Shrine of Our Lady of Europe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shrine of Our Lady of Europe
Shrine of Our Lady of Europe
Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Province	Diocese of Gibraltar
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	National Shrine, Parish
Leadership	Fr. Charles Azzopardi
Year consecrated	20 August 1462
Location
Location	Europa Point, Gibraltar
Architecture
Groundbreaking	14th century

The Shrine of Our Lady of Europe is a special Catholic church in Gibraltar. It is located at Europa Point, which is the southernmost tip of Gibraltar. This church is dedicated to Our Lady of Europe, who is considered the Catholic patroness (a special protector) of Gibraltar.

This shrine is part of the European Marian Network. This network connects twenty important places in Europe dedicated to Mary. It's like a chain of special prayer sites across the continent.

History of the Shrine

The Spanish Beginnings

In the early 1300s, when Moors lived in Gibraltar, a small mosque was built at Europa Point. Later, when the Spanish first took control (between 1309 and 1333), this mosque was changed into a Christian holy place.

On August 20, 1462, the Spanish took Gibraltar back from the Moors. They once again turned the small mosque at Europa Point into a Christian shrine. They dedicated it to Our Lady as the Patroness of Europe. Their hope was to dedicate the whole continent to God through Mary, from this important prayer spot at Europe's southern end.

They built a large chapel next to the mosque's east wall. This whole area became the Shrine of Our Lady of Europe. A small wooden statue of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus was placed here in the 1400s. The statue was about two feet tall and painted in royal red, blue, and gold. Mary sat on a simple chair with Jesus on her lap. Both wore crowns. Mary held a sceptre (a royal staff) with three flowers, which stood for Love, Truth, and Justice.

The shrine became very famous and popular for over 200 years. Ships sailing through the Strait of Gibraltar would salute Our Lady as they passed Europa Point. Sailors often came ashore to bring gifts to the shrine. They even made sure there was always oil to keep a light burning. This light was not only in front of the statue but also in the tower above the chapel. This tower light was actually Gibraltar's first lighthouse.

In the 1500s, pirates from North Africa attacked the Mediterranean coasts of Spain. In 1545, Gibraltar was attacked by a pirate leader's lieutenant. The shrine was robbed, and many valuable things were stolen. However, the statue of the Virgin and Child was not harmed. The shrine was later protected by new walls, built by King Philip II. New and important gifts were given to the shrine. These included a silver lamp from Giovanni Andrea Doria in 1568 and two large silver lamps from John of Austria after his victory in the Battle of Lepanto (1571).

The British Era

A plaque in Gibraltar showing Our Lady of Europe.

After a French bombing in 1693, the shrine faced another attack in August 1704. At this time, a fleet from England and the Netherlands captured Gibraltar. As the city was being bombed, many women and children from Gibraltar went to the shrine for safety, led by priests. Some soldiers landed nearby and went to the shrine, capturing the women. They also stole many valuable items.

The soldiers took twelve silver lamps, candlesticks, crowns, and other precious objects. They also stole clothes from many families who had sought safety there. When there was nothing left to steal, they broke off the head of the statue and the baby Jesus. They threw the pieces among the rocks below.

However, since the statue was made of wood, the pieces floated into the Bay of Gibraltar. A fisherman found them and later gave them to Juan Romero de Figueroa. He was the priest in charge of the St. Mary the Crowned church. This priest stayed in Gibraltar even after most people left. He eventually took the statue's pieces to Algeciras for safekeeping. Many former Spanish residents of Gibraltar had settled there. The statue was kept in a small chapel in Algeciras, which was later renamed the Chapel of Our Lady of Europe.

When the Anglo-Dutch fleet captured Gibraltar, the shrine, like most other Catholic churches, was no longer used for worship. It was taken over for military use. It was also badly damaged during the Great Siege of Gibraltar. Later, it was torn down, and a new building was built on the same spot.

In the early 1860s, the church leader in Gibraltar, John Baptist Scandella, asked for the original statue to be returned from Algeciras. It finally came back to Gibraltar in 1864. Since the Shrine of Our Lady of Europe was still used by the military, the statue was temporarily placed in a new chapel. This chapel was built along Engineer Road. This new chapel later received a marble altar as a gift from Pope Pius IX.

During the Second World War, the statue was moved to the cathedral for safety. After the war, it was moved again, this time to St. Joseph's Parish Church. This church was the closest one to Europa Point.

The building on the site of the old shrine belonged to the Ministry of Defence until 1961. It had been used as an army storage place for oil and boxes. From 1928, it was a library for the soldiers. But when World War II started, it became a storage facility again. By 1959, the military decided they no longer needed the building and planned to demolish it. However, this did not happen. Thanks to the efforts of Bishop John Healy, the building was given to the Diocese on October 17, 1961.

Restoration work began in 1962. For the first time in 258 years, a mass was held at the Shrine on September 28, 1962. The statue was finally moved in a public procession from St. Joseph's Parish Church to the Shrine on October 7, 1967. In the early 1970s, the building was changed further. The statue of Our Lady is still in the Shrine today. In 1997, the sanctuary was rebuilt, and the statue was restored again.

Recent Years and Recognition

Papal Approval

In 1979, Pope John Paul II officially approved the title of Our Lady of Europe as the Patroness of Gibraltar. After this, the shrine was restored once more.

Special Jubilee Gift

In May 2009, the shrine celebrated its 700th anniversary of devotion to Our Lady of Europe. For this special occasion, the shrine received the Golden Rose. This is a very rare and special gift given by the Pope Benedict XVI.

See also

In Spanish: Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Europa para niños

• Roman Catholicism in Gibraltar
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Gibraltar
• Shrine of Our Lady of Africa