Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Downstairs

The construction of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D. C.,  began in the 1920s. The main construction was not completed until 1959, though chapels are continually being added. These chapels represent the various ethnicities of the United States of America and various groups within the church (like the Knights of Columbus or the Franciscans). It's an impressive structure.

Front entrance of the Basilica

We visited to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Confessional Chapel is the Czech National Chapel and is dedicated to Our Lady of Holy Hostyn. A bronze statue of St. John Neumann (Czech national who served the church in the United States) leads into the chapel.

Our Lady of Hostyn Chapel

St. John Neumann

Just outside the Confessional Chapel is Our Lady of Hope Chapel. The chapel was a gift of Bob and Dolores Hope. Yes, that's the comedian Bob Hope!

Our Lady of Hope

The Crypt Chapel was the first one completed during construction. The first public Mass held inside was on Easter Sunday 1924. 

Crypt Chapel

The chapel is surrounded by many different altars dedicated to various saints.

The crypt's tabernacle

St. Cecelia altar

St. Margaret, more fun in Latin as St. Margarita

The statue of Our Lady of Good Health is a copy from the Basilica in Vailankanni, India.

Our Lady of Good Health

The Our Lady of Antipolo Oratory has a copy of the statue of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage from the Philippines. 

Our Lady of Antipolo

Better image of the statue's face

The Our Lady of Mariazell Chapel features an exact replica of the statue in Mariazell, Austria. The statue is relatively small and has a nice bit of stained glass behind it. 

Our Lady of Mariazell

Outside of the crypt is a long hall featuring statues of American saints. I was especially impressed with St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American saint from the United States.

Kateri Tekakwitha

A statue of St. Peter reminds me of the one in the Vatican where the foot is worn down from all the visitors touching or kissing it. This Peter still has his whole foot.

St. Peter with a full set of toes

In imitation of a small Lebanese church, the Our Lady of Lebanon Chapel represents the Maronite Rite Eastern Church. It's tiny but striking.

Reminds me of ancient churches in Ireland

The Byzantine Ruthenian Chapel represents an Eastern Church Rite that is in full communion with Rome.  

Byzantine Ruthenian Chapel

In the Memorial Hall we found a cardboard cut out of the current pope, so the kids took a picture with him (our oldest was out camping with scouts, so he missed out).

Papal photo op!

The hall includes two chairs that were especially made for Papal visits. John Paul II visited Denver, Colorado, in 1993 for the eighth World Youth Day; the chair is from the papal Mass. Benedict XVI visited America in 2008; his chair was used at the National Shrine.

Pope John Paul II chair

Pope Benedict XVI chair

In one of the halls is an impressive sculpture of the Holy Family at Rest, depicting a moment during the Flight into Egypt.

Holy Family taking a rest

The crypt level has a cafeteria that hasn't served food since the pandemic lockdown started. The fake stained glass shows foody scenes from the gospels.

Last Supper and Emmaus Disciple Dinner

More from the shrine in the next post!