About the Loreto Church (Loretokirche) in Salzburg:
The Capuchin nuns of the Loreto Convent in Landshut, Germany were compelled to flee 80 miles (130 km) south to Salzburg, Austria in 1637 due to the Thirty Years’ War. Upon arriving in Salzburg, Archbishop Paris Lodron granted them permission to build a convent in the city. The cornerstone was laid in September 1633 and the church was completed in 1646. It is a plain building with a central nave and three attached chapels. The convent houses 30 cells for the use of nuns.
The Convent was severely damaged at the great fire of 1818 and for a second time by bombardments during World War II in 1944. After the war, the church was re-constructed according to its original appearance.
About the Christ Child of Loreto:
The most venerated image was the ivory statue of the Christ Child, hereafter known as the Christ Child of Loreto.The statue of Christ Child of Loreto (Loretokindl) is an ivory figure of the standing Jesus boy with cross and scepter, about 4″ high. The statue originally came from Switzerland and became well-known when Father John Chrysostom Schenk began to travel with it.
He often loaned the statue to sick people and often people were amazed as their maladies were miraculously cured. Equally amazing was the fact that the statue was always returned to him in excellent condition despite what should have been normal wear and tear. After his death in 1634, the statue continued to be revered by many and the faithful requested that it be made available for veneration.
Today, the Loretokindl stands on the Adoration Altar of in the chapel of the Capuchin nuns and open to public viewing.
Mass is celebrated daily.
Traveling to the Loreto Church in Salzburg, Austria:
The church is in the heart of Salzburg, but easy to miss, so look for the sign saying “Loreto Kirche” at Paris-Lodron-Strasse.
Address: Paris-Lodron-Straße 6, 5020 Salzburg
Phone: +43 (0) 662 871163