All Dressed Up

First-time visitors to Our Lady of Consolation Shrine in Carey might be taken aback by the practice of clothing the statue of Mary and the Infant Jesus – it can be unsettling to 21^st century American eyes.  But the practice has a long history.  Last year, the Lyon Fabric Museum in France featured an exhibit of clothing from the 12^th to the 19^th centuries used to adorn statues of Mary and Jesus.  (Article HERE.)  Photo above, display cabinets in the basement of the basilica showing dresses made by pilgrims to honor Our Lady.

 The Carey shrine is collecting stories of those who have made dresses for a history project, click HERE for information..