A Place To Meet Your Mother
The Apparition Oratory is an underground place of prayer located directly below the sanctuary of the Apparition Chapel. Quiet and humble, this oratory is visited by pilgrims every day who are looking for an intimate encounter with our Blessed Mother who hears their most earnest prayers.
The oratory was constructed to emphasize the experience of Mary’s presence on the Shrine’s sacred grounds. It revolves around Mary’s appearance near that location, allowing pilgrims the chance to connect with God through the intercession of Mary. It is also a gathering place of prayer intentions from pilgrims around the world, which are represented by the rows of candles lit in the oratory.
For those with disabilities, the oratory is accessible around the back of the Apparition Chapel near the outdoor stations of the cross.
Surrounded by Saints
The Champion Shrine Reliquary
In addition to being a place for an intimate encounter with our Blessed Mother, the Apparition Oratory is also home to a multitude of Saint relics available for veneration behind the main crowned statue of Our Lady of Grace. On their Feast Days, each relic is brought up to the sanctuary of the Apparition Chapel for the day, with open veneration available for the hour before 11 am Mass. The Shrine currently houses the relics of:
- St. Patrick (3/17)
- St. Mark the Evangelist (4/25)
- St. Philip the Apostle (5/3)
- St. James the Lesser Apostle (5/3)
- St. Matthias the Apostle (5/14)
- St. Barnabas the Apostle (6/11)
- St. Anthony of Padua (6/13)
- St. Peter the Apostle (6/29)
- St. Paul the Apostle (6/29)
- St. Thomas the Apostle (7/3)
- St. Maria Goretti (7/6)
- St. James the Greater Apostle (7/25)
- St. Pope Pius X (8/21)
- St. Bartholomew the Apostle (8/24)
- St. Teresa of Calcutta (9/5)
- St. Matthew the Evangelist (9/21)
- St. Francis of Assisi (10/4)
- St. Maria Faustina Kowalska (10/5)
- St. Teresa of Avila (10/15)
- St. Gerard Majella (10/16)
- St. Luke the Evangelist (10/18)
- St. Pope John Paul II (10/22)
- St. Simon the Apostle (10/28)
- St. Jude the Apostle (10/28)
- St. Cecilia (11/22)
- St. Andrew the Apostle (11/30)
- St. Barbara (12/4)
- St. Anastasia (12/25)
- St. John the Evangelist (12/27)
- Relic of the True Cross
- The Hemlock and Maple Tree Wood that Our Lady appeared between
