A Holy Place of Mary’s Favors
Since 1875, countless pilgrims have journeyed to the Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey, Ohio to offer prayers of thanks and to confide their needs to the Mother of God under the title of Consolatrix Afflictorum – Mary, Consoler of the Afflicted.
Devotion to Mary under this title dates back to the second century and is among her earliest titles of honor. In the early 17th century, as plague ravaged the population of Luxembourg, the people formed a special union with Mary, Consoler of the Afflicted. An image of her was enshrined in a small chapel built on the outskirts of town and many favors were authenticated among visiting pilgrims. In 1652, Pope Innocent X fostered devotion to Our Lady under this title by establishing a confraternity.
As Luxembourgers emigrated to the United States, many settled in the Northwest Ohio area. They brought their strong devotion to Mary, Consoler of the Afflicted with them. Fr. Joseph Peter Gloden, a native of Luxembourg, was serving as pastor of Saint Nicholas in Frenchtown and then was also given charge of the mission church in Carey. He arrived to a demoralized congregation and asked them to place their trust in Mary. He petitioned the Bishop of Cleveland to change the title of the Church from Saint Edward to Our Lady of Consolation. A replica statue of Our Lady was commissioned and arrived from Luxembourg in 1875 and the first shrine to Our Lady of Consolation was built in Carey.
Since May of 1875, Mary, the Mother of God, has manifested herself as a most loving Mother to the thousands of the devoted pilgrims at this shrine. Through her prayers, the sick and afflicted have found health, comfort, and consolation.
Our Lady of Consolation offers many special events throughout the year. All are welcome at anytime on their journey to faith, hope and healing.
The Conventual Franciscan Friars of the Province of Our Lady of Consolation
In 1911, Bishop Joseph A. Schrembs of the newly formed Diocese of Toledo requested Father Leo Greulich, the Minister Provincial of the Immaculate Conception Province of the Conventual Franciscans, to investigate more closely the devotion of the faithful visiting the Shrine. After lengthy negotiations, Franciscan Friar Father Aloys M. Fish, arrived on June 1, 1912 to take charge of the Shrine and became Our Lady of Consolation’s first Franciscan pastor. Father Aloys wrote to the Bishop describing his experiences at the Shrine as “overwhelming!” There was no question that the Shrine was a place of special devotion and healing.
By the 1920s, the number of Franciscans had greatly grown and a new province was formed to serve the Midwest. The province’s center was located in southern Indiana at Mount St. Francis, just across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky, where friars had been present since 1860. Because the friars in Ohio had been the guardians of the Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation, the province was named in honor of Our Lady of Consolation. Friars of the province have served in many parishes in the midwest all the way to the desert southwest. In 2012, the Province of Our Lady of Consolation celebrated 100 years of caring for the Basilica and Shrine in Carey.
2026 marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Province of Our Lady of Consolation. To this day, the Conventual Franciscan Friars continue to care for the Shrine ministering to the needs of the faithful as they come to these sacred grounds. We continue to care for the countless pilgrims who visit the Shrine each year seeking Mary’s intercession.
We welcome your visit to the Basilica and National Shrine and invite you to participate in our prayers and good works.
