Our Lady Help of Christians

https://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/basilica-of-our-lady-help-of-christians.html

October 27: Dedication of the Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians, Turin, Italy, built by St. John Bosco (1868)

The vast & magnificent basilica of Our Lady in Turin, Italy, built by Saint John Bosco between 1863 & 1868, was inspired by a dream-vision which he had in October 1844.
The Blessed Virgin showed Don Bosco a vast & lofty church & said:

“This is my house; from it my glory shines forth.
You will understand everything when, with your material eyes, you'll see in actual fact what you now see with the eyes of your mind.”

Nineteen years later, Don Bosco finally set to work on basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians.
Our Lady, in a 2nd vision, chose location as that of place of martyrdom of Saint Adventer Solutor & Saint Octavious, who were both soldiers under Emperor Maximianus in 4th century.

When the foundation of the church was laid, Don Bosco went to contractor, Charles Buzzetti, & told him:

“I want to pay you at once for this fine work.
I don’t know if it will be much, but this is all I have.”
He then took out his little purse & emptied contents into hand of contractor, who was expecting a handful of gold coins.
His jaw dropped in dismay when he saw in his hand only 8 pennies.

“Don’t be alarmed,” Don Bosco quickly added with a smile, “the Madonna will see to payment of her church. I am just the instrument, the cashier.”
And to those standing by he concluded, “You will see!”

“The whole church was put up by means of graces granted by Mary,” Don Bosco often said.
One sixth of the cost, about one million lire in those days, was borne by generous contributors, devout persons; the rest came from small offering of those who had been aided by Mary either in health, in business, in family matters, or in some other way.

“Every stone, every ornament, represents one of her graces,” insisted Don Bosco.
The original contractor, who received 8 cents, later testified that, “The Church was paid for to last cent.”

Among monuments of the Church, the most splendid is painting above main altar.
Our Blessed Lady Help of Christians occupies central position, & is surrounded by symbols: God the Father, the Holy Spirit, Apostles & Evangelists.
It measures more than 33 yards square, & is bordered with gold.

There was much opposition to project of building a church dedicated to & in honor of Our Lady Help of Christians, but Don Bosco insisted.
It appears he had a supernatural knowledge that future of his own congregation, & that of whole world in not too distant future, depended on powerful protection of Mary, Help of Christians, just as it had needed & obtained that protection at Lepanto on October 7, 1571, & at Vienna, on September 12, 1683.

Don Bosco won out, & the vast church was consecrated & dedicated on June 9, 1868.
The dedication festivities lasted 9 days, & on each day a Bishop preached while another took part in religious ceremonies.

By turn of 19th century the Church of Our Lady Help of Christians in Turin had become famous, & in 1911, Pope Saint Pius X gave it crowning glory by raising it to rank of a Basilica – The Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians!

(Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians)