Julh 2-acem Sogglem Santam

Julho 2, 2021

✓O Caminho dos Santos: Os Santos e festas da Dia 2 de Julho.

✓Boas festa da Visitação de Nossa Senhora a Santa Isabel e festa de São Otto de Bamberg! Happy feast of the Visitation of Our Lady to St Elizabeth, and of St Otto of Bamberg!

✓ MAJOR FEAST: Feast of the Visitation of Our Lady to St Elizabeth 

«This Feast of the Visitation of Our Lady was instituted by Urban IV, in the year 1385, and he counselled a fast on the vigil of the Feast, and ordered that it should be followed by an Octave; he granted for its celebration the same indulgences as Urban IV had, in the previous century, attached to the festival of Corpus Christi. The Bull of promulgation, stopped by the Pontiff's death, was again taken up and published by Boniface IX, his successor on the Chair of St Peter, in the year 1389. In 1969, the Apostate Sect pretended to move the Feast of the Visitation to May 31, "between the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord (25 March) and that of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (24 June), so that it would harmonize better with the Gospel story." The alleged reason being that July 2 is a "day after the end of the octave or eight days period following the birthday of St John the Baptist, who was still in his mother's womb at the time of the Visitation." This reasoning is false, and was already known when the feast was instituted for July 2, which date marks the date when Mother Mary completed her mission of visiting her cousin St Elizabeth and helping her with the birth of St John the Baptist, leaving that day, July 2, back for home with St Joseph. The actual date of the Visitation made by Mother Mary to St Elizabeth has always been calculated as being April 2, with July 2 marking the end of Mary's Visitation, and return to her marital home.» 

Another narrative: 

«The Visitation of Our Lady (1 B.C.) to the house of Elizabeth and Zachary, the mother and father of Saint John the Baptist. As soon as Mary, the spouse of St Joseph, had learned from an angel that, as she had conceived a Child virginally, so Elizabeth, her cousin, had conceived one miraculously, she made haste to go and visit Elizabeth. Mary arrived at the house of Elizabeth, on April 2. She stayed there for three months. Elizabeth greeted Mary with the phrase, "Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb." It was standing in the door of St Elizabeth's house that Our Lady sang her great canticle, the Magnificat. Mary waited for the birth of John the Baptist on June 24, and left for Nazareth on July 2, the day after Saint John the Baptist was circumcised and given his name. This day, the day of Mary's leaving Elizabeth, is celebrated as the feast of the Visitation.»

Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary By Fr. Francis Xavier Weninger, 1877. 

«The Archangel Gabriel, while announcing to the Blessed Virgin Mary the mystery of the Incarnation, informed her also of the fact that her cousin Elizabeth, who, advanced in years, had long been barren, was about to be blessed with a son. Mary rejoiced greatly at this news, and having given thanks to the Almighty for the priceless grace of the Incarnation of the Eternal Word, she hastened to visit her cousin. This, however, was not done, as some heretics maintain, because she doubted the words of the Angel; for, Elizabeth herself, when already filled with the Holy Ghost, proved the contrary by the words with which she received the Virgin: "Blessed art thou that hast believed." Quite different were the reasons which led Mary to make this visit. I shall here give two of them, taken from the holy Fathers of the Church. The first is from St. Chrysostom, who says: "The Son of God, who came into the world to save mankind, desired, immediately on His entering the world, to prove His love for man, and fulfil the divine office of Redeemer. Hence He moved the heart of His holy mother, in whose virginal womb He was concealed, to visit her cousin Elizabeth, in order that by His presence He might cleanse His fore-runner, John, whom his mother still carried in her bosom, from original sin. He could have done this while absent, but He intended to give us a glorious example of humility, in visiting one who was so infinitely below Him. "The greater," says St Ambrose, "went to the lesser: Jesus to John."

