Also this year, as is now customary on the occasion of the August celebrations for Saint Eustochia, the cultural association “Antonello da Messina” chaired by Milena Romeo, promoted the visit, with traditional floral tribute, to the “grotto” of Saint Eustochia Calafato, located in the Caprera all’Annunziata district, a symbolic place, although not entirely known, of our city’s religious heritage.
A meeting promoted to enhance the historical site linked to the birth of the Poor Clare Saint – which is celebrated annually by the Messina people of Rome in January – strongly linked to the “Messina of Antonello”. In the presence of the national secretary of Rome, Maria Teresa Muscianisi, the Messina delegate of the “Antonello”, Sergio Di Giacomo, highlighted how the association is strongly linked to the figure of the mystic Poor Clare, whose devotion has always been promoted by the founder of the association Gioacchino Toldonato, who grew up near the monastery of Montevergine, who promoted the devotion in Rome together with Mons. Giovanni Marra.
Strong connection also with the figure of the Pope who canonized her in Messina in June 1988, John Paul II, to whom the “Antonello” has dedicated several celebratory moments. «We want to rediscover and make more known this historical site so full of suggestions, paying homage in her birthplace to our Saint who lived in the years in which the great Antonello worked. We therefore ask the Administration for greater visibility of the place, starting with the replacement of the now worn-out indicative sign», noted Di Giacomo, who launched among the next initiatives of the association the inauguration of the new headquarters in Messina, the Roman celebration of St. Annibale, the “Antonello Award” and initiatives related to the Holy Year.
The historical note was edited, as usual, by the journalist and scholar Antonino Sarica, who focused in particular on the role played by Canon Annibale di Francia in promoting the figure and cult of Blessed Eustochia: «Mons. Sgalambro, chaplain of Montevergine for a long time, recalled how the canon must be considered an authentic guide and master of devotion to our saint. We owe to him the preservation of the cult in Messina after the 1908 earthquake, and the organization of the 1920 pilgrimage to the birthplace of the Annunziata, attended by at least thirty thousand people, an event that allowed the protection of the Monastery of Montevergine and the relaunch of the canonization process».
The floral tribute to the Saint and a moment of reflection and prayer in front of the cave concluded the meeting attended by a good number of “antonelliani” aware of the importance of valorizing a site of great charm linked to two illustrious figures of fifteenth-century Messina.
