
The Shrine of Our Lady of Altötting, also known as the "Chapel of Grace", is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It is the national shrine of Bavaria. As it is known for the many healings which are said to have taken place there, it is one of the most important and most visited pilgrimage destinations in Europe and is sometimes called the "Lourdes of Germany".
Description
This image of Mary is what is known as a Black Madonna. It was created possibly around 1330 and carved from lindenwood. The identity of the artist who carved the image of Altötting is not definitively known.Many of the votive offerings and ex-votos given to the shrine over the centuries are displayed on the porch encircling the church. Also to be seen are the small, silver urns in which many members of the high nobility would have their hearts placed after their deaths so that they could be brought to the chapel.
History
The octagonal chapel which now houses the image of Our Lady was built around 660, and is the oldest Marian shrine in Germany. The shrine became a popular pilgrim destination once it became well-known for the miraculous recovery of a three-year old boy who had fallen into the Mörnbach stream in 1489, been carried away by the current, and presumed drowned. The boy's mother laid his lifeless body on the altar in front of the Marian image and prayed with other people of the parish for a miracle. After a short time, life returned to the seemingly dead child. Legend has it that the boy was later ordained a priest.The shrine has been maintained by the Capuchin friars for centuries. One member of the order, Saint Conrad of Parzham, served there as porter for over 40 years. During his lifetime of service, he developed a reputation for humility and holiness.
In the 20th century, the Chapel of Grace was visited by Popes Pius VI and John Paul II. Pope John Paul II visited the shrine in November 1980, accompanied by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, who was born in a nearby town. On 11 September 2006, Ratzinger, then Pope Benedict XVI, returned to the shrine and donated the episcopal ring he had worn while he was the Archbishop of Munich and Freising. The ring is now a part of the scepter held by Mary.