Altoetting is one of the oldest of the many peasant shrines of Central and Eastern Europe. The hundreds of Bavarian pilgrimage churches mostly date from the time of the counter-reformation. Some of them were build in midieval times. The origin of Altoetting goes back to the eight century. Since that time people have come to the Bavarian town to visit the town's chapel of mercy. It has been said that, if records were kept of the number of people that visited the shrine of Altoetting in early days, it might be proved that it is one of the most frequented shrines in the world.
The reports in the Bavarian books of miracles create a vivid picture of the motivations that moved pilgrims to visit the shrine of Altoetting. In the year 1489, a 3-year-old boy fell in the water and drowned. After his mother lifted his body out of the water she carried it to Altoetting and lay in on the Virgin's altar. She fell on her knees and prayed to Mary. Next the boy was brought back to life. The book Mary is Our Refuge from 1497 reports the story of a boy who fell off a horse and was seriously injured. When his father cried out to the Mother of God of Altoetting the boy was miraculously cured.
The Black Madonna was particularly called upon when the 'black death' was going through Europe. Tens of thousands came to the site and lived for days and weeks in cramped quarters, mingling in services at the shrine. Many also went on pilgrimage to Altoetting to plead forgiveness for practicing witchcraft, forming pacts with the devil, and the abortion of unborn babies.
The chapel of Mercy
The shrine chapel, in the middle of the town square, is the oldest of its kind in Germany. When St. Rupert allegedly baptized Otto the Bavarian around 680 the Roman temple of the town became a Christian chapel. Today this building still houses the statue of Our Lady of Altoetting. The chapel has an unusual octagonal form and is constructed out of volcanic rock. In spite of the many crises the town of Altoetting has gone through, the chapel and the shrine were always left intact.
Although it is historically considered a peasant shrine, Altoetting is one of the richest shrines in the world in endowments and treasures. Some of these valuable gifts are currently on exhibition in a special museum.
Goethe mentiones the wealth of the shrine and its statue in one of his letters: "...there is a jet black statue of the Mother of God that is completely dressed in diamonds."
Sub umbra Magnae Mariae
Since 1561 all Bavarian rulers have had their hearts buried in the Virgin's chapel 'sub umbra Magnae Mariae' (in the shadow of the great Mary). The last two hearts that were placed there were those of the Bavarian king Maximilian III (1921) and crown princess Maria Antonia (1954).
Many miracles have taken place in Altoetting and the chapel is filled with emblems of gratitude for graces, healings and help received. Some however say that the greatest miracle is the continuous existence of the shrine itself. Today, some 500.000 people visit the German shrine each year, 30.000 of which come by foot.
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