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Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians, Turin

Coordinates: 45°04′51″N 7°40′33″E / 45.0809°N 7.6759°E / 45.0809; 7.6759
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Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians
Basilica di Santa Maria Ausiliatrice
Façade of the church
Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians is located in Turin
Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians
Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians
Map of Turin
45°04′51″N 7°40′33″E / 45.0809°N 7.6759°E / 45.0809; 7.6759
LocationTurin
CountryItaly
DenominationRoman Catholic Church
History
Authorising papal bull9 June 1868
Founded1865
Architecture
StyleNeoclassical
Completed1868
Administration
DioceseTurin

The Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians (Italian: Basilica di Santa Maria Ausiliatrice)[1] is a Pontifical church and Marian shrine in Turin, Italy. The building was originally part of the safehouse for poor boys cared for by Don Bosco, it now contains the remains of Bosco, and six thousand numbered relics of other Catholic saints.[2]

Pope Pius X raised the shrine to the status of Minor Basilica via the Pontifical decree Anno Reparatæ Salutis on 12 July 1911.[citation needed]

History

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John Bosco commissioned the construction of the Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians in order to coordinate all activities related to the Salesians in the Valdocco suburb. According to legend, a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in a dream to Bosco in 1844 or 1845 and revealed the site of the martyrdom of the Turinese saints Solutor, Adventor and Octavius. The church was built on the site of their death and houses the relics of these saints..[3][4]

The church was designed by Antonio Spezia, who drew inspiration from the facade of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice. It was built in 1865–1868 by Carlo Buzzetti (one of the first boys of the Oratory). The first stone was laid on 27 April 1865, in the presence of Prince Amedeo di Savoia.[5] The church was consecrated in 1868.

Commemorative plaque for Don Bosco's mother, Mamma Margherita

The basilica enshrines an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title Mary Help of Christians. Pope Leo XIII granted a Canonical coronation to the painted image on 13 February 1903. The actual ceremony was carried out on 17 May 1903 via his Papal legate, Cardinal Agostino Richelmy.

The basilica holds the tombs of saints Don Bosco, Maria Domenica Mazzarello, Dominic Savio and St. Joseph Benedict Cottolengo.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Cotichella, G. (2015), Guida ai luoghi di don Bosco, Torino: Editrice ELLEDICI, p. 73, ISBN 978-88-01-05721-8
  2. ^ "Basilica di Maria SS. Ausiliatrice". Archived from the original on 2007-05-03. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  3. ^ San Solutore
  4. ^ "SALESIANI DON BOSCO-SDB/ Casa Madre TORINO-VALDOCCO / Santuario-Basilica Maria Ausiliatrice - 3". Archived from the original on 2015-03-09. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  5. ^ "The Basilica of Mary Help of Christians of Turin-Valdocco", Agenzia Info Salesiana
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