Information
Landmark: National Shrine of Our Lady of SnowsCity: Belleville
Country: USA Illinois
Continent: North America
National Shrine of Our Lady of Snows, Belleville, USA Illinois, North America
Overview
In Belleville, Illinois, the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows stretches across wide open grounds, making it one of the largest outdoor Catholic shrines in North America.It’s a vibrant hub of faith, tradition, and community, drawing pilgrims, travelers, and worshippers from across the country-and even farther, some carrying small bundles of incense or flowers.The devotion to Our Lady of the Snows traces back to a 4th-century legend in Rome, where, on a summer morning, fresh white snow covered a hill.The story says the Virgin Mary came to a wealthy Roman couple and the Pope in a dream, telling them to build a church where, even in the heat of summer, snow would blanket the ground.Against all odds, snow blanketed the Esquiline Hill on August 5, dusting the grass in white and marking the spot where the Basilica of Saint Mary Major-one of the oldest churches dedicated to Mary-would rise.In 1941, Father Paul Schulte, O. M. I., brought the devotion to the Midwest, planting its roots at St. Henry’s Seminary in Belleville, Illinois, where the stone chapel doors first swung open to welcome worshippers.In the decades that followed, interest swelled, and travelers made their way to the small shrine, some leaving flowers at its worn wooden steps.In 1958, the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate bought roughly 80 acres of farmland to build a bigger national shrine, and within a short time, it stretched across more than 200 acres, with fields rolling out to the horizon.Over time, the Shrine has grown to include small whitewashed churches, quiet gardens, places for devotion, and facilities for prayer, healing, and gatherings.At the Shrine Grounds and Facilities of the Church of Our Lady of the Snows, the focal point is a striking modern church, its tall windows catching the morning light, where daily Mass is celebrated and confessions are heard.The church offers a quiet haven where worshippers and pilgrims gather, the scent of old wood and candle wax filling the air.On the shrine grounds, you’ll find several cherished outdoor devotional sites, including the Lourdes Grotto-a stone-for-stone replica of the one in Lourdes, France, where the Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Bernadette.It’s where people gather to pray and seek healing, a place where whispered hopes mingle with the scent of burning incense.The Stations of the Cross are a path of outdoor sculptures and markers where pilgrims pause to reflect on the Passion of Christ, step by step, sometimes with the wind carrying the scent of pine through the air.Annunciation Garden is a lush, carefully tended space that honors the moment the angel Gabriel brought his message to Mary, with roses brushing softly against the path.Small chapels, tucked-away shrines, and leafy devotional gardens offer peaceful spots where visitors can pause, breathe, and pray.The outdoor amphitheater is an open-air space where liturgical celebrations, concerts, retreats, and special events come to life, with pine-scented breezes and the rustle of leaves all around.At Kings House Retreat & Conference Center, guests can stay on-site for retreats, join spiritual programs, and take part in workshops designed for individuals and groups who want to deepen their spiritual journey-whether that’s in a quiet chapel or under the shade of the old oak trees.At the Visitor Center and Gift Shop, you’ll find shelves of religious items, well-worn prayer books, and keepsakes tied to the shrine’s history and Marian devotion.Each Christmas season, the shrine glows with its Way of Lights celebration, a beloved tradition that draws crowds to wander beneath thousands of twinkling bulbs.More than 1.1 million white lights brighten the grounds, twinkling in displays that bring the Nativity and other Christmas scenes to life.You’ll find a towering LEGO® Nativity scene, music from local choirs and bands filling the air, a lively wreath auction, and plenty of activities the whole family can enjoy.Each year, tens of thousands pour in for the event, filling the air with chatter and the smell of fresh street food.Healing and Hope Novena is a summer gathering filled with prayer, moments of quiet reflection, and a shared wish for healing-both for individuals and entire communities.Pilgrims travel from far and wide to join this heartfelt novena, gathering for Mass, prayer, and quiet services where healing takes center stage.Each day, the shrine welcomes visitors for Mass, offers confessions, and gathers for the rosary, the soft murmur of prayers filling the quiet space.Spiritual offerings often feature retreats, guided prayer sessions, and workshops exploring Marian devotion, sometimes with candles flickering softly in the chapel.The shrine stands as a lively heart of pilgrimage and prayer, offering a quiet space where incense drifts through the air and visitors gather for personal reflection, group prayers, and moments of spiritual renewal.Many visitors arrive hoping for physical, emotional, or spiritual healing, drawn by the shrine’s peaceful air and its dedicated ministries-sunlight filtering through quiet courtyards where prayers linger in the breeze.The Shrine connects with neighbors and visitors alike through outreach programs, hands-on volunteer work, and lively educational events that fill the hall with conversation.You’ll find us at 442 South De Mazenod Drive in Belleville, Illinois, about nine miles southeast of St. Louis-just a short drive past the river.You can visit the shrine grounds any day between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., when the gates swing open and the morning air still smells of dew.Mass is held on weekdays at 7:30 AM and 11:30 AM; Saturdays at 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM; and Sundays at 10:00 AM in English and 2:00 PM in Spanish.Confession is offered Saturdays from 3:00 to 4:00 PM, and Sundays from 9:30 to 9:50 AM and 1:30 to 1:50 PM.The Shrine welcomes everyone, with ramps and wide doorways for visitors with mobility needs.Because the Shrine sits so close to St. Louis, it’s easy to pair a pilgrimage with a stop at the Gateway Arch, an afternoon in the city’s museums, or a stroll past other nearby landmarks.You can wander through the Belleville Historic District, its brick sidewalks warm in the afternoon sun, and check out a few other nearby spots worth seeing.The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows is a cherished place where people honor Mary, seek spiritual healing, and come together-sometimes under the glow of its softly lit gardens at dusk.Here, quiet gardens meet graceful temples, creating a tranquil haven where you can pray, worship, or mark a joyful occasion beneath swaying cedar branches.Steeped in ancient Marian tradition, its rich history still inspires and pulls in thousands every year, some pausing to light a single candle in quiet reverence.
