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October 21, 2004
Tuscany's Pilgrimage site
Tuscany, where most of my family is from, is one of the most popular and beautiful regions of Italy. It is blessed with natural beauty: from its various mountain ranges to the rolling hills of the Chianti region to its rocky and sandy beaches.
It is also well known for its rich culture in history and art. When speaking of Tuscany, one cannot avoid thinking of Florence, Pisa, and countless medieval jewels that dot the entire region. Many of these towns have magnificent cathedrals and monasteries covered with priceless art. But do you know which town in Tuscany is the pilgrimage site of the region? Did you know that Pope John Paul II also made a pilgrimage there in the 1980’s? In the 17th century there was an apparition of Mary in the little town of Montenero, just outside of the port-town Livorno (where my family is from). Ever since then, a sanctuary has been built there and it has drawn the faithful of the surrounding area. Another beautiful thing at Montenero is that whenever the faithful of the region feel that Mary has interceded for them in an accident, they leave a picture of or an article relating to that accident in the sanctuary. So the sanctuary is filled with these paintings where Our Lady has interceded for people and saved them from death or serious injury. (Some of my grandfather’s paintings are among them.)
There isn’t much to see in Livorno, but for the natives of Tuscany (those who are still religious) Livorno is important because of the sanctuary at Montenero. You probably have never heard of it because it is not important in society’s eyes. The sanctuary has a pretty church, but it does not rival the beauty of the cathedral next to the leaning tower of Pisa or Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence. But for a Catholic who loves the Madonna it is quite high on the priority list. So if you are touring Tuscany, keep Montenero in mind. The pictures taken of the place might not be impressive, but the religious significance of a trip there will out-weigh even the best pictures of the photo album.
Posted by HolyFamily at October 21, 2004 12:32 PM
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