«The second reason is from St. Jerome, who thus writes: "As the Virgin greatly rejoiced at the favor the Almighty had bestowed on her pious cousin Elizabeth, she desired to manifest her joy to the latter, to congratulate her, and to give thanks and praise with her to the divine Mercy which had bestowed upon both of them such great benefits. Besides this it was her intention–which she also carried into effect–to wait on her cousin, who was already in the decline of life. Perhaps also, the great favor which our Lord would bestow upon Elizabeth and the yet unborn John by this visit, was revealed to her. Certain it is that her object was most holy, and that she left us a splendid example of humility and kindness, showing us that we must not only love our neighbors, but also assist and visit them, and, according to circumstances, serve them, regardless of their being much lower than we; as she, the Blessed Virgin, although raised to the highest dignity as the mother of the Lord, hesitated not to visit and assist her cousin, who was so much below her. Actuated by these motives, Mary set out, and went from Nazareth to the city of Hebron, which belongs to the tribe of Juda. According to some authors, this city is 38 or 40 miles from Nazareth, and could be reached only by travelling over a hilly country; hence this journey was very fatiguing for so delicate a maiden as Mary. But she undertook it rejoicingly.

«The Gospel says: "She went into the hill country with haste." Why with haste? Not only to show her joy and willingness, but also, as Origen writes: " Because the Saviour, concealed in her bosom, desired to cleanse His precursor and to sanctify him; "or, as St. Ambrose says, "because Mary was filled with the Holy Ghost, who is never satisfied with hesitating and tarrying." The love within her, the grace of the Holy Ghost, persuaded Mary to hasten. Mary went hastily over the mountains that she might the sooner return to her beloved solitude. She did not wish to be for a long time out of her house. This additional reason is given by the above cited St. Ambrose, who adds: "Learn from it, maidens, not to wander about in strange houses, nor to remain in the streets, nor to hold long conversations in public places." Having arrived at Hebron and entered her cousin's house, she joyfully greeted Elizabeth, and at the same moment a twofold miracle happened. John, still in his mother's womb, leaped with joy, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost. This leaping is regarded by the Holy Fathers as a more than natural movement of the child, and at the same time as a sign that John, endowed, by especial grace of God, with the light of reason, recognized by revelation, in the virginal womb of Mary, the presence of his Saviour, and, full of joy, worshipped Him. "He recognized the Lord in the mother's womb, and greeted Him with exultation," says St. Irenaeus. It is the opinion of the Holy Fathers that John was at that time cleansed from original sin and filled with the Holy Ghost. For, the Angel who had announced his birth, had, at the same time, foretold that he should be filled with the Holy Ghost while still in his mother's womb.

«Elizabeth was also filled with the Holy Ghost when she heard Mary's greeting, and recognized by divine revelation that Mary would become the mother of the Incarnate Word. Hence she cried: "Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb." With these words Elizabeth proclaimed that Mary was raised by God above all other women, and was more than all others blessed, because she had become the mother of Him who is the source of all graces and blessings. On account of the blessed, and more than blessed fruit of her womb, namely, on account of the only-begotten Son of God, whom she was carrying in her virginal womb, is she blessed, blessed far above all human kind. Thus spoke Elizabeth, full of the Holy Ghost; and it is to be remarked that those who deny this, like the heretics, do not speak filled with the Holy Ghost, with the Spirit of Truth, but prompted by the spirit of falsehood. Wherever the Holy Ghost has spoken out of the mouth of man, He has praised the Virgin. Whoever, therefore, speaks of her disparagingly, does not speak the words of the Holy Ghost, but those of the spirit of error.

«After Elizabeth had thus praised Mary and exalted her above all women, she said, full of deep surprise: "And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" She esteemed herself not worthy to be visited by the mother of her Lord, as in later years, her son esteemed himself not worthy to loose the latchets of His shoes. Hereupon, she related what had happened to her child, how it had leaped for joy and added: "Blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord." This proves that she knew by revelation what had taken place in the Blessed Virgin and what the Angel had further prophesied. Mary, the Divine Mother, heard all this, but her deep humility allowed her not to elevate herself in the least on account of it. She recognized that all that was done to her was done by the grace of the Almighty, to whom she therefore owed praise and thanks. Hence she sang a hymn of praise which far surpassed all those sung by Moses and his sister, by Anna and Deborah, Ezechias and the three companions of Daniel. In this hymn of praise, she first exalts the Lord for the graces which He had bestowed upon her; secondly, for the favors which He had bestowed on His people before the arrival of Christ; and finally, for the fulfilment of the promises in regard to the Incarnation of His only-begotten Son. The beginning of this hymn is as follows: "My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour." Volumes are filled with commentaries on this mysterious hymn of praise, and the Christian Church uses it daily in the office, to thank and praise the Almighty for the immeasurable grace of the Incarnation.

