Queen of the Universe Shrine: Mary was Here

Bronx, New York

Nine-year-old Joey Vitolo was playing behind his house on Oct. 29, 1945, when he was visited by a pink Virgin Mary who floated above a rock. She called him by name and told him to return every night at 7 pm for sixteen days to say the rosary. By the time the sixteen days were up, hundreds of his neighbors had joined him. Joey built a shrine to mark the hillside spot, and lived in the house for over 70 years. Tens of thousands of Catholics have visited the shrine.