Our Lady of Lebanon
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Our Lady of Lebanon, also known as Notre Dame du Liban, is the patron saint of the Mediterranean country of Lebanon. At the end of the 19th century, a 15-ton bronze statue of the Virgin Mary, painted in white, was erected on top of a hill, 650 meters above sea level, in the village of Harissa, north of Beirut in honor of Our Lady of Lebanon. The shrine was inaugurated in 1908, and since then it has become a major pilgrimage destination in Lebanon. The Lebanese Christians as well as the Druze and Shia Muslims have a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Maronite Patriarch of Antioch named her the "Queen of Lebanon" in 1908 upon completion of the shrine.[1]
Overlooking the bay of Jounieh, the shrine has become a major tourist attraction where tourists take the gondola lift,the Téléférique, from the city of Jounieh to Harissa.
[edit] Papal Visit
Pope John Paul II visited the shrine when he made an official visit to Lebanon on May 10, 1997. He conducted a mass in the modern Basilica. On December 8, 1998, the Vatican announced that the World Day of the Sick will be celebrated on February 11, 1999 at Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa.[2] Pope John Paul II prayed that Our Lady of Lebanon who had watched over the agonizing suffering of the Lebanese people could help all those who were suffering in the world.[3]
Pope Benedict XVI launched an appeal for peace in Lebanon and Gaza by invoking the protection Our Lady of Lebanon on January 28, 2007. He said, "To Christians in Lebanon, I repeat the exhortation to be promoters of real dialogue between the various communities, and upon everyone I invoke the protection of Our Lady of Lebanon."
The Papal Embassy as well as the residences of four Eastern Rite cardinals of the Roman Catholic church are in the vicinity of Harissa and Our Lady of Lebanon.[4]
[edit] Churches, Schools, and Shrines Dedicated to Our Lady of Lebanon
Australia
- Our Lady Of Lebanon Melbourne
- Our Lady Of Lebanon, Sydney
- Our Lady of Lebanon College, Harris Park, NSW
Brazil
- Our Lady of Lebanon Melkite Church - Fortaleza, Brazil
Canada
- Our Lady Of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church - Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Our Lady Of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church - Toronto
France
- Notre Dame du Liban - Paris, France
South Africa
- Our Lady of the Cedars of Lebanon, Woodmead, Johannesburg
- Shrine of Our Lady of the Cedars, Woodmead, Johannesburg
US
- Mariam Mother of Life Shrine (replica of Our Lady of Lebanon) at St. Ephrem's Maronite Catholic Church - El Cajon, California
- Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon - Los Angeles, California
- Our Lady of Mount Lebanon - Los Angeles, California
- Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Antiochene Catholic Church - Millbrae, California
- Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church - Waterbury, Connecticut
- Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church - Miami, Florida
- Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church - Chicago, Illinois
- Our Lady of the Cedars of Lebanon, Boston, Massachusetts
- Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon - Saint Louis, Missouri
- Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon - Brooklyn, New York
- Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Mission - Columbus, Ohio
- National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon - North Jackson, Ohio
- Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church - Easton, Pennsylvania
- Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church - Austin, Texas
- Our Lady of the Cedars of Lebanon, Houston, Texas
- Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church - Lewisville, Texas
- Our Lady of Lebanon Parish - Washington, DC
- Our Lady of Lebanon Seminary - Washington, DC
- Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church - Wheeling, West Virginia