«This is what we know from Holy Writ of the history of today's festival; and it is only to be added that the visitation of Mary conferred great blessings to the house of Elizabeth. These were without doubt augmented by the prolonged sojourn of Mary, who, as the Gospel relates, remained with her cousin almost three months. If the Almighty richly blessed the house of Obededom, because, as Holy Writ tells us, the Ark of the Covenant was kept there during three months, how great must have been the blessings He bestowed upon the house of Zacharias and Elizabeth, whilst the living Ark of the New Testament, the Blessed Virgin, remained there. St. Ambrose entertains no doubt that the purity and innocence of St. John's life was the result of the grace which Mary's presence poured into his soul. We must also consider how willing Mary is to come to our assistance. No sooner had she become Mother of the Lord, than she desired to show that she had become also the loving mother of mankind. She was not called, she was not entreated to come, but went to Elizabeth, prompted by her own kindness. She proved herself gracious to the sinner as well as to the just. Through her Son she purified St. John, stained with original sin, and bestowed on the pious Elizabeth many precious graces. What confidence towards the Blessed Virgin should this awaken in us, whether we be counted among the sinners or the just!

«Finally, let us consider in what manner the Lord, having become man, bestowed His grace. He desired to purify His forerunner from original sin, and sanctify him even before his birth. This first spiritual gift He imparted through Mary; for, no sooner had she greeted her cousin, than John leaped for joy and was then cleansed from original sin. When, many years afterwards, at Cana in Galilee, He bestowed His first grace on man in temporal need, Mary was the mediator. The sanctification of John was the first miracle He wrought before His birth; the changing of water into wine, the first that He publicly wrought when He walked upon earth. Both were done through the intercession of Mary. The object of this was to teach us, as St. Bernard says, "that it is the will of God that we shall receive everything through Mary," that is, through her intercession. Who, therefore, would hesitate to fly to her confidently for refuge in all temporal and spiritual troubles?»

Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Dom Prosper Gueranger.

«Our Lady's visit to Her cousin Elizabeth already engaged our attention whilst we were preparing for the Christmas festival. But it is only fitting to return again to an event so important in Our Lady's life; the mere commemoration of this Mystery made on Ember Friday in Advent would be insufficient to bring forward all it contains of deep teaching and holy joy. Since in the course of centuries the holy liturgy has been gaining more and more completeness, it is but natural that this precious mine should come to be further opened in honor of the Virgin Mother. The Order of St. Francis, it would seem, as well as certain particular churches, such as Rheims and Paris for example – had already taken the initiative, when Pope Urban VI, in 1389, instituted today's solemnity. The Pope counselled a fast on the vigil of the Feast, and ordered that it should be followed by an Octave; he granted for its celebration the same indulgences as Urban IV had, in the previous century, attached to the festival of Corpus Christi. The Bull of promulgation, stopped by the Pontiff's death, was again taken up and published by Boniface IX, his successor on the Chair of Saint Peter.

