Loreto: The Mystery of the Holy House

This documentary seeks to shed light on some intriguing and long-unresolved questions: How did the Virgin Mary's house move from Nazareth to Italy? And is it really the same humble building where, according to the Bible, Mary received an angelic visitor telling her of the Immaculate Conception, and where she and Joseph raised Jesus? Today, in Loreto, Italy, three rough-hewn walls that many pilgrims believe constitute a holy site are surrounded by a castle's worth of ornate and protective buildings that have been added over time and adorned with sculptures and paintings created by some of the greatest talents of the Renaissance. The remnants of the shelter are certainly placed in an odd area—in the middle of an ancient road—and stand on no foundation. Legend says angels carried the domicile through the air from Nazareth; other accounts indicate humans transported it during the Crusades to protect it from potential damage. The film combines contemporary footage, 3-D computer models, and dramatic re-enactments, along with interviews of a biblical archaeologist and extracts from Vatican documents, which offer evidence that the structure is, indeed, of Palestinian (and certainly not Italian) origin, dating back 2,000 years. Likely to be of interest to Christian audiences, history buffs, and armchair travelers, this is recommended. Aud: P. (C. Block)