A beloved statue has been relocated to a place of prominence on the grounds outside the Basilica. The Virgo Potens (Latin for Virgin Most Powerful) statue was moved when the Shrine constructed the new glass enclosed entryway to the Visitor Center. It now stands on the lawn outside the Basilica near the K-lot parking area and is visible to both drivers and walkers visiting the campus.
The statue is more than beautiful artwork — it has special significance here. Virgo Potens was one of the apparitions that St. Catherine Labouré had of the Blessed Mother Mary in the Daughters of Charity Motherhouse in Paris in 1830. There is another image of Virgo Potens inside the Basilica. It is a mosaic on the north side of the sanctuary.
