OUR LADY OF EUROPE

Day 357: May 05

Oue Lady of Europe

There are those who have found in the European flag a clear Marian reference and more precisely to the "woman clothed with the sun" of the Apocalypse. But it seems that there are two Marian protectors of Europe, one in the church of "Our Lady of Europe" in Gibraltar, the other in Motta di Madesimo (Italy) 13 meters high and all covered in gold.

Each state has its own flag. Europe is not yet a unitary state, but it cultivates the hope that it will become one. However, there is a flag for the European Union (EU). It has a singular history, a little "Marian" history. A few years after the Second World War in 1949, a commission was entrusted with the task of designing the flag of Europe. Its first task was to exclude possible contrasts or similarities too close to the flags of other states, thus avoiding unpleasant accusations of "copying." After long discussions, the following decisions were reached: The color of Europe would be blue: black is the color of Africa, the yellow of Asia, the red of America, the green of Australia. On the blue field would appear equal stars, to signify the equality in dignity of large and small states. The problem was: how many stars? A significant problem. 12, because it is highly symbolic: like the 12 hours of the day, the 12 months of the year, the 12 signs of the zodiac... and also the 12 apostles. Twelve stars, identical, in the shape of a circle.

It was in October 1955 that this House adopted the flag of Europe, which is the current flag. But it was only on December 8 (the feast of the Immaculate Conception) that it was adopted by the ministers of the Council of Europe. A few days later it was hoisted in Strasbourg. Obviously, someone on the date of December 8 and in the 12 stars that recall the vision of the Apocalypse of "a woman clothed with the sun, with a crown of 12 stars" as it is said in chapter 12, (once again the number 12, but this time it is pure coincidence), saw in it a religious or rather "Marian" reference. This same "Marian" inspiration also guided the master Max Ingrand in designing the new stained-glass window of the cathedral of Strasbourg. It was dedicated to Mary, protector of Europe.

There is a statue that testifies to this devotion to the Virgin Mary. It dates back to the 1300's, when Christian princes occupied the promontory. After expelling the Muslim population according to the custom of the time, the new masters dedicated not only that place but the entire continent to Mary, invoking her with the title of "Our Lady of Europe." A small mosque built by the Arabs in 711, during their first landing, was chosen as the site. It was located on the southernmost point of the continent.

In this new church they placed the statue. In 1333 the Muslims reconquered the fortress. But the Christians, before fleeing, buried the statue of Our Lady (it was found only in 1967). The troubles of the chapel-sanctuary were not over. Over the centuries it suffered other destructions and looting by the English and  theDutch.

Finally, in 1962, Bishop John F Healy celebrated Mass in a newly built chapel. It was then in 1979 that John Paul II entrusted the diocese of Gibraltar, the southernmost on the continent of Europe, to the special protection of Our Lady of Europe.

Located at 2000 meters above sea level, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Europe is home to the European Ecumenical Center for Peace.

The metal statue, 13 meters high, representing the Virgin of the Peaks, is covered with gold foil and was made, thanks to the initiative of the Alpine Group of Casatenovo Brianza and the interest of his friend Don Luigi Re, by the sculptor Egidio Casagrande, from Borgo Valsugana; the inauguration dates back to October 15, 1957. Resting on a circular sector structure, it weighs 4 tons and serves as an open-air Sanctuary. Initially the statue stayed for a year in Casatenovo; then an "alpine" location was designed, which was originally supposed to be Pizzo Stella, then discarded because the action of atmospheric agents, particularly intense over 3000 meters, would have compromised its integrity. It was therefore opted for the current location at Motta di Madesimo.

The transport, however, presented many problems, which were overcome thanks to the intervention of the Army, which supported the effort of the Alpini of Casatenovo. Finally, it was the intervention of skilled goldsmiths not only from Italy, but also from European countries who contributed to the creation of the gold coating that embellishes and gives splendid brightness to the majestic statue.

St Justin Russolillo Writes...

"Obtain for us that every decade of our rosary, may be a battle and a victory against the enemy seen in a particular defect, may be a battle and a conquest of the kingdom of heavens seen in a particular virtue, so that the commemoration of every joyful, sorrowful, luminous and glorious mystery may be fruitful to us in truth."

(Justin Russolillo, Devotional, Vocationist Editions, Pianura, 2009, p. 233)