24 APRIL - OUR MOTHER OF BONARIA (ISLAND OF SARDINIA)

 In the year 1370, a ship ran into a terrific storm at a spot some miles off the coast of Sardinia while enroute from Spain to Italy. Soon the ship seemed in imminent danger 

    of sinking and the sailors in a desperate effort to save her, began to get rid of the cargo. When they heaved a certain large packing case into the sea, 

    the waves immediately died down and the sea became calm. The sailors knew the ship had been miraculously saved and attempted to regain the last crate, 

    followed it for some time. The case floated away, and pushed by the tides, eventually landed on the shore of Sardinai at the foot of a hill called Bonaria. 

    A large crowd ran down to the beach when the crate washed ashore. Some tried to open it, though no one was able to pry off the lid. 

    The Mercy Fathers came and raised the heavy crate without any difficulty and took it to their Church, where it was opened in the presence of a large group of people. 

    To the surprise of all, they found it contained a beautiful statue of the Virgin and Child. In her right hand the Virgin held a candle which was still lit! 

    So when the statue floated in from the sea, and the Fathers placed it in their Church, remembering what Father Carlo had said, 

    they named it “Our Mother of Good Air,” or “Our Mother of Bonaria.” Due to the miracle, devotion to the Virgin spread quickly, especially among sailors who took the Blessed 

    Virgin for their protector and carried her devotion far and wide. Most recently, on September 7th, 2008, Our Mother of Bonaria was visited by Pope Benedict XVI in honor 

    of the first centenary of her announcement as the Patron Saint of Sardinia. He gave Our Mother of Bonaria a Golden Rose.




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