The seeds of this site were planted in Lent 2023, during a founder’s reflection during eucharistic adoration. Already a seasoned traveler, he had lately begun to place an emphasis on visiting holy sites during his trips, and was continuously surprised at how many he discovered. The idea of a unified map complementing existing Catholic resources such as Mass Times and GCatholic was born and took shape over the next few months.
Our Lord tells us, “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed” (Jn 20:29). As we strive to reach this ideal, the authors’ hope is that this website helps the faithful connect with tangible testaments to our Christian faith. This “World of God” invites us to visit, pray and reflect at holy sites - on the virtues of the saints who trod there, on the messages of our Blessed Mother, and ultimately on how we may grow closer to Christ.
Dedicated on the Solemnity of the Assumption, 15 August 2023
The Name
Orbis Dei is Latin for “World of God.”
Tenets
- A location must be definitively identifiable and specific to be listed. As an example: Bl. Stanley Rother was born in Okarche, Oklahoma, USA - a small town of just over 1000 people. His childhood home is not listed without a specific address, but his home parish is.
- This website is intended to not be a primary source of information beyond the physical location of sites. A summary of each location is provided, but wherever possible we have linked to sources which provide richer detail. If you believe one of the linked sources to be incorrect, or have additional links to add, please contact us.
- We believe strongly in shared contributions; many pages have been created by individuals who had a personal connection to their topics. If you feel called to author content, please contact us and we would love to get in touch.
Recommended Sites
Mapped Locations
- Mass Times: A database of Catholic church locations and their services
- GCatholic: A wide-ranging collection of information about the Catholic church, including mapped locations. Sample pages:
Other Sources
- Miracle Hunter: The primary source used for our list of Marian apparitions
- The Real Presence, specifically their list of Marian apparitions and shrines: A beautifully researched and illustrated compilation based on the work started by Bl. Carlo Acutis just before his death
- Mary Pages: An additional source for several Marian apparitions
- Miracoli Eucaristici: The collection of Eucharistic Miracles Bl. Acutis is most known for