OUR LADY OF SPLENDOR

Day 344: April 22

Our Lady of Splendor, Giulianova, Teramo, Italy

"On April 22, 1557, it pleased the Lord to give a sign of his divine goodness by making known to the people of Giulianova the Virgin of Splendor." This is what we read in the first chronicle that the prior father of the Celestine Monks, Don Pietro Capullo, wrote in the years 1657-1674 and which served as a source for Don Niccola Palma for his Ecclesiastical and Civil History ... of the city of Teramo and the Diocese of Aprutina (Teramo, 1832-1836).

"On a small hill, outside the walls of Giulianova, a pious peasant, tired from having collected firewood to take to his house in Cotogna, went to rest around noon in the shade of a leafy olive tree. Bertolino, as the farmer was called, was about to fall asleep when he saw a dazzling light among the branches of the tree and, in the center, the Virgin Mary who said to him: "Come, Bertolino, get up and go quickly to Giulianova and spread throughout the country the happy news that the Great Mother of God has chosen her dwelling here. Advise the clergy to come without delay with a solemn procession to honor me and that here, where you now see me, a sanctuary be built for me."

Still stunned by the great emotion, but proud of the assignment received, Bertolino ran to the governor (feudal administrator appointed by the ducal family) to tell him the extraordinary message of Our Lady. Predictably, both the governor and some of the notables present were very amused by listening to the strange story of the peasant, but when the peasant began to insist that they follow him to the place of the apparition, they lost patience and chased him away in a bad way, accusing him of a visionary and demented. While believing in his good faith, they saw the only plausible explanation in the perspective that the first hot weather or an extra glass of wine had gone to Bertolino's head.

Very dejected by the bad reception received, the poor peasant returned home, but the following day, early in the morning, driven by an inner strength, he went again to the olive tree with the hope of seeing the shining image of Our Lady again so that he could confide all his bitterness to her.

Bertolino walked the last stretch of the climb with his heart in his throat; he felt humiliated and offended not so much by the insults as by the failure of the important mission. What if, once at the top of the hill, the Virgin Mary had never shown herself to his eyes again? When he reached the tree, all his fears vanished because Our Lady was there waiting for him to cheer him up and urged him to return to the governor.

Unfortunately, the second embassy was no more successful than the first. On the third day, Bertolino returned to that place already so dear to him. He knelt down and waited for the comforting apparition. The Virgin returned and with sweetness and firmness urged him to insist to the governor that what he asserted corresponded to the truth.

Without further hesitation, Bertolino returned to the city. Filled with renewed fervor, for the third time the pious peasant told what the Great Mother of Jesus had just commanded him, insisting that everyone go up with him to the top of the hill to verify the veracity of his story. This time the insults were added to the beatings. One of them, to better convince him to put judgment, began to beat him violently, to the amusement of those present. Of mild temperament, Bertolino would have been overwhelmed if Our Lady had not intervened by freeing him from the hands of the reckless man, who was suddenly paralyzed and mute.

Absolute silence fell in the room: everyone understood that they had witnessed a supernatural event and everyone, in their hearts, begged forgiveness for the offenses caused to the harmless peasant. Dismayed and bewildered, the governor hastened to summon the clergy (archpriest, four canons, the provost of the Annunziata) and all the people to go in solemn procession to the place indicated by Bertolino.

The woodcutter, trusting in the promises of Our Lady and with a heart full of joy, led the procession from the ducal palace to the miraculous place where everyone could witness the fantastic vision, clear and distinct, of the Virgin Mary, shining among the splendors of dazzling light. But Our Lady had reserved a great gift for them as tangible and imperishable proof of the extraordinary event: at the base of the olive tree she made a spring of pure and fresh water gush out, in a continuous stream, which still exists today!

The news of the apparition, which put an end to the plague that had struck the entire region, but which had left the Giulianova district unscathed, spread in a flash. Such an extraordinary event attracted a multitude of people who came from all over to see the miraculous olive tree, to mark themselves with the water of the spring and to prostrate themselves in adoration invoking mercy, protection and comfort.

Bertolino's attacker also went there, sincerely repentant for the senseless gesture and it was to him, Our Lady of the Splendor who wanted to give the first grace by giving him back, among the hosannas of those present, the use of speech and joints.

St Justin Russolillo Writes...

"Come, O Mother! Fill your house with your presence, fill our soul with your graces and our life and our work may all resound to your Magnificat. Amen!"

(Justin Russolillo, Devotional, Vocationist Editions, Pianura, 2009, p. 163)