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A true architectural wonder, the
Basilica of Our Lady of Victory stands as a tangible symbol of
one man's unshakable faith and devotion to his patroness, Mary.
It is a place of wondrous beauty, radiating hope to all those
who arrive at its doors in desperate need. Its hundreds of paintings,
sculptures, and mosaics dazzle the senses and evoke awe in even
the hardest of hearts. But, above all, the Basilica is a gift
of thanks. A gift, offered by Msgr. Nelson Baker, V.G., to his
helpmate, Our Lady of Victory, for more than 50 years of inspiration
and spiritual assistance.
The Gift
The year was 1921. Although Father Baker was 79 years old, he
was still a visionary with great dreams -- and he had one more
that needed attention. At a routine parish council meeting, the
humble priest shocked all in attendance as he calmly unveiled
ambitious plans for a shrine that would rival any within the U.S.
Speaking before an astonished crowd, Father Baker outlined his
desire for the finest materials and artists to come together for
a true masterwork -- a way of paying homage to the Blessed Mother
who provided him with so much throughout the years. Astounding
all with his infectious vigor, construction was begun almost immediately.
Knowing that he had not set aside a penny for the new shrine's building did not seem to upset him either, as Father Baker was confident that Our Lady of Victory would again look kindly upon him -- and She did. The "Padre of the Poor" sent out a call of support and it was answered by thousands of citizens from around the nation, happy to support such a divine project. Some contributed through the Association of Our Lady of Victory, Father Baker's pioneering direct-mail fundraising club (via per-brick sponsorships of $10), while countless others sent offerings both large and small.
By late1925, construction of the great Sanctuary of Our Lady of Victory was completed and the first Mass was held there on Christmas of that year. Amazingly, when it opened the following year, the Basilica had no debt, having been completely paid for at a cost of $3.2 million. On May 25, 1926, a very special consecration ceremony took place. Attended by thousands of local dignitaries, priests, nuns, and well-wishers, the event was presided over by Father Baker, Bishop William Turner of the Diocese of Buffalo, and Cardinal Patrick Hayes. Within two months an even higher honor was bestowed upon the shrine as it was officially designated a Minor Basilica via an apostolic decree from Pope Pius XI. Father Baker's greatest dream had been realized: the gift had been given
Through
the Years
Although the Basilica has seen many years, it has not
seen too many changes. Only three events have altered the original
design of the shrine significantly.
In 1941, a freak and violent lightning storm caused major damage to the Basilica's original twin towers. Father Baker's first successor, Msgr. Joseph Maguire, led the efforts to refurbish the structures, replacing the marble towers with the lower, enclosed, copper-dome-tipped towers that can be seen today.
The only other change to the Basilica's exterior took place some 60 years later. Piles of snow and ice caused by the harsh winter of 2001-2002 took its toll on the National Shrine, forcing Msgr. Robert Wurtz to replace the shrine's greenish-hued roof. When the Basilica was first built, the dome and the roof were made of a shiny copper, but, over time, those features turned green due to prolonged exposure to the elements (the same chemical change seen on the Statue of Liberty). A new copper roof was put up, and although, it doesn't match the other greenish highlights, the structure will begin to turn colors in upcoming years and is expected to blend right in with the other sections of copper in about 50 years.
Father Baker Comes Home
March 11, 1999, was a date which would see a profound
change in the shrine, and in the minds of thousands of Western
New Yorkers. It was on that day, that Father Nelson Baker came
home.
In July 1998, Msgr. Robert Wurtz, pastor of OLV Parish announced that the earthly remains of Father Baker would be transferred from nearby Holy Cross Cemetery into his most beloved of creations, the OLV Basilica. The move, which was ordered by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome, would help raise awareness of Father Baker, his mission, and his legacy. On that brilliant morning in March, Father Baker's casket, carried by six men who were raised by the Padre of the Poor himself, was placed in a sarcophagus within the Grotto Shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes, found on the southern end of the Basilica's transept. A truly unique area, the Grotto is hewn out of black lava rock from Mount Vesuvius in Italy. At the time of its construction, Father Baker insisted on finding a material that was untouched by humans to pay tribute to the vision of Our Blessed Lady to St. Bernadatte in Lourdes, France. It is estimated that nearly 6,000 people passed through the Basilica's doors that day just to honor the humble priest and all of his accomplishments.
Today
& Beyond
In 2001, a celebration 75 years in the making was held as the
OLV Parish celebrated the National Shrine's Diamond Jubilee. As
the 75th Anniversary of consecration approached, a committee of
parishioners and OLV Institutions' staff members banned together
to plan a truly special day. On May 26, a special Mass was followed
by a dinner party, at which hundreds of dignitaries, clergy members,
and friends came together to celebrate the OLV Basilica and its
saintly founder, Father Nelson Baker.
Today, the Basilica continues to draw close to 2,000 visitors every month. Pilgrims and well-wishers of all faiths from every state gather to offer prayers to Father Baker, enjoy a calm moment of reflection, or just to admire the breath-taking architecture. The future will no doubt hold even more promise, as Father Baker advances down the long Path to Sainthood. Beatification (the next step and the second of three in the process), would, in itself, cause attendance to jump, while canonization is expected to bring tens of thousands of visitors to Lackawanna and its wondrous shrine.
Simply stated, the OLV Basilica is what it is: a shrine of unparalleled beauty, a place for all to dream, hope and believe in. But it is also this: a gift offered by a humble servant to a provider of great things, the Blessed Mother. It is, and ever will be, a symbol of Father Baker's steadying faith and a dream that was very much worth dreaming.
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