National Shrine of The Divine Mercy

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The National Shine of the Divine Mercy is located in Stockbridge, MA.

[edit] History

The priests and brothers of the Congregation of Marians of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary have resided on Eden Hill in Stockbridge, MA, since June 1944. Father Walter Pelczynski, MIC, with the assistance of local clergy and friends of the Marian community, initially purchased 50 of the 370 acres that constituted the "Eden Hill" estate, in November, 1943. The house was to serve as the novitiate for a newly forming province. An image of the "The Divine Mercy" was enshrined in one of the small chapels where the members of the community prayed daily a perpetual novena to the Divine Mercy.

Pilgrims began to arrive the very next spring to celebrate the Feast of The Divine Mercy. By the end of World War II, pilgrims in growing numbers came to offer thanksgiving for graces received through the Divine Mercy message and devotion. They urged the Marians to build a shrine to Jesus, The Divine Mercy, as a votive of thanks. The Fathers decided to accede to the requests since there was also a need for a larger chapel to accommodate a growing community.

The construction of the present Shrine began in 1950 and was completed and solemnly dedicated in 1960. In 1996, the United States Catholic Bishops Conference declared it a National Shrine in accord with Church law. In the course of history, the National Shrine has been the destination of thousands of pilgrims, even from around the world.