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Location Information:
The
Basilica of our Lady of the Rosary
(French: Notre Dame du Rosaire de
Lourdes) is a Roman Catholic church
and minor basilica within the
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in
France. Its main theme is a
celebration and depiction of the
Rosary.
The
nave is open and circular,
surmounted by a dome. The dome
contains sixteen circular stained
glass windows. The fifteen spaces
between these windows signify the
fifteen decades of the traditional
rosary.
The nave is surrounded by fifteen
smaller side chapels, one for each
of the traditional Mysteries of the
Rosary. On the left of the nave are
found the Joyful Mysteries; in the
centre behind the sanctuary are the
Sorrowful Mysteries, and to the
right are the Glorious Mysteries.
Each side-chapel comprises a large
mosaic with a central image
depicting the theme of that Mystery,
and an inscription in Latin.
Incorporated within the larger image
may be smaller images of related
themes. For example, the side chapel
directly behind the altar contains a
depiction of the Crowning with
Thorns, which is surmounted by an
image of the Ark of the Covenant
(see figure).
Most
of the mosaics bear a date of around
1900. In each side-chapel is a small
altar bearing six candles.
In the upper wall of the sanctuary
is a mosaic depicting Mary with
outstretched arms and the caption
Par Marie à Jésus ("Through Mary to
Jesus").[2] This depiction, of a
very young woman facing directly
forwards, is much more in keeping
with Bernadette's descriptions of
the apparition than the iconic
statue in the niche in the Grotto.
The exterior of the dome is
surmounted by a dramatic gilded
crown and cross, which were a gift
from the People of Ireland in 1924.
The cross was regilded in 2000-2.
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