Madonna del ghisallo Portland Bicycle Shrine

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church

1432 SW 13th Avenue

Madonna del Ghisallo Portland Bicycle Shrine

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church

Portland, Oregon

"Legend has it that in mediaeval times, a local count was being attacked by bandits when he saw an apparition of the Virgin Mary, and running towards this vision saved him. Thus, the Madonna del Ghisallo became the patroness of travellers. Then, in 1949 a local priest managed to persuade Pope Pius XII to admit her as the patroness of cyclists. Since then, the small chapel (in Italy) has become a shrine to cycling legends, both living and deceased, and provides a memorial to those who have fallen in our sport." (Link 4.)

The Cyclist's Prayer

"The flower-decked bike is the gift of the family and classmates from the Pacific Northwest College of Art in memory of Tracey Sparling." (REF.)  It is referred to by congregation members as "The Ghost Bike".  

Shrine inspired by Death of Tracey Sparling

The Bike Shrine Logo 

(Created by artist Pam Racs)

"The Madonna Bicycle painting is the gift of local artists, Martin Wolfe."

(REF.)

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church is located in downtown Portland, Oregon.  (See Blog Post July 30, 2017.)

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church-Side Door

*****

Note:Suzanne and Alan Wilson attended Sunday worship St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Portland during their May 2017 trip there to meet the woman who was the maid of honor at their wedding-50 years ago.  While at the church service they received a blessing from the priest in honor of their Golden Wedding Anniversary.

Note: Suzanne and Alan Wilson's son, Richard-a photographer for "Churches On Sundays"-is a bicycle courier living and working in Basel Switzerland.

Note: 

Reference: St. Stephen's Episcopal Parish Directory, 2012.
Link 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madonna_del_Ghisallo
Link 2: http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/la-madonna-del-ghisallo-the-patron-saint-of-cycling/
Link 3: https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3903733335329433712#editor/target=post;postID=727435 
                 (Blog Post on "Churches On Sundays".
Link 4: http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/la-madonna-del-ghisallo-the-patron-saint-of-cycling/
Link 5: https://ststephenspdx.org/cathedral/


                                                              Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)