In 1875, the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception was built in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's historic section of Germantown. The chapel was attached to St. Vincent's Seminary and its main purpose was to serve as a place of worship for the seminarians of the Congregation of the Mission (CM), the order commonly known as the Vincentian Fathers and Brothers.
Since 1927, the chapel's west transept has housed Mary's Shrine where a special place of worship to honor Mary Immaculate and her Miraculous Medal became a reality.
The Carillon was added to the Shrine Chapel in 1901, for more information about our historic carillon click here.
Rose Window
Includes 1st Apparition Statue with Replica of Original Apparition Chair. The chair includes a piece of cloth from the original chair.
Angels on the St. Vincent de Paul Altar
View of the Immaculate Conception Chapel from the Main Altar
Mosaic of the 1st Apparition of the Miraculous Medal
Lower Level Shrine – The Virgo Potens
Mosaic of the 2nd Apparition of the Miraculous Medal Lower Shrine
The New Pieta on Crucifixion Altar
“Wear this Medal always!” These were a mother’s parting words to her son, Joseph, as she hung a Miraculous Medal around his neck. It was September 1890. Joseph Skelly, at age 16, was leaving home to begin studying for the priesthood. Little did Elizabeth Hanlon Skelly realize in that simple gesture, she was helping to place a Miraculous Medal around the necks of millions of people. This medal is one of the 10 original medals left cast in France in 1830.
The Medal of the Immaculate Conception, commonly called the Miraculous Medal, was manifested to Sister (now Saint) Catherine Labouré. Her description of the apparition of Our Lady on November 27, 1830 makes it clear that the Medal originated with the Mother of God herself.
The Medal was made according to Our Lady’s design. It was freely circulated and in a short time was worn by millions. In its wake followed innumerable wonders - health restored, bad habits broken - until the Medal of the Immaculate Conception became known by the name it bears today, the Miraculous Medal.
The many stained glass windows surrounding the Shrine rank with those produced by the best thought and workmanship of America, which at the present time is among the leaders of this art. Each window contains two medallions which portray incidents from the life of Our Lady from her birth to her coronation in heaven. The soft light filtering through the many glasses in the windows casts a celestial glow over all, and produces an effect at the same time peaceful and devotional.
Seven stained glass windows are set in the semi-circular wall of Mary’s Central Shrine. Each window has two panels. Each panel depicts an event from the life of Our Blessed Mother. The “hot spots” link to panels depicting the Presentation of the Child Jesus (left) and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven.
The walls, beginning at the base with red Numidian marble from Africa, grow lighter in color as they approach the ceiling, a golden hued marble predominating, with here and there inlaid mosaics adding brilliancy to the whole. The pillars are a rich shade of green marble from the Swiss Alps, and above their delicately sculptured capitals is the frieze with the invocation in gold mosaic, “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”
At the center of the Shrine altar and below the statue of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal sits a magnificent tabernacle made of Pavonazzo marble, Venetian mosaic and precious metal.
The floor of the Shrine presents a design artistically worked out in a rich combination of rare and semi-precious marbles, with inlays of Florentine marble mosaic. In the center is an especially noteworthy piece of mosaic work embodying the name “Mary” in honor of Mary the Mother of God. There is a rich marble altar rail which separates the Shrine from the main Chapel.
The floor of the Shrine displays a number of artistically designed marble mosaics worked out in a rich combination of rare and semi-precious marbles. However, the center mosaic is an especially noteworthy piece of artwork embodying the name “Mary” in honor of Mary the Mother of God.
The Miraculous Medal Shrine to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception wearing her crown in November.
The soft cream effect of the Pavonazzo marble of the altar is enhanced by four richly colored mosaics of which two are set in the rear panels of the altar. These two, silver mosaics depict the front and back of the Miraculous Medal.
A magnificent tabernacle below the statue of Our Lady is also made of Pavonazzo marble, Venetian mosaic, and precious metal.
