Thanks to the generosity of many Marian Helpers, the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy has a new altar rail. Carved in Italy of white Carrara marble and brown Onice Ambra marble, and installed by King Richard’s Liturgical Design & Contracting, the new altar rail matches the altars and remnants of the previous altar rail in the Shrine. By popular demand During the current National Eucharistic Revival (which began in 2022), a growing number of Marians, Marian Helpers, and pilgrims requested the restoration of the altar rail in the Shrine. The previous rector, Fr. Anthony Gramlich, MIC, had put a two-person kneeler in 2020 in front of the center aisle to accommodate the increasing number of pilgrims wishing to kneel while receiving Holy Communion. Based on how well that was received, he told me when I became rector in October 2022 that he hoped the next rector would help facilitate the building of an altar rail. In September 2023, our Marian Provincial Council unanimously approved moving forward with such a project. Along with other necessary improvements and repairs, including the renovation of the Pilgrim Information Center and Memorial Hall, the altar rail arrives in time to honor 65th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Shrine, which occurred on May 30, 1960. While the old altar rail was on the edge of the original sanctuary step, it was decided to design the new altar rail partly on the lower step, not only to extend the sanctuary (accommodating more space for the new wood altar which was not in the original plans for the Shrine during its building in the 1950’s), but also to make it easier for people to kneel without having to climb any steps. While partly on the edge of the lowest step, the rail still allows pilgrims to access the side chapels of the Shrine and venerate the images and relics there. Altar rail history Why was the old altar rail removed in the first place? In the 1980s the Marians needed to make more room in the sanctuary for the new altar used for Mass facing the RESTORATION OF THE ALTAR RAIL At the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy
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