Basilica Title
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What is a Basilica?
On Jan. 31, 2014, Detroit Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron announced that the Holy Father, Pope Francis, granted the title of Minor Basilica to the National Shrine of the Little Flower Church. Shrine is the second church in Michigan to be made a minor basilica and the 82nd in the United States. The title of Major Basilica is reserved for churches in Rome.
“By honoring the National Shrine of the Little Flower with the designation as a Minor Basilica, Pope Francis has blessed all of us in the Archdiocese of Detroit.”
- Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron
Major Basilicas
There are only four major basilicas, all of which are found in Rome and are also designated "papal basilicas."- St. John Lateran: The cathedral of the Diocese of Rome and the Mother Church of the world. It is the only church that is also known as an "archbasilica."
- St. Peter's Basilica: A major pilgrimage site built over the burial place of St. Peter the Apostle.
- St. Paul Outside the Walls: Built over the burial place of Paul the Apostle.
- St. Mary Major: The largest church in Rome dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Papal basilicas have a papal throne and altar at which one is required to have the pope's permission to celebrate Mass. Additionally, papal basilicas have a holy door only opened by the pope during a jubilee year; the faithful who walk through it gain a plenary indulgence, provided they fulfill the usual requirements.
These four basilicas, along with St. Lawrence Outside-the-Walls, used to make up the patriarchal basilicas because of their association with the patriarchal sees of Christendom. Pope Benedict XVI relinquished the title of "Patriarch of the West" in 2006 and subsequently renamed these as papal basilicas.Minor Basilicas
There are several different kinds of minor basilicas: papal minor basilicas, pontifical minor basilicas, patriarchal minor basilicas, and ecclesiastical minor basilicas.Out of three papal minor basilicas, two are associated with St. Francis of Assisi. Both St. Mary of the Angels and the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi are located in Assisi. The final one is St. Lawrence Outside-the-Walls, located in Rome over the burial site of St. Lawrence.Ecclesiastical minor basilicas are the most common. A church that has particular significance for liturgical and pastoral life in its diocese may be honored by the Holy Father with the title of minor basilica, recognizing the particular link to the pope and the Roman Church. The title may be given due to the church's architectural beauty, historical significance, and liturgical renown, especially through its celebrations of the Most Holy Eucharist, penance, and other sacraments. Special privileges and responsibilities are granted to a church designated as such, including a certain precedence before other churches and the use of various symbols indicating this status. Once granted, a basilica can never lose its title.Duties and Concessions
"As a basilica, the National Shrine helps to express our own relationship to the Holy Father and to enrich the liturgical life of the entire Archdiocese. This honor carries with it a responsibility to share our love of Jesus with more fervor."
-Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron
Indulgences
- June 29 – Solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul
- Oct. – St. Thérèse of the Little Flower's Feast Day
- Oct. 3 – Date of the dedication of the Shrine of the Little Flower Church in 1936
- Dec. 23 – Date of the concession of the title of minor basilica in 2014 (Feast of St. John Cantius)
- Once a year to be determined by Archbishop of Detroit
- Visitors may select one additional day each year to seek a plenary indulgence
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Symbols of a Basilica
Several symbols can be found in a minor basilica indicating the special relationship the church has with the pope.
Papal Symbol
Minor basilicas may display the papal symbol, also known as "the crossed keys." The silver key symbolizes the power to bind and loose on Earth, and the gold key the power to bind and loose in Heaven, representing Jesus's statement to Simon Peter, "Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Mt 18:18)Umbraculum
The Umbraculum, or ombrellino, is a symbol of the pope's authority over the Catholic Church. While formerly used daily to provide shade to the pope, now they are bestowed as symbols of the basilica rank and opened whenever the pope visits. In major basilicas, the umbraculum is made of red and gold velvet, while in a minor basilica such as Shrine it is made of red and yellow silk.
Tintinnabulum
The Tintinnabulum (little bell) is another symbol of a minor basilica. It is a bell mounted on a pole and is crowned with the papal tiara and keys. Should the pope visit a basilica, the tintinnabulum would be used to lead a special procession.
Mozetta
The rector of the basilica is permitted to wear a black mozetta with red piping, buttons, and button holes. In the exercise of his office, it is worn over the cassock or the religious habit and surplice. The color of a mozetta indicates the rank of the person wearing it: white for the pope, scarlet for cardinals, fuschia for bishops, and black for abbots.
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