Altoetting

This ancient shrine in the heart of Bavaria dates from the end of the Carolingian era (10th century) and has never been destroyed. Our Lady of Altoetting is a still a thriving Marian shrine in southern Germany near the Austrian border.

When Saint Rupert baptized Otto the Bavarian around 680, the Roman temple of the town became a Christian chapel. The chapel houses the wooden statue of the Black Madonna of Altoetting.

Feast Day

Our Lady of Altoetting is honored on Ash Wednesday and Good Saturday.

Customs and Prayers

During the pilgrimage season, the candlelight procession before the Virgin's Chapel ends with this invocation:

"Help me Mary, help, help Mary, help me too! 
A sinner is here before you! 
O Mother of mercy,
Stay close to me the last day of my agony!"

Even more poignant is the unique custom of carrying a wooden cross on one's shoulders and walking around the chapel three times, praying and imploring the Mother of Sorrows to obtain the forgiveness of our sins.

Sub umbra Magnae Mariae

Since 1561 Bavarian rulers have had their hearts buried in the Virgin's Chapel 'sub umbra Magnae Mariae' (under the shadow of Mary the Great).

Famous Pilgrimages

One famous pilgrimage took place in 1650, when the faithful made a pilgrimage to Altoetting, walking 310 miles to thank Our Lady for protecting their Catholic faith, after the wars of religion.

During the terrible period of Nazism, the shrine and its pilgrims were persecuted, but the number of pilgrims coming to Our Lady of Altoetting only doubled.

In 1934, Saint Conrad of Parzham (d.1894), a Capuchin friar known for his Marian piety, was canonized. Throughout his life he had been the porter at the shrine of Altoetting. That year more than half a million pilgrims came to visit Altoetting!

It is said that during World War II, seeing that the American army had nearly arrived, the troops of the Nazi SS took refuge in the convent of Altoetting after shooting the dean. The Americans warned that they would bombard the place if the Nazis did not turn on the electric lighting. The Nazis refused, but a pilgrim managed to turn on the lights, an act of courage that cost him his life, although he saved the shrine from destruction.

On November 18, 1980, Pope John Paul II was the second pope to visit Altoetting.

On September 11, 2006, Pope Benedict XI also came. He celebrated Mass and delivered a brilliant homily on the Blessed Virgin. He also celebrated Compline.



Altoetting Shrine
Kapellplatz 4a
D-84503 Altoetting - Germany
Tel: + 49 / 86.71.62.62

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Main source of the article: Attilio GALLI, Madre della Chiesa nei cinque continent edizioni Segno, 1996.