The Congregation of the Missioners Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, popularly known as the Claretians (they were thus called due to the founder of the Congregation, Saint Antonio Maria Claret), arrived to Chile in 1870. At the start, the Claretians settled in a chapel on Dieciocho Street and some years later, they moved to a chapel called Belen and the attached house was donated by Monsignor Eyzaguirre and the Archbishop of Santiago, Monsignor Valdivieso. The property was extended thanks to Father Pablo Vallier, first superior in Chile, who acquired several neighboring properties, which meant that for 1875, the Claretians were owners of the whole block between 10 de Julio and Copiapo Streets, with a back extension of around 80 meters. It is then decided to build the first Claretian temple, whose first stone was placed by Archbishop Rafael Valentín Valdivieso, on March 5, 1876.

The architect, Padre José Viladrich and the builder, Brother Pedro Mas were in charge of the construction. The temple was consecrated on December 7, 1879; however, the finishing works were extended until 1882. La church was built with funds collected by alms, donations and money contributions.

The quality as parish of the Sacred Heart of Mary is recognized on August 30, 1928. The following year, Pope Pius XI confers the parish the title as a Basilica, the first worldwide dedicated to the Heart of Mary.

In 1950, at the request of Pope Pius XII, the figure of the Heart of Mary was crowned by Cardinal José María Caro. This privilege is reserved only for Marian effigies of a very relevant cult, in Chile there are very few images of this category.

The Basilica is also the National Sanctuary of the Apostle Saint Judas Tadeo.

It is worth noting that the Basilica suffered structural damages after the February 27, 2010 earthquake. The restoration works were extended for two years and all this time it has been closed. It was re-opened again on March 18, 2012 by the Archbishop Ricardo Ezzati and is currently in good preservation conditions.