«We learn from the lessons of the Office formerly composed for this Feast, that the object of its institution was, as Urban conceived it, to obtain the cessation of the schism then desolating the Church. The Papacy, exiled from Rome for 70 years, had barely re-entered it, when Hell, infuriated at a return which crossed all its plans, had taken revenge by ranging under two leaders the flock of the one sheepfold. So deep was the obscurity wherewith miserable intrigues contrived to cover the authority of the legitimate Shepherd, that numbers of churches, in all good faith, began to hesitate, and ended at last in preferring the deceptive staff of a hireling. Thicker yet was the darkness to grow, till night should be so dense, that for a moment the conflicting mandates of three "popes" would simultaneously spread through the world; whilst the faithful, struck with stupor, would be at an utter loss to discern accurately which was the voice of Christ's true Vicar. Never before had the Bride of the Son of God been in a more piteous situation. But Our Lady, to whom the true Pope had turned at the first rising of the storm, did not betray the Church's confidence. During all those years whilst the unfathomable justice of the Most High let the powers of Hell hold sway, She stood for the defence of Holy Church, trampling the head of the old serpent so thoroughly under Her victorious foot, that in spite of the terrific confusion he had stirred up, he was unable to sully the faith of the people. Their attachment was steadfast to the unity of the Roman See, whosoever might be, in this uncertainty, its veritable occupant. Thus the West, divided in opinion, but in principle ever one and undivided, reunited herself spontaneously as soon as God's moment came for the return of light. The hour having arrived for the Queen of Saints to assume the offensive, She would not content Herself with merely re-establishing at its former post the army of the elect; Satan now must expiate his audacity by being forced to yield back to Holy Church those conquests which for centuries had seemed his forever. The dragon still raged at Basel (the city where the schismatic faction had remained, while the loyal bishops continued the 17th General Council at Florence), when Florence already beheld the heads of the Greek schism, the Armenians and the Ethiopians, the cavillers of Jerusalem, of Syria and of Mesopotamia, all compensating by their unhoped-for adhesion to the Roman Pontiff for the anguish just suffered in the West.

«It was now to be shown that such a return of nations, in the very midst even of the tempest, was indeed the work of Her who had been called upon by the Pope, half a century before, to assist the Bark of Peter. Even they of the factious assembly of Basel gave proof of this, in a way which has unfortunately been too much overlooked by historians who undervalue the high importance that liturgical facts hold in the history of Christendom. When about to separate, these last abettors of the schism devoted the forty-third session of their pretended council to the promulgation of this Feast of the Visitation, in the establishment of which Urban VI had, from the outset, placed all his hopes. Notwithstanding the resistance of some of the more obstinate, the schism may, from that hour, be said to have ended. The storm was subsiding; the Name of Mary, invoked thus by both sides, shone resplendent as the sign of peace amidst the clouds, even as the rainbow in its sweet radiance unites both extremities of the horizon.

«But, it may be asked, why was the Feast of the Visitation specially chosen, more than any other, as the monument of restored peace? The answer seems to be suggested in the very nature of the mystery itself and in the manner of its accomplishment.

«Here, more particularly, does Mary appear as the Ark of the Covenant, bearing within Her the Emmanuel, the living testimony of a more true reconciliation, of an alliance more sublime between Earth and Heaven, than that limited compact of servitude entered into between Jehovah and the Jews, amidst the roar of thunder. By Her means, far better than through Adam, all men are now brethren; for He Whom She hides within Her is to be the Firstborn of the great family of the sons of God. Scarcely is He conceived than there begins for Him the mighty work of universal propitiation. Arise, then, O Lord, Thou and the Ark which Thou hast sanctified, whence Thine own sanctity will pour down upon the Earth! During the whole of Her rapid passage from Nazareth to the mountains of Judea, She shall be protected by wings of Cherubim jealously eager to contemplate Her glory.

«Favored with benediction was that Levite's house, while for three months it sheltered the Most High hidden in the Ark of the Covenant; more favored still the home of the priest Zachary, harboring, for the same lapse of time, Eternal Wisdom enshrined in Mary's virginal womb. Yet beneath Zachary's roof, blessed as it was, the enemy of God and man was still holding one captive: the angelic embassy that had announced John's miraculous conception and birth could not exempt him from the shameful tribute that every son of Adam must pay to the prince of death, on entering into this life. As formerly Azotus, so now Dagon may not remain standing erect in face of the Ark (1 Kings 5). Mary appears, and Satan, at once overturned, is subjected to utter defeat in John's soul (which was cleansed from original sin and sanctified at the sound of Mary's greeting to Elizabeth), a defeat that is not to be his last; for this new Ark of the Covenant will not stay its victories till the reconciliation of the last of the elect be effected.

