A ferocious thunderstorm greeted us on the first full day of our recent trip to Orlando, Florida. The week-long sunny forecast quickly changed to intense rainfall, putting a literal damper on my son’s plans to visit Animal Kingdom that afternoon. “Florida rain is temporary,” I reassured my born-and-raised Northeast kid, who is unfamiliar with tropical climates. “It’ll pass in an hour, you’ll see.”
It certainly wasn’t a good morning for outdoor theme parks. But like any excited tourists, we were eager to do something other than sit in our hotel room. So we hopped in our rental car to explore the area just outside the “Disney bubble.” On our way in from the airport I had seen a familiar sight that brought me back to childhood Florida vacations. Nestled right between the Nike Outlet and Friendly’s, overlooking bustling I-4, was a church I used to visit with my late mother. But this is no ordinary neighborhood church, and on that rainy morning I knew it would be the perfect escape for us.
Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe
Known simply as Mary Queen of the Universe, the tucked away location is a shrine to the Blessed Mother that opened with its first mass in 1993 and was named a Basilica by the Vatican in 2009. In addition to its grand architecture and beautiful grounds, the site offers a 2,000-seat house of worship with daily Catholic masses. But it’s also an Orlando attraction in and of itself, with an incredibly impressive collection of art that makes it one of Central Florida’s best kept cultural secrets.
History of the Shrine
With vast land and warm temperatures, Central Florida has been an inviting destination for pioneers and travelers since the 1800’s. The rise of railroads contributed to the growth of the region, and by the 1960’s a man named Walt Disney quietly bought up large amounts of land for what would be Walt Disney World. It wasn’t long before tourism became Central Florida’s biggest industry.
With the growing influx of visitors from all around the world, thousands of Catholics descended upon the area. There was such a demand to serve the spiritual needs of visiting Catholics, that Walt Disney World actually used to host masses for guests right at the resort. (I still remember my parents and I attending Sunday mass inside the Polynesian Hotel in the ’80s!) To this day, guests can still attend Mass on Christmas Day and Easter Sunday at the Contemporary Hotel.
Overwhelmed by the growing needs of Catholic tourists, Disney hotels could no longer accommodate the large amount of Catholics who wished to attend weekly Sunday mass while on vacation. The Diocese of Orlando took notice, and by 1979 plans for a house of worship to respond to the demand were in the works. The shrine’s name is connected to the mission of the diocese, and a reminder to visitors passing through Orlando’s busy crossroads. As its website states: “Because the diocese is consecrated to Mary the Mother of God, it was decided to name the proposed diocesan shrine church Mary, Queen of the Universe. The intention was also to honor Christ the King, to proclaim to the millions passing on I-4 that the kingdom of Christ is present in Central Florida.”
A Respite From the Crowds
What I find most unique about this church is that it’s not a parish. Rather than having a weekly stream of regulars and hosting parishioners’ weddings, Mary Queen of the Universe is a house of worship built specifically for tourists. And as an out-of-towner who has visited many times, I appreciate its personal dedication and availability to us.
The beautiful prayer the shrine dedicates to visiting travelers says it all:
Blessed Mother, may your grace envelop all who walk these grounds that they may find peace, comfort, rest and love in your Son always waiting for them here. Grant these, your pilgrims, safe passage back to their homes and may our love and prayers follow them as lights in their hearts for all of their days.
Mary Queen of the Universe defines a “shrine church” as “a place of spiritual devotion where people come to renew their faith.” And I truly felt that renewal in this calming environment. On the rainy morning when we visited, this peaceful place struck me as a truly welcome break from all the outlet malls and theme parks that surround it.
So much of this beautiful property reminded me of childhood and adolescent visits with my Mom, a woman of the strongest faith who was particularly devoted to the Blessed Mother. She also loved fountains, and the peaceful sounds of the fountains lining the path to the shrine made me smile thinking of her.
I stood there quietly and took in the soothing beauty of the palm trees and fountains, remembering all the times when I was kid that my Mom would pull her car over and roll the windows down so I could enjoy the sounds of the little fountain that sat in the center of my hometown.
Before even entering the church building, the tranquility of this sprawling landscape is truly something to behold. You must take time to wander this peaceful space, read inscriptions on sculptures, and admire the lush Florida nature all around the structures.
A Hidden Art Museum
After parking near a large statue of Saint Michael the Archangel and walking toward a bronze sculpture of Saint Paul by Bruno Lucchesi, I realized that these were just the first of many statues and artwork we would see during our visit.
I cannot stress enough how impressive the art is within this Basilica and its grounds. Inside and out, Mary Queen of the Universe is full of incredible artistic details, from its architectural elements to acquired and specially commissioned artwork. The art collection inside spans historic to modern pieces, with some original pieces dating back to the 1600s!
Many details were crafted in Europe especially for the shrine: the bell tower designed by Jill Burkee and Giancarlo Biagi and cast in Italy by the Capanni Foundry (above left) and the statue of Mary that originally sat in Paris, France (above right.)
To the right of the main pathway is a peaceful outdoor area called the Mother and Child Chapel. In it you’ll find a sculpture of Mary reaching out to Jesus, which honors young life and the relationship between mothers and children everywhere. The statues, by sculptor Jerzy Kenar, were the very first pieces of art commissioned for the shrine.
Main Entrance
The grand entrance of the shrine boasts intricately crafted mosaics of Jesus, Mary, and various saints, as well as magnificent wooden doors. Be sure to take time to examine the artistry of this entryway when you visit, though you’ll need to enter the shrine through the glass door to the right of the wooden doors.
