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East Garfield Park in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
 

Behold Thy Mother

 
 
Behold Thy Mother Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Sean Flynn, April 8, 2024
1. Behold Thy Mother Marker
Inscription.
Erected in honor of
Our Sorrowful Mother
by
the Novenites of Chicago

The first Novena devotion
was held here on
January 8, 1937

Blessed on the feast of
Our Sorrowful Mother
September 20, 1942

Mother of Sorrows
pray for us

 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical date for this entry is January 8, 1937.
 
Location. 41° 52.632′ N, 87° 42.225′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in East Garfield Park. It is at the intersection of West Jackson Boulevard and South Albany Avenue, on the left when traveling west on West Jackson Boulevard. The statue is near the northeast of Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica. The church is visible from the nearby Eisenhower Expressway (I-290), with the nearest exit being Sacramento Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3121 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago IL 60612, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest. Globally, it is in North America, on the Great Lakes, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and
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in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Finley Peter Dunne (approx. 0.3 miles away); Garfield Park (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named Garfield Park (approx. 0.6 miles away); Norman Cornwall Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); a different marker also named Garfield Park (approx. 0.6 miles away); Waller Apartments (approx. 0.6 miles away); Garfield Park Natural Area (approx. 0.7 miles away); a different marker also named Garfield Park (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.
 
Regarding Behold Thy Mother. This statue to Mary and its inscription honor a booklet of prayers, known as the Sorrowful Mother Novena, which was compiled by Father James Keane at this church and which debuted here in 1937.

Operated by the Servite order (the Servants of Mary) for its entire existence, the Our Lady of Sorrows church opened in a small brick building in 1874 before
Behold Thy Mother statue image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Sean Flynn, April 8, 2024
2. Behold Thy Mother statue
ground was broken on the current building in 1890. It was completed in 1902. The upper part of the building's western tower was damaged in a fire in the 1980s.

Our Lady of Sorrows is one of three churches in Illinois designated by the Pope as a basilica; Pope Pius XII bestowed that status upon the site in 1956. The other two basilicas in Illinois are also in Chicago: St. Hyacinth, in the Avondale neighborhood on the northwest side, and Queen of All Saints, in the Sauganash neighborhood on the north side.
 
Also see . . .
1. A brief history of the Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows. (Submitted on April 8, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. The Perpetual Novena. A history and description of the Our Sorrowful Mother Novena (Submitted on April 8, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.) 
 
Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Sean Flynn, April 8, 2024
3. Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica
The Mary statue is near the basilica's northwest corner.
Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Sean Flynn, April 8, 2024
4. Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica
A plaque dedicated to the church's designation as a basilica in 1956 by Pope Pius XII.
Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Sean Flynn, April 8, 2024
5. Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica
Church of Our Lady of Sorrows image. Click for full size.
Courtesy of Chicago History Museum, circa 1906
6. Church of Our Lady of Sorrows
This 1906 photo shows the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows shortly after it was completed. The tower on the right was partially destroyed in a fire in the 1980s.
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on April 10, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 8, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 223 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 8, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.   6. submitted on April 10, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
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Sep. 24, 2026