Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and School of Theology recently installed a stunning new statue of the Blessed Mother on campus. The Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr, Archbishop of Cincinnati, blessed the artwork on September 3rd, the Feast of St. Gregory the Great. The original Immaculate Conception statue had deteriorated over the years due to weathering. The Very Reverend Anthony Brausch, Ph.D., President and Rector at MTSM, collaborated with Liturgical Consultant Rolf Rohn for over eight months to create a nearly identical representation of Our Lady, featuring more delicate details to harmonize with the design of the new courtyard.
“Our goal was to create a space very much like a European piazza or square, a space that easily lends itself to hosting events and socializing as well as study and reflection,” said Father Brausch. “Having the statue of Our Lady present in the midst of all of this creates just the right atmosphere and focus.”
The project began with detailed sketches that master artisans eventually realized on a larger scale. Rolf sourced the White Carrara marble for the sculpture from the same quarry that Michelangelo used for his famous Pietà. He oversaw the five-day installation of the statue, base, and column, which together weigh an impressive 1,600 pounds. The figure itself stands approximately three and a half feet tall atop a 10-foot marble pillar that overlooks the newly renovated Marian Courtyard.
The Blessed Mother image now serves as a center of devotion and spiritual reflection for seminarians, symbolizing Mary's presence and guidance as they pursue their vocations.
Watch a time-lapse video of the installation here.
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