The Legends of Mariazell

This post might be a little different, but stay with me! This is good stuff to know. I'll start off with a short legend...

The story goes that a very faithful monk named Magnus was sent out into the wilderness to spread Christian teachings. He took with him only a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary. He started his journey, and as he was warned, there were no roads, paths, or people. His food supply was running low and Magnus began to worry that he wouldn't find anyone at all. Finally, one evening he saw a light in the distance. When he arrived he found a shambled fortress occupied by a robber. Although the robber promised Magnus safety and peace for the night, he really planned to murder him and steal his posessions. After pulling out a dagger the robber demanded that poor Magnus give him what he asked for. After a moment of hesitation the monk pulled out his statue of the Virgin Mary and held it up high. The robber lamented with disappointment, but also with reverent respect to the Maria, and told Magnus to leave before the other robbers in the area found him. So Magnus went to find another place to sleep. After making camp the monk fell straight to sleep. Suddenly in the middle of the night he was woken by a gentle voice... of a woman! He opened his eyes to find the Madonna floating in the air before him, urging him to wake and leave. Magnus did as he was told, and soon realized that he was being followed by more robbers. He barely stayed ahead of them in this frightening chase, and eventually came to a rock pass that he could not pass. Setting down his statue on the rock, he knelt to pray. When he looked up from his prayer he saw to his astonishment that the rock blocking his path had been demolished. He quickly passed and came to a valley where he was brought to safety. Magnus was so thankful that he immediately created a small wooden cell in which to place the wondrous statue. This is the origin of the pilgrimage site of "Maria in the Cell," or Mariazell.

Today, the Madonna is dressed in clothing from some of the most famous dignitaries in history.

The second legend relates how Henry Margrave of Moravia and his wife, having been healed of severe gout through the help of Our Lady of Mariazell made a pilgrimage to that place around 1200. There they built the first stone church on the site of the wooden chapel.

The third legend recounts a victorious battle of the Hungarian King Ludwig I over a numerically superior Turkish army. Out of thanks he built the gothic church and endowed it with the "Schatzkammerbild" that he saw laid upon his chest in a dream.

So, history re-cap. The cell was built by Magnus. Then around 1200 the first church was built around her. Much later in 1690, a one-steepled gothic church replaced the smaller one when the Hungarian King wanted to give his thanks. After that, side chapels and extention of the origional room were made in a baroque style. To make the gothic section "Fit" with the baroque section they covered (And I mean covered) it with gold embellishments, paintings, etc.

(So in this photo you can see the original gothic cathedral as well as the two that were added on to the side)

(The organ)

Main alter

The amazing thing is, that the statue of Maria is still held in the same regard as she was so many years ago. This Basilica is THE MOST important pilgrimage sight in all of Austria, and one of the most well known in all of Europe. The stories of her miracles are well known, and people will walk for days and days just to thank her personally.

(The Alter of Maria)