altar The main altar features a tall, statue of Our Lady of Victory. This was blessed by Pope Pius XI after being sculpted in Italy. Baker placed a painting of the pope on the altar in return. Flanking the altar are four, swirled marble columns of rare red marble, reminiscent of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. A legend told about the marble says a group of Buffalo-born soldiers stumbled upon the unique red marble while in Spain during World War I. Upon seeing it, the soldiers thought immediately of the basilica being built at home by Father Baker. They went to talk to the Spanish farmer who owned the property. After hearing the story of Father Baker, the farmer agreed to donate the "useless rock" on his property. Arrangements were made and the marble was sent to Lackawanna to complete the work on the basilica's altar. The main altar stands under a bright blue dome depicting the Holy Spirit in brilliant hues. On the ceiling over the altar, an elongated panel represents "Queen of All Saints". Among the saints are Mary Magdalene, St. Anthony, St. Elizabeth, St. Anne, and St. Theresa. Items of Papal significance Near the altar, at one end of the pews, stands the umbraculum, a symbolic canopy or umbrella which is kept half open until the Pope visits the basilica and completely opens it. The tintinnabulum, a small gold bell mounted on a pole with a golden frame, stands at the other end. It is used to lead the procession when the Pope says Mass within the basilica. These two items, along with the personal coat of arms of a pope, which hangs above the bronze main entrance doors, signify the shrine's Basilica status within the Catholic community. Stations of the Cross The shrine is flanked by the 14 marble Stations of the Cross, which depict Jesus' final hours before his death. Rather than the elements being carved from separate blocks of marble and assembled for each Station afterwards, each Station was sculpted from single blocks. The figures are depicted at life size. The Italian sculptor Pepini spent 14 years on the design and execution. The station entitled "Jesus Meets His Afflicted Mother" was one of Father Baker's favorite places in the basilica. In his 80s by the time the basilica was completed, Baker could be often found leaning on the pillar closest to this Station, meditating