TREASURE BOX FROM EPHESUS

Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass at the House of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus, near Selcuk, Turkey, Wednesday Nov. 29, 2006 as Paul VI and John Paul II did before him.

Pope Benedict XVI conducted an open-air Mass next to a house where the Virgin Mary is thought to have spent her last years.

According to tradition, the Mother of Jesus was brought here by John and spent the final years of her life. It was discovered, in 1891, in the wake of the visions of Anna Katharina Emmerick, a German mystic of the XIX century who was dear to John Paul II. Since then, it has become a place of pilgrimage for nearly one million people per year. The house is one of the few places in the world where Muslims and Christians pray together, and it has a growing reputation for miracles.

The “Treasure box from Ephesus” contains the following:

• Magazine: This magazine describes the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the House of the Virgin Mary. (Language: Italian)
• Meryemana Book: This book describes the Virgin Mary’s house discovery, visions of Anna Katharina Emmerick, the renovations that have been taking place along the years and more. (Language: Spanish)
• Holy water bottle: a small holy water glass bottle, with water from the fountains located at the holy place. The water is believed to have healing properties.
• Icon: A small replica of the Icon that Pope Benedict gifted and blessed during his visit to the holy place.
• Rosary: A replica of the rosary that Pope Benedict gifted and blessed during his visit to the holy place.

*All these items have already been blessed by a priest on location