Basilica of the Heart of Mary . Catholic heritage building located in Santiago de Chile . It is the first temple built by the Claretian Congregation in the world and the first dedicated to the Heart of Mary. In 1929 Pope Pius XI conferred the category of basilica on it .
Summary
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- 1 Location
- 2 History
- 3 Arquitectura
- 4 National Monument
- 5 See also
- 6 Image Gallery
- 7 sources
Location
Located at Zenteno Street No. 764, Copiapó corner, Santiago , Santiago Metropolitan Region , Chile .
History
The Claretian Congregation (named after the founder of the congregation, San Antonio María Claret), arrived in Chile in the year 1870 . At the beginning, the Claretians settled in a chapel on Calle Dieciocho and a few years later, they moved to a chapel called Belén and to the adjoining house donated by Monsignor Eyzaguirre and the Archbishop of Santiago, Monsignor Valdivieso. The property was expanded thanks to Father Pablo Vallier, the first superior in Chile, who acquired several neighboring properties, which meant that by the year 1875, the Claretians owned the entire block between 10 de Julio and Copiapó, with a depth of about 80 m. It was then decided to build the first Claretian temple, whose first stone was laid by Archbishop Rafael Valentín Valdivieso on March 5 , 1876 .
The architect , Father José Viladrich, and the builder, brother Pedro Más, were in charge of the work. The temple was inaugurated and consecrated to the Heart of Mary on December 7 , 1879 . However, the works lasted until the year 1882 when they were completed. The church was built with funds collected in donations and collections.
On August 30, 1928 , it was established as the headquarters of the Heart of Mary parish and the following year, Pope Pius XI conferred the category of basilica on it.
In 1950 , commissioned by Pope Pius XII , the figure of the Heart of Mary was crowned by Cardinal José María Caro. This privilege is reserved only for Marian effigies of highly relevant worship in Chile. The Basilica is also the National Sanctuary of the apostle San Judas Tadeo .
The earthquake of February 27, 2010 caused serious structural damage, so it had to be restored, the work lasted about two years and all that time it was closed. It was reopened on March 18, 2012 by Archbishop Ricardo Ezzati and is currently in a good state of preservation.
Architecture
The Basilica is in Renaissance and Neoclassical style . Its structure is made up of brick masonry walls joined with lime and sand mortar . Its design is the classic one in the form of a Latin cross, with a presbytery , three naves, sacristy, side chapel, baptistery, choir and Romanesque vaults in the central nave. It can also be seen in the eight side altars, the pulpit and the confessionals.
Its floor plan is divided into three naves separated by semicircular arches, the central one being higher and higher than the lateral ones. Its facade presents a symmetry with two towers attached to the side naves. These towers have an octagonal body with equal faces, crowned by two bell towers, one on each tower.
On the main altar is the titular image of the Heart of Mary, 3.70 m high, carved in wood in Spain and installed in 1898 .
Among the mural decorations, the coat of arms of the basilica and that of Pope Pius XI stand out in the presbytery. In the stained glass windows that illuminate doors and windows, the one of the Sacred Hearts that adorns the great rose window of the choir stands out. The coat of arms of the basilica and two others that honor the Heart of Mary, all adorned with angels, also stand out in relief.
National Monument
The Basilica was declared a National Monument of Chile in the category of Historical Monument, through Supreme Decree No. 22 of January 14, 1987 , for its architectural, artistic and cultural merits.
