Basilica_of_Our_Lady_of_Brebières
Basilica of Our Lady of Brebières
Basilica located in Albert, Somme, France
The Basilica of Our Lady of Brebières, Basilique Notre-Dame de Brebières (French) is a Roman Catholic minor Basilica designed by Edmond Duthoit in 1897. The structure was completely destroyed during shelling in World War I and rebuilt by the original architect's son Louis Duthoit from 1927 to 1931.
The Golden Virgin sculpture designed by Albert Roze sits atop the dome of the Basilica and became an object of fascination during World War I.[1]
Pope Leo XIII granted a decree of canonical coronation to the venerated image in 19 June 1901. Pious legends among soldiers at the time claimed a supernatural prophecy that when a German missile hits the prominent Marian statue above the church, the First World War would finally end.