Invitation to meet Mary

2026 marks the centenary of two important events in the history of Mariastein Monastery: on August 15, 1926, the monastery church received the honorary title of papal basilica minor and the image of grace was solemnly crowned. 100 years later, the monastic community feels the need to look back on these events. Even more important than looking back is self-assurance: what does Mary mean to us today and how can we lead the pilgrimage site of Mariastein into the future?

“The crowning of a picture of Mary wants to point out in a simple, almost childlike gesture the supernatural truth of Mary’s unique distinction by the Most Holy Trinity. The remarkable painting by Torriani in the Basilica of Mariastein, “Coronation of Mary”, shows us in a vivid way the wonderful relationships of Mary to the individual persons of the Most Holy Trinity: the heavenly Father hands his beloved daughter the crown of glory, the divine Son holds the queen’s crown ready for the mother, and the Holy Spirit wants to adorn his purest bride with the blossoming wreath of his love.”
(Fr. Hieronymus Haas: 50 Jahre seit der Krönung des Gnadenbildes, in: Mariastein : Monatsblätter zur Vertiefung der Beziehungen zwischen Pilgern und Heiligtum, 53 (1976) Heft 5, Seite 120 [Link to the article on E-Periodica]).

The Benedictines have set up an organizing committee for the planning and implementation of events in 2026 under the title “Invited to Mary”. This includes Philipp Staub, from Kleinlützel, technical consultant and church volunteer; Kilian Karrer, Mariastein pilgrimage employee; Annette Jäggi from Basel, legal service of the BS regional church; Carole Imboden Deragisch from Riedholz, theologian and federal president of Jungwacht Blauring; Mariano Tschuor, Mariastein 2025 project manager and Father Ludwig Ziegerer, pilgrimage director. Mariano Tschuor is the project manager of the OC.