The House of Mary

It was an early morning. We assembled at 6:50 a.m. for disembarkation at 7:00 a.m. We were docked in Kusadasi, Turkey. We drove to Ephesus and prayed the Holy Rosary as we traveled. Our local guide for the morning was Aisha.

Our first stop, promptly at 8:00 a.m., before hordes of other tour buses descended, was the House of Mary, a Catholic shrine located on Mt. Koressos. A Catholic German nun, Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich (1774-1824) who had never left Germany, reported visions of this house which were used to find the exact location. While the Catholic Church has never made an official pronouncement about the site's authenticity, the house draws millions of visitors every year.

The apostle, St. John, to whom Christ entrusted his mother, brought Mary, to this house where she lived from the remainder of her earthly life.

The house is small and humble - we were able to enter in single file and feel the loving grace of our Blessed Mother present there. I said a special prayer to my mother.

Then we celebrated mass in the outdoor grotto nearby. Those waiting in line to enter the house were mightly impressed by the sight of mass taking place, and took lots of photos and videos. I think we sang extra well, just to be a bit evangelical!

There are three natural springs near the house. The belief is that these water have healing properties, both spiritually and physically.

Outside the shrine is a particular "wishing wall" which pilgrims have used by tying their personal intentions on paper or fabric.Read more