09th May - OUR MOTHER OF LORETO (ITALY)

 This town attracts several million visitors each year because of the story that the house of Mary - the Santa Casa – was flown here from the Holy Land by a group of Angels in 1293. 

    In December 1294, the stones of the "House of Nazareth” were transported here by Angels in flight. In reality, studies have shown that transport by sea in some ships operated by 

    the Crusaders is a more likely possibility. After the Christians were expelled from the Holy Land by the enemies, the “Holy House” was first transported to Trsat in Croatia (1291), 

    then to Ancona in 1293 and finally to Loreto in December 1294. Studies on the stones of the "Holy House" confirm their Palestinian origin, because they use techniques that seem 

    typical of the work of the Nabataeans. There are numerous graffiti on the rocks, similar to Judeo-Christian-II of the fifth century and found in the Holy Land, particularly 

    in Nazareth. Inside the "Holy House" the image of Our Lady, the "Black Madonna", is venerated and is a typical colour of old icons due to centuries of smoke from oil lamps and 

    candles. The original statue, dating from the 14th century, was brought to France in the Napoleonic age but it was destroyed by a fire in 1921. 

    The present image dates from 1922 and is a work by Leopoldo Celani using cedar wood of Lebanon from the Vatican gardens. From late spring until autumn trains packed with pilgrims, 

    the sick and the needy arrive in Loreto to attend Mass which is held both inside and outside the Cathedral.




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