The Narthex
Once inside the building, you’ll enter the narthex — a lobby-like area opposite a church’s main alter that was typically found in early Christian or Byzantine basilicas. From in here, you can truly appreciate the glistening rose window at the top of the building. At the center of the modern but majestic narthex is a large baptismal font surrounded by two 30-foot tall mahogany arches, which the shrine describes as “a symbolic gateway ushering the faithful to the doors beyond and the Eucharistic presence of Christ.” Above the archway is an artistic representation of water. The entire area was designed by artist Jerzy Kenar.
The Magnificent Details of the Main Church
Mary Queen of the Universe is made up of various spaces and chapels all surrounding the Basilica’s main church, which has 60,000 square feet of space, seats 2,000 worshippers, and has standing room for 1,000 more. The overall architecture and even the alter itself is of a modern feel, though it still maintains a sense of grandeur. Its design is based on drawings of the first church of Constantine in Rome, built in the early 4th century.
The nave of the main church is spectacular, and the beautiful stained glass windows (created by Judson Studios in California) sparkle when hit with the bright Florida sunshine. The tops of the columns that run parallel to the pews are adorned with shamrocks which represent the Trinity.
Priceless artwork can be found throughout the inside of the building, thanks to the Shrine’s efforts to acquire a truly special spiritual collection. Oil paintings of the stations of the cross that were completed in 1862 by Flemish Master Frans Anseele and commissioned by an aristocratic family in the Netherlands are now on display along the left wall of the church. An enormous painting from the 1600’s by Bartolomé Murilllo entitled The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin (below) sits humbly on the back right wall of the church. The entire basilica is truly a wall to wall museum of fine art!
No detail was missed in the incredible design of this church. The floor of the sanctuary is made of Portuguese marble. The alter, designed by Jerzy Kenar, features an allusion to Jesus in its bronze legs that resemble a fisherman’s net. To the right of the alter in front of the sanctuary is a huge marble statue of the Mother and Child. The magnificent piece was carved in Italy from Carrera marble by Colorado artist Jill Burkee over a 3 year period. Most of the art within this museum-shrine follows the theme of Mary and her Son.
To the left of the alter is a beautiful sculpted scene featuring Saint Joseph at his workbench with Jesus, who is at an age rarely depicted by artists. The statues are illuminated by the stained glass window of the Holy Family behind them entitled “Rest on the Flight Into Egypt.”
I was struck by the lifelike features on these sculptures that drew me in to feel them. Bruno Lucchesi, the artist who created the sculptures, purposely made them at eye level to encourage accessibility because he said, “To touch is to pray.”
The Daystar Chapel
The Daystar Chapel gets its name from Psalm 110, which says: “In holy splendor before the daystar like dew I begot you.” Upon entering, my first reaction was how awesomely blue the room seems! The stained glass window and overall lighting creates a hue that resembles a starry sky at night, and apparently that was artist Ken Von Roenn‘s intention. He designed the window in this chapel by studying photographs of the night sky and set out to create “a restful atmosphere that reverences Mary as Queen of the Universe.” His efforts were successful, because the atmosphere in this chapel is truly awe-inspiring.
Also in the Daystar Chapel is a shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe. The intimate area features candles and a beautiful five panel mosaic of Our Lady crafted by Domus dei Studio in Rome.
Also in the Daystar Chapel is another unsuspecting collection of incredible fine art. This chapel includes a range of paintings, from historic pieces like the Crucifixion from the late 1700’s (below left,) to recent paintings such as Mary Queen of the Universe (below right,) a modern depiction of Mary from 1991 painted by retired Seton Hall University Art Professor Edwin Havas. It was remarkable to me how modestly all these precious pieces of art are displayed in a part of Florida where few think to look for culture.
The Adoration Chapel
While the entire basilica provides a calming escape, perhaps the most tranquil part is the Adoration Chapel, as it is a designated quiet space. Signs at the entrance remind visitors to refrain from talking while inside, which gives people a chance to pray, meditate, or simply sit in silence. At the front of the chapel is the Basilica’s sanctuary, whose lamp is originally from Holland and dates back to 1830.
This small chapel is beautiful, and its beauty is enhanced by the opportunity to focus quietly on your surroundings. I found sitting here and taking in the serenity to be a truly emotional experience.
Mary Queen of the Universe is located at 8300 Vineland Avenue in Orlando, just off I-4 and a mere 2 miles from the Walt Disney World Resort. It is open every day and masses are held seven days a week. You can find information about specific hours on the shrine’s website.
The shrine is a work of art and labor of love decades in the making, but it now serves a greater purpose in a part of the country that’s surrounded by crowds and saturated by commercialism. As the shrine states: “Today this house of prayer continues to inspire those who come to worship, pray, and engage in quiet contemplation. Through the celebration of liturgy, prayer, the viewing of sacred art, the receiving of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, faithful from all over the world — pilgrims on a journey, including those living here in Central Florida — find comfort, calm, and spiritual renewal amidst the hectic pace of the outside world.”
Mary Queen of the Universe is more than just a house of worship for Catholics, but an impressive art museum and tranquil retreat for visitors of all faiths. The incredible art collection within it is sure to impress any art history lover. I’m certain that anyone seeking some spiritual peace or refuge from the crowds of Orlando would be moved by a visit here.
As you can see from my photos, our rainy morning in Orlando led to an afternoon of clear blue skies. But I’m grateful for the rain that pulled me away from the theme parks and led me to this spiritual oasis. Visiting Mary Queen of the Universe was a balm to my weary soul that brought me back to visits of my youth and memories of time spent with my mother. I’ll continue to make this special place a regular stop on my future vacations, since I’m so thankful for the moving experience I had there. It’s truly an artistic and spiritual gem… hidden in plain sight right in Orlando, Florida.
What Lara Wrote 