Below the altar table gleam the other two colorful mosaics picturing the first and second apparitions of Our Lady to Sister Catherine, now Saint Catherine Labouré. Behind the center panel, below the table of the altar, are placed the names of those who have shown special interest in the Association as members. These names are never to be removed.
This mural was painted by Parzironi, aprox. in 1909. It is a favorite rendition of the Holy Family in Bethlehem by the manger holding Jesus. In the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul, they are pictured here with only the humble shepherds, the first to receive the good news of Christ’s birth.
This mural is a beautiful rendition of Mary’s Assumption into heaven, where she is surrounded by angels singing the praises upon her entering heaven. Here she looks down as Queen of Angels on all of her children.
This mural is a depiction of the Annunciation, the innocence of Mary being visited by the Angel Gabriel. Here is where Mary says “Yes” to God to become the mother of his only Son.
In 1959, this magnificent mural to frame the Miraculous Medal Shrine was added to enhance her splendor. This mural was not painted directly on the wall, but on canvas’ almost a thousand square feet in size. The artist, Richard Panzironi of New York City, studio was the son of the artist who painted the murals over the main altar more than 50 years prior.
The Top of the shrine mural shows the story of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception’s first appearance to St. Catherine in the Chapel at Rue de Bac, Paris. On the top right the depiction shows her appearing for the second time on the same altar holding the ball with a cross on top, “This ball you see represents the whole world” . Between these two beautiful paintings is the image of the double medal, representing the third time that Our Lady appeared showing St. Catherine the design of the medal that she told her to have struck that was named the Immaculate Conception Medal and then became to be known as the Miraculous Medal due to the many miracles given to those who wore it.
Below these images are two representations of St. Joseph the patron saint of the “Central Association”. On the left is St. Joseph with his staff and to the right the Carpenter with the boy Jesus at the carpenter’s bench.
Finally, on the bottom can be found two Vincentian Saints: On the left, from the Daughters of Charity is St. Elizabeth Anne Seton surrounded by children, and on the right is St. Justin DiJacobis, C.M. recently ordained for his mission work in Ethiopia.
Above the Shrine altar is a statue of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. The marble from which it has been sculptured is what is known as “first quality” statuary marble (Carrara marble). It is so rare and so expensive that seldom is it used by artists. However, the exceptional quality of its effects are impossible to attain with other marbles no matter how fine. Truly the sculptor of the Shrine statue brought out, in a wonderful manner, the beauty and the purity looked for in Her whom it represents.
The statue of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal was said to have been donated by the McBride Brothers in honor of their Mother. They were the builders of the Shrine. At the time (1927), it was supposed to be valued at $1000.
Considering the devotional character of the statue and its artistic merit, it had been predicted that in time the statue would be regarded as one of the finest in the country.
As one approaches Mary’s Shrine one begins to truly appreciate the beauty of this magnificent house of prayer. Of all the wonders of this holy place, the statue of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal surmounting the altar is the crowning glory of the Shrine. The Central Association of the Miraculous Medal has no doubt in considering the Shrine as the “center and heart of the Association.”
Father Joseph A. Skelly, C.M., the founder of The Central Association of the Miraculous Medal and first Director, wanted to build a Shrine to fittingly honor Mary Immaculate and her Miraculous Medal. Mary’s Central Shrine was built in 1927 and was dedicated on September 8, 1927 by Dennis Cardinal Dougherty, of Philadelphia.
The latest renovation of the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception began in January 1979 and was completed in November 1979. Many contractors from the City of Philadelphia or nearby areas were involved in the renovation.
The Chapel of the Immaculate Conception is the home of the Miraculous Medal Shrine. The splendor and exquisite craftsmanship of this special house of worship greets you as you pass through the vestibule doors.
Built in the late 1800’s the chapel was dedicated on the Feast of the Dedication of Churches, November 9, 1879 by Rt. Rev. Bishop Ryan, C.M. of Buffalo, New York who performed the ceremony.
Initially, the main purpose of the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception was a place of worship for seminarians; however, in 1879 it also served as a parish church for the surrounding neighborhood until 1902.