«Let us, then, hail this day with songs of gladness: for this mystery contains the germ of every victory gained by the Church and Her sons: henceforth the sacred Ark is borne at the head of every combat waged by the new Israel. Division between man and his God is at an end, between the Christian and his brethren! The ancient Ark was powerless to prevent the division of the tribes; henceforth if schism and heresy do hold out for some years against Mary, it shall be but to evince more fully Her glorious triumph at last. Let us join the tribute of our songs to John's exulting gladness, to Elizabeth's sudden exclamations, to Zachary's canticle; therewith let earth re-echo!»

✓July 2 1382 Our Lady of Lesniew or Leśniów, at the Sanctuary of Lesniew near Żarki in Silesia in Poland, where, the Spring of Leśniówka sprang up due to the prayers of the Piast prince, Duke Vladislavus II of Opole (1356-1401), to thank which occurence, he gifted the image now venerated as Our Lady of Lesniew or Leśniów. 

«The history of the sanctuary in Leśniów is related to the legend according to which in 1382 Prince Władysław Opolczyk , who was going to Opole from Rus, decided to make a stop in a clearing near a wooden church. He was carrying the icon of Our Lady of Belz, a painting that was to become the center of Marian cult at Jasna Góra, better known as the Image of Our Lady of Częstochowa, and a statue of Mary with a Child in her arms. As the wanderers had no drink, they prayed before setting off for strength on the way and a happy return to Opole. Suddenly a miracle happened: Then the statue of Mary was covered with a golden glow. From the place indicated, the Child's hand, from under the mossy stone, pierced a crystal stream of water, shimmering in the sun with silver and blue. At the same time, the water had unusual properties. The weary regained their strength, the wounds washed with water healed immediately, the sick regained their health.... Duke Władysław Opolski, grateful for the grace of Mary, left the holy figure in a small wooden church in Leśniów.» For more information, see https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanktuarium_Matki_Bo%C5%BCej_Le%C5%9Bniowskiej_Patronki_Rodzin 

✓July 2 1547 Our Lady of Vaussivieres, Auvergne, France. 

«Our Lady of Vaussivieres, on the mountains of Auvergne, near the Mont d'Or, where there is an image which has remained miraculously from the ruins of Vaussivieres, which was ravaged by the English about the year 1374. At this already ancient shrine, in the year 1547, happened a prodigy, when a merchant from Besse and two companions happened to pass by. The merchant was a Protestant, but one of the men with him was Catholic, and he stopped to kneel and pray before the statue of the Virgin, Protector of travelers. The merchant mocked the Catholic for his faith, refusing to recognize the majesty of the Queen of Heaven. He was immediately struck blind, causing him to soon repent of his error. When his sight did not return, he promised that he would become the Blessed Mother's most ardent devotee if she would only have mercy on him and return his sight to him. Our Lady restored his sight, and the merchant kept his promise, spreading the fame of Our Lady of Vaussivieres far and wide. Soon there were many more miracles reported, and pilgrims began to congregate and kneel in great numbers amidst the ruins of the outdoor shrine frequented by cow herders. As there was a town in the valley with a church not too far away at Besse-en-Chandesse, it was decided that it would be a more fitting place for the pilgrims to go to venerate the statue of Our Lady. However, each time the statue was moved to Besse it would disappear, only to reappear in its niche in Vassiviere. This happened a total of three times before it was decided to build a new chapel in Vassivierre, where the statue would spend the warm summers, and then spend the rest of the year at the church in Besse-en-Chandesse. And so from July 2nd until the Sunday after the fall equinox the image of Notre-Dame de Vassiviere resides in her mountain hamlet, while the rest of the year she can be found in the church of Saint Andrew in Besse-en-Chandesse. The people of Besse cut stones to rebuild the walls, assisted by the offerings of the pilgrims who had begun to come to the mountain to visit the statue of the virgin. The shrine they built was a small one, 24' by 48', made in the form of a cross. The statue of Our Lady of Vaussivieres was displayed behind a strong grate, surrounded by the candles and votive offerings brought to the shrine. By 1648 there had been 88 authentic miracles, including still-born babies being restored to life long enough to be baptized. The original statue was destroyed during the Reign of Terror otherwise known as the French Revolution, but a copy was later made and solemnly crowned in 1881. This shrine, as well as many others, are centers of devout pilgrimages, and the miracles wrought by Our Lady in answer to the devout and earnest petitions of her clients are innumerable. Apparently as one pilgrim remarked, "Our Lady is a determined lady, and gets her way with her Divine Son," even to the place of residence, as her "returns" to Vaussivieres, above mentioned, prove.»

