In the heart of Styria, at the foot of the picturesque Eastern Alps, lies a place that for centuries has attracted crowds of pilgrims and travelers – the Sanctuary of Our Lady in Mariazell. Here stands the miraculous statue known as Magna Mater Austriae, the Great Mother of Austria, but also the Mother of Slavic Nations and the Great Lady of the Hungarians. Before her image, faithful from Austria, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Moravia kneel together in prayer. Mariazell has become for Austrians and their neighbors what Jasna Góra is for Poles and Fatima for the Portuguese – a national sanctuary. In the past, Mariazell was a stop for pilgrims on their way to Rome or Santiago de Compostela; today, it is a destination in its own right.
The Basilica of the Birth of the Virgin Mary in Mariazell impresses from the very first moment. Upon entering, the eye is drawn to the Chapel of Our Lady with the Altar of Grace – a small sanctuary located right in the center, between the Gothic and Baroque parts of the church. It houses the miraculous Romanesque statue of Mary with the Child, carved from linden wood. Although it measures only 47 centimeters in height, for centuries it has captured the hearts and devotion of pilgrims. Mary lovingly holds the little Jesus on her lap, and in His hands He carries an apple and a fig – symbols of humanity’s salvation. The faces of Mother and Child have remained untouched, and the custodians of the sanctuary emphasize that even dust has not settled on them through the ages.
One cannot fail to mention the rich tradition associated with this sacred image. For hundreds of years, the statue has been dressed in ornate, embroidered gowns. More than 150 such garments are preserved in the treasury – sewn with golden thread, adorned with pearls, often donated as votive offerings of gratitude. Some were even made from bridal dresses, while others were gifts from crowned rulers. Empress Maria Theresa commissioned a silver gown for Our Lady, a masterpiece of craftsmanship that still inspires awe. Dressing the statue has long been considered a great honor, and the tradition was renewed in the 18th and 19th centuries thanks to Emperor Francis.
On ordinary days, the figure is always clothed in one of its rich garments, with only a few exceptions each year – on Good Friday, on the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8, and on December 21, the anniversary of the sanctuary’s founding. On these days, the faithful may see it in its original, simple form. Especially moving for many pilgrims is the gown embroidered with the coats of arms of nations – alongside the Austrian eagle and the Hungarian double cross, the Polish White Eagle is displayed, as well as the emblems of the Czech lands and Moravia – a true symbol of unity among peoples.
The history of Mariazell reaches back to the 12th century. According to tradition, the origins of the town date to December 21, 1157, when the monk Magnus placed a statue of Mary here. Later, in the 14th century, King Louis of Hungary – ruler of both Hungary and Poland, and father of Queen Jadwiga – commissioned the construction of a Gothic church as a votive offering of gratitude after victory in wars against the Turks. These events, together with the miraculous healing of Queen Cunigunde, are represented in the sanctuary’s iconography and can be seen in the reliefs above the entrance to the basilica.
For centuries, pilgrims of many nations and languages have come to Mariazell. Mary of Mariazell is called the “Light of the blind, the Speech of the mute, the Consolation of the afflicted, and the Hope of the penitent.” Her presence ensures that national and cultural boundaries lose their meaning. It is no wonder that this place is regarded as a spiritual precursor of a united Europe – for here, peoples came together long before the idea of European unity was born.
Today, Mariazell, a town of only two thousand inhabitants, welcomes over a million pilgrims and visitors each year. Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI both came here to kneel before the Mother of God and entrust her with their prayers, just as millions of the faithful have done throughout the centuries.
This small statue, simple yet majestic, has united people of different languages, nations, and passions for generations. This is the mystery of Mariazell – a place where one discovers not only the beauty of art and history, but also the strength of shared prayer and the experience of a Mother’s spiritual care.
