National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows is a Roman Catholic shrine to the Blessed Virgin Mary in Belleville, Illinois. This shrine is located about nine highway miles southeast of downtown Saint Louis, Missouri.
It is one of the largest outdoor shrines in North America. The shrine includes a restaurant, hotel, apartment complex, and a large gift shop. During Advent and Christmas, the shrine hosts the "Way of Lights", a large outdoor light display.
The Shrine also includes a natural outdoor amphitheatre, 14 point Stations of the Cross following Christ's journey through Calgary, a Resurrection Garden, a depiction of the Lourdes Grotto, and an Annunciation Garden.
The shrine name refers to the basilica of Saint Mary Major on the Esquiline Hill in Rome, where legend says that snow fell in the summertime. The shrine is operated by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, which is one of the Catholic Church's largest religious orders with 4,500 priests and brothers, operating in 71 countries, who primarily serve the poor.