✓July 2 1557 Apparition of Our Lady of the Hill of Joy, or Montallegro, at Rapallo in eastern Liguria, Italy. 

«On July 2, 1557, a farmer named John Chichizola was walking on a mule track on a wooded hill overlooking the city of Rapallo. Coming upon a cool, shady spot, he paused for his noonday rest. The sound of a sweet voice calling his name started him to alertness. There, standing close besides him, was a beautiful lady surrounded by an intense light. She identified herself as Our Lady and said, "Do not fear, John. I am the Mother of God. I have chosen you to be a messenger of my motherly will. Visit the ecclesiastics of Rapallo and let them know that the Mother of God has chosen this place as her perpetual dwelling place and would like a church to be built here. I leave here a pledge of my love. Tell the people that this picture was brought here from Greece by the angels. I leave it here as a token of my love for them. Fast on Saturday." The vision then disappeared as if carried away in a cloud. The farmer Giovanni studied the icon on the rock. The picture depicts Our Blessed Mary lying on a bier at the time of her passing from this world on to the Heavenly Kingdom. The Holy Trinity is represented by the figures in the central part of the icon. Surrounding the Virgin in a mournful attitude are several saints and two angels. John attempted to pick the icon up off the rock, but he could not budge it at all. Much to his surprise, a spring had begun flowing from the dry ground by the rock – the exact spot where the Blessed Virgin had appeared. He went to the village and told the people what had happened. The priests to whom he told his story were skeptical, but because of John's excitement they reluctantly followed him to the place of the apparition. There they saw the picture which none of the peasants could lift, and the spring which had mysteriously appeared. One of the priests raised the portrait without difficulty and carried it in procession to the parish church, where it was carefully locked up pending further investigation. But, the next morning, the icon had disappeared from the church – only to be found back on the rock up on the wooded hill. Once again, the villagers brought the icon back down the hill and to the church where it was displayed all day to the veneration of many. The people were impressed with the details of John's experience. At the end of that day the icon was locked away for safekeeping. But they were surprised the next morning to find that it had disappeared again! After a long search, the icon was discovered to be back up on the rock on the hill overlooking Rapallo. All agreed that these supernatural journeys of the icon were a clear sign and indication that the Blessed Mother wished for the icon to remain in that particular place. They believed that they should build her requested church on that spot so that it could house and protect the treasured icon. The very next year in 1558, the Archbishop of Turin authorized the building of a church on the "Hill of Joy" (Monte de Allegro) where Mary's visit had taken place. Construction began immediately and during the following year the church opened and was dedicated to Our Blessed Mother. For seventeen quiet years the precious icon was loved and venerated on the Hill of Joy. In 1574, a group of Greek sailors, sailing from Ragusa,  experienced a bad storm while crossing the Gulf of Tigullio. The ship's captain, Nicholas de Allegretis, together with the crew, promised Our Lady that if they were saved, they would make a pilgrimage to the nearest sanctuary dedicated to her. Upon safely reaching land, they climbed the hill to the sanctuary to fulfill their vow of thanksgiving. It was then that they noticed the treasured icon, recognizing it and declaring that it was formerly venerated in Ragusa – but that it had mysteriously disappeared from there in 1557. The Greeks claimed ownership, which resulted in court proceedings before the magistrate of Genoa. Eventually, the icon was given back to the Greeks for safe transport to its original location in Ragusa. The icon was taken to the port, boarded on the ship, and placed in a secure location. The ship was well out to sea when the icon suddenly disappeared! Eventually, the captain and his crew learned that the icon had reappeared back in the church on the hill where Our Lady had wanted it to stay. All agreed this time that it should remain there out of respect for Our Lady's wishes. Every year, July 2nd is celebrated as "Apparition Day." The people of Rapallo travel to the Hill of Joy in a grand procession, carrying an ancient wooden crucifix and a silver shrine with the Mother's statue. Upon reaching the sanctuary, the first-time pilgrim is amazed by the huge collection of votive offerings and ex-votos, some of them in silver, which decorate the walls, giving proof of prayers answered and miracles worked through the Virgin's intercession. Records reveal that Our Lady's intervention brought about deliverance from the plague in 1579, 1590 and 1630. On these and other occasions, the people saw to it that Our Lady was thanked by means of votive plaques, hundreds of which still hang in the basilica. The ex-votos became so numerous that galleries were built to accommodate them. These additions to the sanctuary soon proved inadequate, since the plaques multiplied to such an extent that even the cloister and sacristy were covered with them. The Sacred Congregation of Rites, in 1739, granted the plea of the city of Rapallo to name Our Lady of Montallegro as its patroness. Once again the shrine found acceptance with the Vatican when Our Lady of Montallegro was crowned in solemn ceremonies on July 7, 1767 by the Bishop of Ajaccio, Corsica. In the chapel of St Joseph can be found the spring that began flowing from the time of the apparition. It is said to originate from the rock where the icon was originally found. Today, the rock is found almost concealed at one side of the altar. And what of the water from the miraculous spring? A white marble trough with a faucet is provided for those who want to drink the water or collect it in bottles. Just above the faucet is a small door through which the rock is visible. Pilgrims can approach the site on foot by way of an old mule track or by cable car from Rapallo. Pilgrims are intrigued with the beauty of the sanctuary and the treasured, miraculous icon called Our Lady of Montallegro. In the basilica which replaced the original chapel, the celebrated picture is enshrined in a pavilion behind the high altar. The feast day of Our Lady of Montallegro is celebrated with great joy on the first three days of July each year.» (For more info, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanctuary_of_Our_Lady_of_Montallegro). 

