--- title: Holy House of Loreto Feast Day description: December 10 is the Feast of Lady of Loreto. Kathleen Billings explains about this feast day and how to celebrate it with your family! image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/gingerbread.png --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2018/12/07/holy-house-of-loreto-feast-day/#) # Holy House of Loreto Feast Day Dec 7, 2018 7:30:03 PM  |  by [Kathleen M. Billings](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/kathleen-m-billings) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/gingerbread.png) [!["The holy house of Loreto" by Kathleen Billings (CatholicMom.com)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/1207-KBillings-2.jpg)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/1207-KBillings-2.jpg) Copyright 2018 Kathleen M. Billings. All rights reserved.[/caption] December 10 is the feast of Our Lady of Loreto. Our Lady of Loreto is a title of Mary associated with the house where the Holy Family lived. Several years ago, as a college student studying abroad, I was blessed to visit this beautiful shrine in the southern coastal town of Loreto, Italy. I vividly remember arriving late at night and walking the quaint cobblestone road from the train station to the church, lit by the light of the moon. [!["The holy house of Loreto" by Kathleen Billings (CatholicMom.com)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/1207-KBillings-3.jpg)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/1207-KBillings-3.jpg) Copyright 2018 Kathleen M. Billings. All rights reserved.[/caption] It was here that I distinctly remember praying that God would bless me some day with my own "holy family." Twenty-plus years later I reflect on this moment and thank God for the life He has blessed me with, the family he has given me and the opportunity for us all to grow together in holiness! [!["The holy house of Loreto" by Kathleen Billings (CatholicMom.com)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/1207-KBillings-4.jpg)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/1207-KBillings-4.jpg) Copyright 2018 Kathleen M. Billings. All rights reserved.[/caption] Our Lady of Loreto (Loretto) is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary associated with the house where Mary was born, the dwelling of the Holy Family, and the site of the Annunciation. The tradition and history of the Holy House traces back to Apostolic times. A miracle to which the Church attests, the house was mysteriously moved in one piece from Nazareth in the Holy Land to a final resting place in Loreto, Italy, carried by angels, during the 13th century. It was transported to prevent destruction by the Muslims who destroyed the original basilica which housed it. A new basilica was built around the Holy House in Italy, the Shrine of Our Lady of Loreto,  and has become one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the world. [!["The holy house of Loreto" by Kathleen Billings (CatholicMom.com)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/1207-KBillings-1.jpg)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/1207-KBillings-1.jpg) Copyright 2018 Kathleen M. Billings. All rights reserved.[/caption] A few years ago, at the suggestion of a friend and in honor of this Holy Day, our family started the tradition of building a gingerbread house. We have found it to be a fun and creative way to learn about the Holy House of Loreto as we tap into an already popular tradition during this season. It is also an opportune time to pray for the grace to model our family after the Holy Family and discuss the virtues we all need to work on to make our prayer a reality. Happy Feast of Our Lady of Loreto! --- *Copyright 2018 Kathleen M. Billings* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F12%2F07%2Fholy-house-of-loreto-feast-day%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F12%2F07%2Fholy-house-of-loreto-feast-day%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F12%2F07%2Fholy-house-of-loreto-feast-day%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Holy%20House%20of%20Loreto%20Feast%20Day) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F12%2F07%2Fholy-house-of-loreto-feast-day%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F12%2F07%2Fholy-house-of-loreto-feast-day%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Kathleen M. Billings](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/Contriubutors/KATHLEEN%20M.%20BILLINGS.jpeg) ### [Kathleen M. Billings](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/kathleen-m-billings) Kathleen Billings blogs at [seasonsoftheheartandhome.com](http://www.seasonsoftheheartandhome.com). She writes about living her faith in every season, as a wife and a mother of five, amidst the ordinary moments each day that God wants to make extraordinary. She has a BA in Theology, is a regular blogger on marriage for the USCCB Website, a contributing author to the book "Amazing Grace for Mothers," and an active Catholic speaker. ## Related Blog Articles [ Our Lady of Loreto Jubilee Celebrated in Military Chapels Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2020/01/31/our-lady-of-loreto-jubilee-celebrated-in-military-chapels/) [ Our Lady of "Quick Help" Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2020/01/07/our-lady-of-quick-help/) [ Celebrating Marian Feast Days with your Family Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/07/16/celebrating-marian-feast-days-with-your-family/) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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