LOURDES: THE ROSARY BASILICA

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, also known as the Rosary Basilica or Lower Basilica, was the third of the churches to be completed in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes after the Crypt and the Upper Basilica. Designed by the architect Leopold Hardy, it was constructed between the years 1883 and 1889. The Church was inaugurated in 1889 and consecrated in 1901 by Monsignor Langenieux, the Archbishop of Rheims. Since the Virgin Mary appeared to St Bernadette at the grotto holding a rosary in her hands, the Rosary Basilica was dedicated to this theme.

The Sanctuary of the Basilica

Inside the Rosary Basilica

Mass in the Rosary Basilica

The Rosary Basilica is a Neo-Byzantine-style church with three naves laid out in the shape of a Greek cross. Each of the three naves is 14 metres wide.  52 metres long and 48 metres wide, the church can seat up to 1500 people and hold about 2500 people. The features of the Rosary Basilica are its 15 chapels dedicated to the 15 mysteries of the Holy Rosary illustrated on large mosaics. The events in the life of Jesus are clearly depicted on these mosaics and pilgrims can recite the rosary guided by the mosaics. On the left are the five Joyful Mysteries, in the centre are the five Sorrowful Mysteries, and to the right are the five Glorious Mysteries. The mosaics are the works of the Italian mosaic artist, Giandomenico Facchina, over the course of twelve years, from 1895 to 1907.

1st Joyful Mystery - The Annunciation

2nd Joyful Mystery - The Visitation

3rd Joyful Mystery - The Nativity

4th Joyful Mystery - The Presentation

5th Joyful Mystery - The Finding in the Temple

The mosaics are based on the 19th Century paintings of prominent European artists such as:

• Melchior Doze of the Academie de Nimes (The Annunciation and The Nativity), 
• the Parisian artist, M. Grellet (The Visitation and The Finding in the Temple, The Crowning with Thorns, The Crucifixion, The Resurrection), 
• the French painter and illustrator, Louis Edouard Fournier (The Presentation, The Scourging), 
• the Spanish painter, Felipe Maso (The Carrying of the Cross), 
• the French symbolist painter from Nantes, Edgard Maxence (The Descent of the Holy Spirit, The Ascension, The Coronation).

2nd Glorious Mystery - The Ascension

4th Glorious Mystery - The Assumption

The facade of the Rosary Basilica is dominated by a majestic Romanic portal depicting the Madonna carrying the Child Jesus on her lap who is handing a rosary to Saint Dominic de Guzman, the founder of the Dominican order. Completed in the year 1890, it is the work of the French sculptor, Maniglier.

The Facade of the Rosary Basilica

The Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus giving a Rosary to Saint Dominic

The inner side of the dome of the Rosary Basilica features a circlet of roses - a symbol of the Holy Rosary. The top of the dome features a golden crown and a cross in commemoration of the coronation of Our Lady of Lourdes.

The Interior View of the Dome

The Top of the Dome of the Basilica 

In an open area to the left of the Rosary Basilica is the Esplanade Chapel, the old chapel of Saint Bernadette. Here, visitors can see the bronze statue of Bernadette kneeling in prayer with a rosary in her hands, the work of the Tarbes sculptor, Firmin Michelet. The mosaic behind the statue depicting the Virgin Mary surrounded by angels is the work of Edgard Maxence. On the steps of the altar (in the mosaic) are the words the Immaculate Conception said to Bernadette during the third apparition, "I cannot promise you happiness in this life but in the next." To understand more about the life of Bernadette, please read THE PASSION OF BERNADETTE.

The Esplanade Chapel

You may also like to read BASILICA OF SAINT PIUS X, THE BASILICA OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, THE PARISH CHURCH OF LOURDES, and THE CHURCH OF SAINT BERNADETTE. To view the content page of this blog, please click here. There is a complete list of my articles about Lourdes on this page


References:
1.  Lourdes & Bernadette. Publisher "il Calamo".
2.  Lourdes. A. Doucet Publication.
3.  Lourdes: The Life of Bernadette, the Apparitions, the Shrines. Andre Doucet Publication.
4.  Discover Lourdes. MSM.