The Lady of All Nations is the title by which the Virgin Mary appeared to the Dutch seer Ida Peerdeman in fifty-six visions spanning fourteen years. Here is the message of peace she brought forth.

In the history of Marian apparitions, one of the best-known cases is that of the Lady of All Nations, which took place in Amsterdam between 1945 and 1959. Although the authenticity of these apparitions has never been officially confirmed, the veneration of the Virgin under the Marian title of “Lady of All Nations” is permitted and practised by many believers. The visions of Ida Peerdeman, the seer at the heart of these episodes, continue to influence the spirituality of Catholics in the Netherlands and beyond.

The Amsterdam Apparitions

The Amsterdam apparitions began just a few months after the end of the Second World War, during a time of reconstruction and spiritual renewal. On 25 March 1945, a young Dutch woman, Isje Johanna Peerdeman (known as Ida), claimed to have had a vision of the Virgin Mary. Mary would reportedly appear to her on fifty-six occasions over fourteen years between 1945 and 1959. In reality, the very first apparition was said to have taken place on 13 October 1917—a significant date, as it coincides with the last of the famous Marian apparitions at Fatima. At the time, Isje was only twelve years old; on the advice of her spiritual director, Father Frehe, she told no one of the encounter with the “Beautiful Lady,” a woman of light and extraordinary beauty who appeared as she was walking home and smiled sweetly at her. It was only in 1945, however, that the Madonna revealed herself to Isje (who by then had become a woman) for who she truly was, defining herself as the Lady and Mother of All Nations. Subsequently, the Madonna reappeared many times to Isje to convey various messages regarding a divine plan for the salvation of the world. This plan saw the Virgin Mary herself as the focal point and catalyst—an incarnation of mercy and a loving mother ready to act as the intermediary between God and His children.

Our Lady of Amsterdam

Mary is also said to have given Ida an image and a prayer. Mary, the Lady of All Nations, appears standing upon the terrestrial globe, wrapped in a long, flowing white robe, with her loose dark hair falling to either side of her face. Behind her towers a large Cross. From her open hands emanate rays of light, representing Grace, Redemption, and Peace. In many reproductions, flocks of sheep are seen at her feet, representing the peoples of the entire world. Indeed, world peace is one of the central points of the Lady of All Nations’ messages; only by turning their gaze to the Cross can humanity hope to find harmony and unity among all peoples and religions.

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Our Lady over the world, statue in reconstituted carrara, 25 cm

Reconstituted Carrara Marble statue handcrafted with attention to detail by italian skilled craftsman.

The figure described by Isje Peerdeman strongly recalls that of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, who appeared on 27 November 1830 to the young novice and future Saint Catherine Labouré. In that instance, the rays of light streaming from the rings on Mary’s fingers represented the graces she dispenses to all her children, embodying her mission as a loving intermediary between man and God. These rays of grace, pouring onto the earth, spread love and salvation, while the light they radiate symbolises the triumph of Mary, the first among those who have been and will be saved. This symbolism highlights Mary’s central role in the work of Redemption, her being the dispenser of divine graces, and the intercessor with God for the good of humanity.

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Our Lady of Miracles necklace with cross made of 925 sterling silver finished in rosè and zircons

Our Lady of Miracles medal and cross decorated with green zircons.

The Amsterdam apparitions have sparked varying opinions within the Catholic Church. While some believers accept the visions as authentic and significant, others remain more sceptical, suggesting they may be the product of imagination or the cultural influences of the era. Despite this, over the years, the Church has launched thorough investigations into the apparitions. In 2002, the Episcopal Conference of the Netherlands stated that “there is nothing against faith or morals in the Amsterdam apparitions.” However, to date, the Church has not issued a definitive judgement on the authenticity of the visions.

Our Lady’s Messages Around the World

The messages from various “Madonnas” around the world have a rich and diverse history spanning centuries of religious and spiritual tradition. From Fatima to Lourdes, from Guadalupe to Medjugorje, and beyond, Marian apparitions have been a significant element of Catholic devotion. The messages attributed to the Virgin often encourage prayer, penance, conversion, and peace, offering spiritual guidance and consolation for millions of believers worldwide.

In Fatima, where some of the most famous Marian apparitions occurred, the Madonna entrusted three small shepherd children with a message of prayer, penance, and conversion. She is also said to have predicted future events, including the end of the First World War and the spread of communism.

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Statue of Our Lady of Fatima Capelinha in natural wood of Valgardena

Natural finish: it represents a simple finished sculpture, without any treatment on the surface, suitable for those who would like …

In Lourdes, France, in 1858, the Virgin Mary reportedly appeared to a young shepherdess named Bernadette Soubirous. During the apparitions, Bernadette was instructed to dig for a miraculous spring of water, which has since become a major site of pilgrimage and healing for the faithful worldwide. The messages of Lourdes emphasise trust in God’s mercy and the importance of prayer and penance.

In Guadalupe, Mexico, in 1531, the Madonna is said to have appeared to an indigenous peasant named Juan Diego, asking him to build a church in her honour. During the apparition, Mary left a miraculous image of herself imprinted on Juan Diego’s cloak, which is today venerated as the Virgin of Guadalupe, patroness of Mexico and Latin America. The messages of Guadalupe promote trust in Mary’s maternal protection and unity between different peoples and cultures.

