Largest Roman Catholic Church in the United States and North America

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is the largest in North America, and is among the ten largest churches in the world.

The church measures a total of 459 ft. long, i.e. longer than St Paul Outside the Walls in Rome or Haggia Sophia in Istanbul. The height of the nave rises to 239 ft., with a 108 ft. in diameter dome and an impressive bell tower. The interior of the church is comprised of a Crypt Church and the Great Upper Church of the National Shrine. Apses illustrate the many devotions of all the cultures that have shaped America.

A modern shrine

On September 23, 1920, the cornerstone was dedicated and the site blessed by Archbishop Bonsano. The shrine was completed and consecrated in 1959.

Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, patroness of the United States, the Basilica is the nation’s preeminent Marian shrine. With over 70 chapels and oratories that relate to the peoples, cultures and traditions that are the tapestry of the Catholic faith and the mosaic of our great nation, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is indeed, America’s Catholic Church. The Shrine has much to offer souls hungering for God. It is a wonderful place of prayer, where you can spend time in meditative silence.

An active shrine

Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is a mix of veneration, invocation and imitation. The Rosary is prayed daily at the Shrine; a novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal is prayed on Wednesdays. The Shrine observes Marian feasts with Liturgical Celebrations and a solemn Liturgy at 12 noon. The Catholic TV and radio channel ETWN broadcasts a number of solemn Masses from the National Shrine courtesy of the Knights of Columbus, and concerts of Sacred Music are also aired regularly.

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Official Website: www.nationalshrine.org