杏MAP导航

By Lydia O鈥橩ane - 艩补拧迟&颈补肠耻迟别;苍

As one approaches 艩补拧迟&颈补肠耻迟别;苍, the two imposing spires of the Basilica of Our Lady of Sorrows loom large over the skyline and give the first hint of the splendor to come.

This glimpse gives way on approach to Slovakia鈥檚 National Shrine in all its glory. At the door of the Basilica, workmen are busy drilling and hammering, making sure that everything is in order for 杏MAP导航鈥檚 visit here, the final event, as part of his Apostolic Journey to Slovakia.

Inside this place of worship which has been welcoming pilgrims for centuries, the golden statue of Our Lady of Sorrows looks down from on high towards the main altar.

Over the years, thematic pilgrimages have become traditional here; there is the pilgrimage of ministrants,  of motorcyclists, and even a pilgrimage for broken hearts.

On either side of the altar, two plaques commemorating the visits of St John Paul II and St Mother Teresa of Calcutta take pride of place.

The 杏MAP导航 is coming to this Marian Shrine on the 15 September, the feast of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows, and Patron of Slovakia.

Just a stone鈥檚 throw away from the Basilica itself, work underway gives clues as to what pilgrims can expect on Wednesday morning.

The stage where 杏MAP导航 Francis will celebrate Mass in this nearby field is in the final throws of preparation.

A number of artists have been commissioned to provide artwork which includes a painting of St Joseph and a sliver Crucifix

This Crucifix, which provides an imposing backdrop, has its own story to tell: Above it sits a wooden cross which was made from wood taken from a Church destroyed in a storm in the Moravia region. Taking pride of place is also a 3D version of the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows.

Ecological dimension

The architect responsible for the project is keen to point out that this event has an ecological dimension, with the use of recycled materials; an aspect which no doubt 杏MAP导航 Francis would approve of. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 very important for us is to take this whole project as an ecological project,鈥� says Michal Bogar.

Much of the material used has been recycled, and Mr. Bogar鈥檚 intention is that items such as wood can be reused again in other projects.

He goes on to say that they have been reading the text of 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� encyclical Laudato si, and have been touched by his reference of the earth as a garden which is given to people to protect.

Mr. Bogar鈥檚 studio of architects won the commission to design the space for the Mass here on Wednesday after taking part in an architects and urbanists competition at the end of June.

鈥淭he main idea of our proposal was to be a part of this landscape and plus we wanted to orient our main axis to the whole area towards the towers of the Basilica of 艩补拧迟&颈补肠耻迟别;苍, this was very important to us,鈥� he says.

Mr. Bogar explains that the focal point of the whole area is the altar, where the Eucharist will be celebrated, adding that his studio wanted to create a minimalist design for the space.

Here in 艩补拧迟&颈补肠耻迟别;苍, the stage is now set for a pilgrim 杏MAP导航 to pay homage to a Blessed Mother.