Back in Calabria The National pilgrimage of the statue of the Virgin of the Miraculous Medal: from 2 to 5 May it will be at Pilinga di Gasperina (CZ), diocese of Catanzaro – Squillace, in the parish of San Bruno and Beato Lanuino.
Don Ferdinando Fodaro, parish priest of San Bruno and Beato Lanuino explains: “The presence of Mary, as in the Cenacle on the day of Pentecost, is intended to be a sign of unity and a gift of Grace for the disciples of the Lord who experience together with the Mother of God the the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the joy of believing that the Crucifix is Risen and lives forever with us. By learning from Mary to live the style of communion and synodality, our believing community is committed to being a sign of the kingdom of God in everyday life. In this year of prayer in preparation for the Jubilee of 2025, the peregrinatio mariae becomes a strong time to learn from the Holy Virgin the art of entrusting oneself to God and contemplating her wonders that are realized in history; to the Holy Virgin we recommend our supplication for Peace in the world, especially in the Holy Land, reconciliation in families and support for young people on their journey”.
The national pilgrimage of the statue of the Virgin of the Miraculous Medal, of which Pilinga di Gasperina is one of the stages, began on 11 November 2020, in the Vatican, with the blessing of Pope Francis in memory of the 190th anniversary of the apparitions to Saint Catherine Labouré and looks forward to November 27, 2030, when the bicentenary will be celebrated. New stages can be added to this initiative promoted by the Vincentian Missionaries of Italy in collaboration with the Vincentian Family: those who are interested in promoting a short time of pastoral animation with two Vincentian missionaries and the Sacred effigy of the Madonna of the Miraculous Medal, can contact the Commission of the “Three Days with Mary” at the e-mail address: (email protected).
The program of the Pilinga di Gasperina stage of the national pilgrimage of the statue of the Virgin of the Miraculous Medal includes the following events.
Prayer of the Rosary on Thursday 2 May at 5.45pm; at 6.15pm the Welcoming of the statue of the Virgin and the Eucharistic Celebration; Prayer Vigil at 9pm.
Morning Lauds prayer on Friday 3 May at 8.30am; in the morning the visit to the sick; at 5.30 pm the prayer of the Rosary; at 6pm the Eucharistic Celebration.
Saturday 4 May from 9am to 3pm the celebration of Morning Lauds and Eucharistic Adoration; from 3.30pm to 5pm the catechetical meeting with the children of the community; at 5.30 pm the prayer of the Rosary; at 6pm the Eucharistic Celebration followed by the catechesis on the miraculous medal.
Sunday 5 May at 10.30 am the prayer of the Rosary; at 11 am the Eucharistic Celebration, the act of entrustment and greeting to the Virgin.
The Church will remain open for personal prayer from 8.00 to 20.00. The Vincentian missionaries will be available for the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and personal conversations. During the celebrations, medals of the Madonna will be distributed.