✓July 2 1607 2nd Apparition, and Miracle, of Our Lady at Chiavari, called Our Lady of the Garden, or Madonna dell'Orto, in Chiavari, also in eastern Liguria, Italy. 

«In 1493 a local woman had Benedict Borzone paint the image of Our Lady on the outer wall of a garden, with Saints Sebastian and Roque flanking, in gratitude for having been spared from the plague that was raging at the time in the area. Over time the garden became a garbage dump, but the painting retained the original freshness of the colors. The devotion to that effigy was, despite everything, always alive. On the night of December 18, 1609, a midwife of Rupinaro, Geronima Turrio, who used to go to pray at the sacred image in the evening, suddenly woke up from sleep and Our Lady, illuminated by a very bright light and with the same appearance as the revered painting, appeared before her. To confirm this miraculous event, on July 2, 1610, Our Lady also appeared to Sebastian Descalzo, a poor handicapped person, healing him. He saw Our Lady was flanked by two lamps on both sides as if suspended by invisible hands, ascending and descending in the garden to then stop in front of the image that he too venerated, to leave, once it disappeared, a very sweet perfume. In 1610 a small church was built to repair the image and on July 1, 1613 the construction of the sanctuary began, after the canonical process had ascertained the supernatural nature of the events that had occurred. The church is now the cathedral and a basilica, and Our Lady of the Garden is called "Patrona della Città e della Diocesi di Chiavari." The inhabitants of Chiavari celebrate the feast of Our Lady of the Garden on July 2 and 3, every year.» 

✓July 2 1953 The unveiling and blessing of the statue of Our Lady of Penrhys in Cymru or Wales.  

PROVISIONAL LIST OF THE SAINTS OF THE DAY (RM is Roman Martyrology of St Caesar Baronius, 2nd General of the Oratorians, after their founder St Philip Neri). 

