20 The task of designing the lower level of the Mother of Mercy Outdoor Shrine fell upon Fr. Anthony Gramlich, MIC, the Shrine rector at the time. Ever since his seminarian days, Fr. Anthony had dreamed of creating a pro-life shrine to honor deceased children. The shrine centers around a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Patroness of the Unborn, depicted carrying the Child Jesus in her womb. Thirteen-foot-tall bronze cherubim angels guard the entrance to the shrine where these children are remembered. Opposite the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes is the Immaculate Conception Candle Shrine. Built in the mid-1990s, this shrine is dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Praying for the Holy Souls is one of the founding charisms of the Marian Fathers. The shrine’s alcoves illustrate the Church’s teaching on Purgatory, especially our call to pray for our deceased loved ones. Two mosaics depict mystical experiences of Purgatory reported by St. Stanislaus Papczynski and St. Faustina. A third mosaic depicts Christ drawing souls into the heavenly glory of the Most Holy Trinity. Memorial opportunities are available. 8 The Shrine of the Holy Innocents
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