Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians, Turin
![]() | This article may be expanded with text translated from the corresponding article in Italian. (August 2012) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians | |
---|---|
Basilica di Santa Maria Ausiliatrice | |
![]() Façade of the church | |
![]() ![]() Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians Map of Turin | |
45°04′51″N 7°40′33″E / 45.0809°N 7.6759°ECoordinates: 45°04′51″N 7°40′33″E / 45.0809°N 7.6759°E | |
Location | Turin |
Country | Italy |
Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
History | |
Authorising papal bull | 9 June 1868 |
Founded | 1865 |
Architecture | |
Style | Neoclassical |
Completed | 1868 |
Administration | |
Diocese | Turin |
The Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians (Italian: Basilica di Santa Maria Ausiliatrice)[1] is a church in Turin, northern Italy. Originally part of the home for poor boys founded by John Bosco, it now contains the remains of Bosco, and 6,000 relics of other saints.[2]
History[]
Giovanni Bosco commissioned the construction of the Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians in order to coordinate all activities related to the Salesians in the Valdocco suburb. The church was designed by Antonio Spezia, who drew inspiration from the facade of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice. It was built in 1865-1868 by Carlo Buzzetti (one of the first boys of the Oratory). The first stone was laid on 27 April 1865, in the presence of Prince Amedeo di Savoia.[3] The church was consecrated in 1868.
The basilica enshrines an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title Mary Help of Christians. Pope Leo XIII granted a Canonical coronation to the painted image on 13 February 1903. The actual ceremony was carried out on 17 May 1903 via his Papal legate, Cardinal Agostino Richelmy.
According to legend, a vision of the Virgin Mary appeared in a dream to John Bosco in 1844 or 1845 and revealed the site of the martyrdom of the Turinese saints Solutor, Adventor and Octavius. The Basilica dell'Ausiliatrice was built on the site of their death.[4][5] The church houses the relics of these saints.
The basilica holds the tombs of saints Don Bosco, Maria Domenica Mazzarello, and Dominic Savio.
See also[]
- Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians, Belmont Abbey
- Roman Catholic Marian churches
Notes[]
- ^ (editor) G. Cotichella (2015), Guida ai luoghi di don Bosco, Torino: Editrice ELLEDICI, p. 73, ISBN 978-88-01-05721-8CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
- ^ "Basilica di Maria SS. Ausiliatrice". Archived from the original on 2007-05-03. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
- ^ "The Basilica of Mary Help of Christians of Turin-Valdocco", Agenzia Info Salesiana
- ^ San Solutore
- ^ SALESIANI DON BOSCO-SDB/ Casa Madre TORINO-VALDOCCO / Santuario-Basilica Maria Ausiliatrice - 3
External links[]
- Short history of the sanctuary (in Italian)
- Basilica churches in Turin
- Salesian churches in Italy
- 19th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy
- Italy Roman Catholic church stubs