• The Holy Martyrs of Campania Saints Ariston, Crescention, Eutychian, Felicissimus, Felix, Justus, Marcia, Symphorosa, Urban and Vitalis, under Diocletian.

• The Holy Martyrs of Carthage in Roman Africa Monks of a monastery at Capsa Saints Boniface, a deacon, Liberatus, abbot, Maximus, a 15 year old boy who refused to be released, Rogatus, Rusticus, a subdeacon, Septimus and Servius, a subdeacon, martyred by the Arian Vandals under Genseric. 

• The Holy Martyrs of Rome, Saints Processus and Martinianus, who were baptized by the blessed Apostle Peter in the Mamertine prison. After being struck on the mouth, racked, scourged with thongs and whips tipped with pieces of metal ; after being beaten with rods and exposed to the flames, they were beheaded in the days of Nero, and thus obtained the crown of martyrdom.

• The Holy Martyrs of Rome Saints Acestes, Longinus and Megistus, who assisted at the martyrdom of St Paul the Apostle, by whom they were brought to revert, for which they were slain under Nero. 

• The Holy Martyrs of Seoul in Corea (Korea) Saints Agatha Han Sin-ae, Anthony Yi Hyeon, Columba Gang Wan-suk, Ignatius Choe In-cheol, Juliana Gim Yeon-i, Matthew Gim Hyeon-u, Susanna Gang Gyeong-bok, and Viviana Mun Yeong-in, martyred by the Buddhists, July 2, 1801. Not yet canonized by a Catholic pope. 

• St Cahinnice or Cahinnicus, Scottish saint.  

• St Benedict Metzler, German Premonstratensian priest.

• St Bernardinus Realini, Jesuit priest, called the Apostle of Lecce in Apulia, Italy, wonderworker. 

• The Daughters of Cathbath, or Cathbadh, of Airedh Fotha, Irish saints.

• St James (or Jacques) Fermin, apostle to the Native Americans of New France. 

• St Jarich, Premonstratensian priest, rector of Grijn and then abbot of the abbey of Mariegaarde in Hallum in Friesland, died June 22, 1242, he is commemorated today. 

• St Jéroche, rector of a small village in the Brie region of France. 

• Saints John and Peter Becket or Becchetti, of Fabriano in Italy, kinsmen of St Thomas a Beckett. 

• St Lidanus, Benedictine monk and abbot. Drained the Pontine marshes in Italy. Founded an abbey in Sezze in the Papal States.

• St Monegundes, after the death of her daughter, with her husband's permission, she became a hermitess, then founder-abbess of the abbey of St Peter at Tours. 

• St Otto, bishop of Bamberg, Apostle of Pomerania. 

• St Oudoceus, 3rd bishop of Llandaff in Cyrmu or Wales. 

• St Swithun, bishop of Winchester in England, wonderworker. 

• St Ternoc of Cluain-Mór, Irish saint.

• St Wiltrude, abbess of Hohenwart near Schrobenhausen, daughter of Count Rapoto of Taurn in Tyrol and Hohenwart in Bavaria and his wife Emma, they, with their son Orthulf and Wiltrude, founded the abbey of Hohenwart.  

ALSO

• Peter of Luxembourg, made bishop of Metz by Antipope Clement VII at age 14, from which he was driven out, fleeing to Clement VII at Avignon, where he died, yet in his teens. 

OREMUS

Most Holy Mary, Mother of God, and our Mother, and all you Saints, Fathers, Mothers, Brothers, Sisters, Popes, Archbishops, Bishops, Hermits, Monks, Martyrs, Virgins, Champions and Heroes of Jesus Christ, whose feasts is today, named and unnamed, we pray to you for your intercession and guidance, lead us away from error and evil and into the Grace and Love of God, that with your assistance, we may join you in Eternity with the Living God, we make this prayer through Jesus Christ Our Lord, Who Lives and Reigns, in the Unity of the Godhead, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, forever and ever, Amen.

Lúcío Mascarenhas.