The nut is taken. As confirmed by a long note from the Bishop’s Curia of Locri, directed by Monsignor Francesco Oliva, and by the rector of the Marian Sanctuary in the heart of the Ionian Aspromonte in the territory of the Municipality of San Luca, the celebrations in honor of the ‘mother of all the mothers, Maria di Polsi, queen and symbol of humility and intercession’, will not take place.
After about 400 years, thousands of faithful will not go, for the first time, the two roads to reach wrists, given the bad conditions of the two tracks (from San Luca, going up the Bonamico stream, on whose Greto many kidnapped by the anonymous seizures of the ‘Ndrangheta, or by the Tyrrhenian side, committing a dangerous descent that begins from the toll booth of the forestry forest, 1000 meters high, in the heart of Aspromonte), which is why the controversy over social media has been fastening for a few weeks.
Furthermore, the Curia of Locri announces to the faithful the postponement of the presence in the Locride and Aspromonte of Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, president of the CEI, who had accepted the appeal of the faithful to participate in Locri alla Novena in honor of Maria della Montagna, and for a quick visit to the sanctuary.
“With equal respect and regret, however, the Board of Directors (of the Marian Sanctuary, editor’s note) informs that – in the face of the numerous critical issues that emerged in recent weeks – it was necessary to agree on the postponement of the cardinal’s visit and suspend the summer celebrations scheduled for Polsi, including the Novena and parties of 2 and 14 September. The board highlights that these difficulties are linked to restoration and enhancement of the church of the sanctuary, which will remain closed for a few months, to the practicability of the access road, compromised by a winter landslide. Despite the commitment of the Calabria Region, the safety works have only recently started ».
The Board of Directors of the Sanctuary also reported to Zuppi of the various alternatives to the procession discussed. At first, in fact, the celebration of the solemn Eucharist in San Luca, in the municipal stadium, was hypothesized, solution proved to be impracticable for reasons of safety and usability of the structure. He then thought of carrying out the novena from 24 August to 1st September in the parish church of San Luca, with the traditional vigil in the night between 1 and 2 September and the solemn celebration in Locri.
“This proposal – says the note – although approved by the competent authorities, aroused strong reactions of a part of the population, generating tensions and exploitation on social networks with the spread of false news about the definitive closure of the sanctuary and the removal of the sacred effigy. These insinuations are totally unfounded and have been promptly denied by the official channels of the diocese “, postponing to another date the presence of the Cardinal of Bologna in Polsi.
The feast suspended in honor of the Madonna della Montagna is also a stop to the notorious tradition of the ‘Ndrangheta of the whole world to find itself annually with its representatives in wrists.
Although the ‘Ndrangheta uses modern means and methods to increase its’ business’ – from cocaine trafficking, to the international recycling of huge capital – Nicola Gratteri, prosecutor of Naples and magistrate engaged in the fight against the gangs, has always underlined how «every year, in September, the capimafia gather in wrists to discuss criminal strategies. Investitudes are made, the processes, it is decided whether to open or close a ‘ndrangheta place. They gather in wrists because it is the sacred place, the place of custody of the 12 tables of the ‘Ndrangheta, because there it releases the’ sacred ‘force, compared to other criminal organizations, which makes the rules observe in a orthodox way “.