Madonna del Bosco / Our Lady of the Woods, Imbersago, Como, Lombardia, Italy (1617) and Memorials of the Saints

Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter +2021

Madonna del Bosco / Our Lady of the Woods, Imbersago, Como, Lombardy, Italy (1617) – 9 May:

On 8 May 1617, three shepherds, one named Peter, saw the Madonna near a large tree, a chestnut tree to be exact. They reported that the apparition rose up and disappeared into the sky.
They were believed immediately as that particular and only chestnut tree, was found full of fruit out of its normal season. In 1632 at the site, visited by the Virgin, a Chapel was erected, then replaced with a large and most beautiful Church in 1677., which has since been raised to the status of a Minor Basilica. In it we honor what is called the Madonna del Bosco (The Our Lady of the Woods).u
Two years before this apparition, some had seen, in the same place, a lady bathed in light hovering on top of those chestnut trees and heard beautiful songs coming from the spot. Many other miracles occured here, the most well-known being that of a mother whose child was being attacked by wolves, which were very prevalent in the area. She called to the Virgin, who appeared and saved the child from the wolf-attack. The Statue within the Sanctuary commemorates these miracle.s

The main Altarpiece is a depiction of the Madonna and Child above a grove of Chestnut trees (1888).

The Sanctuary can be accessed via the 392 steps of the Scala Santa. Most are linear steps until the end with a scenic sweep of two accesses.

St Banban the Wise
St Beatus of Laon
St Beatus of Lungern
St Brynoth of Scara
St Dionysius of Vienne
Bl Fortis Gabrielli
St Gerontius of Cervia

Blessed Giovanni Benincasa of Montepulciano OSM (1375-1426) Religious Friar of the Servite Order, Hermit, Mystic, Penitent
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/05/09/saint-of-the-day-9-may-blessed-giovanni-benincasa-of-montepulciano-osm-1375-1426/

St Giuse Hien
St Gorfor of Llanover

St Gregory Nazianzen (330-390) Father, Doctor, Theologian
His Feast has since 1960, been conbined with that of St Basil the Great – “Two Bodies one Spirit” on 2 January.
Their lives here:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/01/02/saint-s-of-the-day-2-january-st-basil-the-great-329-379-and-st-gregory-of-nazianzen-330-390-two-bodies-one-spirit/

St Gregory of Ostia
St Hermas of Rome
Isaiah the Prophet
St John of Châlon

Blessed Theresa of Jesus/Karolina Gerhardinger SSND (1797-1879) Religious Sister, Foundress
Biography:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/05/09/saint-of-the-day-9-may-blessed-theresa-of-jesus-karolina-gerhardinger-1797-1879/

St Maria del Carmen Rendiles Martinez (1903-1977) Religious and Foundress of the Servants of the Eucharist
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/05/09/saint-of-the-day-9-may-blessed-maria-carmen-rendiles-1903-1977/
St Sanctan of Kill-da-Les

Blessed Thomas Pickering (c 1621-1679) Martyr, Benedictine Lay Brother

St Vincent of Montes

Martyrs of Persia: 310 Christians murdered together for their faith in Persia. No details about them have survived.

20 Mercedarian Martyrs of Riscala: 20 Mercedarian friars who were murdered by Huguenot heretics for refusing to denounce their faith. 16th century at the Santa Maria convent at Riscala, France.