The Sanctuary of the Sorrowful Mother
Castelpetroso (IS) - Italy
The History
On March 22 1888, at «Cesa tra Santi» of Castelpetroso the Sorrowful Virgin appeared to two shepherd girls namely Bibiana and Serafina, in an imploring act towards the Heaven, knelt near her dead Son.
Pope Leo XIII then nominated as apostolic delegate Monsignor Francesco Palmieri, Bishop of Boiano (Cb), and charged him to perform an investigation on the site of the grotto of the Apparitions in the name of the Holy See.
On the morning of September 26, 1888 also the prelate saw the Immaculate in the same royal gesture of priestly maternity. The media quickly repeated the events of Castelpetroso and in November 1888 Count Charles Aquaderni, director of the magazine «Servant of Mary» went to the blessed rock with his son Augusto, who was sick with a serious bone tuberculosis. Miraculously the boy was healed.
The grateful Count, launched an appeal for the construction for a temple to all the devotees of the Sorrowful Mother.
At the beginning of February, 1890 Francis Gualandi of Bologna submitted the project and on September 28 of the same year there was the ceremony of the placing of the first stone of the majestic Sanctuary, in the presence of 30,000 faithful. The work was brought forward for one century, with the generous offerings of the faithful, Italians and foreigners.
In 1931 Bishop Romita founded the orphanage of our Sanctuary and the sisters were called «Little Disciples of Jesus».
On December 6, 1973, upon the request of the Bishops of Molise, the Holy Father Paul VI proclaimed the Blessed and Sorrowful Virgin Mary, Patroness of our Region.
The consecration of the new temple took place on September 21, 1975, by the prayer of consecration of Monsignor Carinci, in the presence of numerousprelates, priests, religious and faithful.
The monumental work, realized in a neo-gothic style, in local hand made stone done by specialised workers, now challenges the century with its pillars, its capitals, its spires, and its dome about 60 meters high, with its bells.
An organ of 1778 pipes, the work of the Ruffatti brothers of Padua, is a heavenly concert of bells realized by the Pontificia Fonderia Marinelli of Agnone, that launch in the air their notes that are blended in a harmonious choir of praises and of invocations to the Sorrowful Mother.
In one of the seven side chapels there is an artistic reliquary, containing a renowned relic, a tooth of Saint Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother, translated on October 10, 1994 from the Sanctuary of isola of Gran Sasso. The reliquary was made by the sculpture Joseph Allanprese, donated by the Most Reverend Romolo Forte, native of Castelpetroso, who resided and died at Campobasso.
On October 12, 1980, always at Castelpetroso (Is), there was the consecration of Molise to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
March 19, 1995 marked the historical date for our Marian Sanctuary, which was visited by the Holy Father John Paul II, as a pilgrim.
This was the crowning of all the labor, challenges and sacrifices of those who have preceded us, gifted with an immense faith and tremendous courage.
From September 1993 the splendid Basilica has been entrusted to two communities of friars and sisters, the Franciscans of the Immaculate who resolve to return to the "origins" of the Franciscanism, following the example of the Seraphic Father and of Saint Maximilian Kolbe their inspirer.
The message of Castelpetroso
What is themessage which Our Lady, through her apparitions at «Cesa tra Santi» wished to give to Italy and the whole world? At Lourdes she requested the rosary and penance for the conversion of sinners, whilst at Fatima - to save them from hell - She asked also sacrifices, again urgently recommending her Psalter, this time to be recited »in the family». What is She saying at Castelpetroso? The very way in which She showed herself gives us the answer.
Popular piety has represented the Sorrowful Mother with seven swords in her breast: here we have her in the same role, telling us in addition how efficacious her intercession is. On her knees, «lovingly conscious of the immolation of the Victim generated by her» (Lumen Gentium n.58), with arms extended, Mary is offering to the Father the Fruit of her womb in «priestly» supplication for our sins: she is as it were «concelebrating» with Jesus His redemptive sacrifice!
ROSARY OF THE SEVEN SORROWS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN
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Santuario
dell'Addolorata
86090 Castelpetroso (Is) -
Italy
Tel: (0039) 0865/ 936110 (Friars)
936090 (Sisters) 936111(fax)
E-Mail:
fficastelp@immacolata.com
Visit the English FI website: http://marymediatrix.com/