With more than 12 centuries of history, the Marian Shrines contain the faith, spirituality and identity of the European continent. Discover the most important events and dates in its history.
Altötting is mentioned for the first time with the name “Autingas” in an official historical document.
St. Meinrad arrives at the«Finster Wald» (Dark Forest) from Etzel.
St. Meinrad is killed by two robbers.
King Karlmann, great-grandchild of Charlemagne moves his seat of government from Regensburg to Ötting and rules here as King of Bavaria and Italy and erects the first basilica.
The Benedictine Monastery is founded by Blessed Eberhard.
A monk by the name of Magnus arrives with present statue of the Virgin Mary. He erects the first chapel, or “cella” in latin. The name Mariazell “Mary in the cell” derives from its description.
First mention of Częstochowa in historical record.
The Santa Casa di Maria arrived on the hill of Loreto in the night between december 9th to 10th.
Start of the construction of the city of Loreto.
The statue of our Lady was brought to Altötting.
The church is rebuilt in gothic style, funded by Ladislav I, King of Hungary.
The first mention of Częstochowa as a town.
Prince Vladislaus of Opole gifts the miraculous painting of Holy Virgin Mary to Pauline fathers.
Construction of the Basilica of Loreto.
First healing miracle in Altötting attributed to Our Lady of Altötting.
Pope Sixtus V elects Loreto as city.
First lighting of the fires in the countryside of Loreto, in memory of the night between 9 and 10 December 1294.
Jasna Góra is besieged by Swedish army which results in massive mobilization of Polish catholics and changes the course of war. Afterwards, Holy Virgin Mary is symbolically crowned as a Queen of Poland by King Jan Kazimierz.
Construction of the new monastery begins under Brother Caspar Moosbrugger (monastery originally founded in 934).
Joseph Haydn composes the “Mariazeller Messe” for pilgrims wending their way to Mariazell.
Napoleon passes through Loreto: he plunders the treasure contained in the sanctuary and sends the statue of the Madonna to Paris (statue will return to Loreto in 1801).
The French occupy Einsiedeln and loot the Monastery.
Old and New Częstochowa are linked via Holy Virgin Mary avenue, creating modern urban layout of Częstochowa.
Apparitions of a “Lady” to Bernadette Soubirous at the Massabielle Grotto.
Building of the first main basilica of the Immaculate Conception.
Building of the second main basilica of the Rosary.
“Mariazellerbahn”, a railway to Mariazell is opened for public transport.
First Apparition of Our Lady to the three children: Francisco, Jacinta Marto and Lucia dos Santos, in Cova da Iria, with apparitions each month until October, on the 13th.
More than 70 thousand people witnessed, in Cova da Iria, Fatima, the “Miracle of the Sun”.
Feast for the proclamation of the Madonna of Loreto as the “Patroness of the Aeronauts”, decreed with anapostolic brief of Pope Benedict XV (24 March 1920).
Canonisation of Bernadette.
Canonization of St. Konrad. The tomb of the saint is located in St. Konrad church (Capuchin church).
Start of construction of the Holy Stairs, from which you can access the Polish Cemetery, a monument dedicated to the memory of the Polish soldiers who died in Italy during the Second World War.
Pope Pius XII consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, on the 25th anniversary of the Apparitions at Fátima.
Due to its religious and spiritual significance to the Austrian population, Mariazell gains city status.
Building of the last main basilica underground St Pie X.
Visit of Pope John XXIII.
Visit of Pope Paul VI.
Visit of Pope John Paul II.
The visit of Pope John Paul II, during which the Holy Father made a gift of a golden rose, which was placed on the left side of the Miraculous Image.
Visit of Pope John Paul II.
Pilgrimage of Pope John Paul II to Fatima, as a thanks for his survival, a year earlier, of an attempt on his life in St. Peter’s Square, Rome.
Visit of Pope John Paul II.
Visit of Pope John Paul II.
Visit of Pope John Paul II on the occasion of the Jubilee of the 600th anniversary of Jasna Góra. As a votive offering for saving him from death, the Pope donated a cassock belt, which was shot through during the attack on him in Saint Peter's Square in Rome
Visit of Pope John Paul II.
Due to its religious and spiritual significance for the Austrian population, Mariazell gains city status.
Visit of Pope John Paul II.
Visit of Pope John Paul II.
Pope John Paul II visits Jasna Góra during World Youth Day.
Visit of Pope John Paul II.
Visit of Pope John Paul II.
Founding of the Shrines of Europe network.
Visit of Pope John Paul II.
Visit of Pope John Paul II.
Visit of Pope John Paul II, beatification of Jacinta and Francisco Marto.
Visit of Pope John Paul II.
Visit of Pope John Paul II.
Visit of Pope Benedict XVI.
Visit of Pope Benedict XVI.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Mariazell to celebrate the 850th anniversary of the foundation of the shrine.
Visit of Pope Benedict XVI.
Visit of Pope Benedict XVI.
Visit of Pope Benedict XVI.
Our Lady of Fatima is in Rome, by request of Pope Francis, at the ceremony of consecration of the World to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Visit of Pope Francis.
Jubilee 100 years of the Apparitions with canonization of Francisco and Jacinta by Pope Francis.
Pope Francis visits Loreto by signing the Apostolic Exhortation to young people “Christus Vivit”.
Reorganization of the Shrines of Europe network and formation of the “Shrines of Europe – Association of European Shrine Cities”