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Our Lady of Guadalupe statue in painted wood, Val Gardena

This wood statue is handmade by expert Val Gardena artisans with experience in the production of unique high quality artworks from …

The apparitions at Medjugorje, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which began in 1981, have captured the attention of millions across the globe. Although they have not yet been officially recognised by the Catholic Church, the alleged messages from the Madonna to six young seers include calls to prayer, conversion, and peace. Medjugorje has become an important place of pilgrimage for those seeking a deeper spiritual experience and a personal encounter with the Madonna.

The Lady of All Nations promised the seer Ida that prayer would save the world. She also revealed several major prophecies: the Chinese communist revolution led by Mao Tse-Tung, man’s landing on the Moon, the Cold War, the meeting between Pope Paul VI and the Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the death of Pope Pius XII. The Madonna also asked Ida to request that the Church recognise a dogma of Mary as “Co-redemptrix, Mediatrix, and Advocate.”

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Our Lady of Medjugorje, painted marble dust, 20 cm, St James’ church

Small statue of Our Lady of Medjugorje, Queen of Peace, wearing a grey dress and a white floaty veil with golden details.

Prayer to the Lady of All Nations

Here is the prayer for peace entrusted by the Virgin herself to Ida as a message for all humanity:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Father,

send now Your Spirit over the earth.

Let the Holy Spirit live in the hearts of all nations,

that they may be preserved from corruption,

calamities, and war.

May the Lady of All Nations,

who once was Mary,

be our Advocate.

Amen.

Saint Bridget of Sweden, a 14th-century Swedish mystic, is one of the co-patron saints of Europe. She went on pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela and the Holy Land.

There are six patron saints of Europe: Saint Benedict of Nursia, Saint Catherine of Siena, Saints Cyril and Methodius, Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, and Saint Bridget of Sweden, the focus of this article. If Saint Benedict earned the title of patron of Europe for creating, through his Rule, a new model of monastic life that would profoundly shape the human, social and cultural history of the Middle Ages, and if Saint Catherine positioned herself as a mediator among the states of a Europe that was yet to exist, ensuring the common good and the freedom of all, Saint Bridget of Sweden offered, through her Revelations and her very way of life, a model of unity and harmony among all people, brothers in Christ, like sheep in the same fold with only one Shepherd as their guide and protector.

Born into an aristocratic family, she was a happy wife and mother of eight children before embracing religious life. Even as a married woman, she demonstrated absolute devotion and an innate concern for others, shown through works of charity and mercy, often alongside her husband. Together, they became Franciscan tertiaries and studied the Scriptures, to such an extent that Bridget gained a reputation for her pedagogical skills, which even led her to teach at the court in Stockholm. This early phase of her life also includes her pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, the first in a long series of journeys and pilgrimages to sacred places throughout the known world, which marked the life of this saint.

After being widowed, Bridget travelled to Rome with her daughter Catherine, who would also later be canonised, and to many other places of worship and devotion in Italy. From there, she continued to the Holy Land, to witness and experience the places where Christ had lived out his earthly life. She returned to Rome already ill and died under the care of her daughter Catherine, to whom she entrusted the religious order she had founded: the Order of the Most Holy Saviour. This was a revolutionary monastic order, as it provided for double monasteries in which men and women lived, imitating the early Christian community. The Rule allowed for sixty nuns led by an abbess, and twenty-five male religious guided by a general confessor, divided into thirteen priests (representing the twelve Apostles plus Saint Paul) and the remaining disciples and deacons, who symbolised the four Doctors of the Church: Augustine, Ambrose, Jerome, and Gregory the Great. In 1422, Pope Martin V ordered the suppression of double monasteries, and today the order founded by Saint Bridget is exclusively female, known as the Congregation of the Most Holy Saviour of Saint Bridget. Its sisters are known as the Bridgettines, and they devote themselves to hospitality and the mission of reuniting all Christian churches, regardless of denomination.

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Saint Bridget in painted maple wood of Valgardena

This statue in maple wood was carved in Italy

In addition to her devotion, prayers and revelations, Saint Bridget is remembered for her work of intercession and counsel with popes, heads of state and political leaders in Sweden and across Europe. It is precisely this role that earned her the designation of co-patroness of Europe.

The Prayers of Saint Bridget

Saint Bridget received two sets of prayers from Jesus and the Virgin Mary, known as the Prayers of Saint Bridget.
The first series consists of 21 promises and 15 prayers, to be recited daily for one year. The second consists of 5 promises and 7 prayers, to be said daily for 12 years.

The 21 promises revealed to her by Jesus include the deliverance of souls from Purgatory, conversion for loved ones, and protection against enemies in the name of the Cross.

The Revelations of Saint Bridget

Bridget was deeply moved by the sufferings endured by Jesus during the Passion. Meditating upon them, she experienced many vivid mystical visions of Jesus, the Virgin, and the saints. She shared these revelations with her spiritual directors, who compiled them into eight volumes. These are the Revelations of Saint Bridget, the authenticity of which was acknowledged by the Council of Constance in 1415.

“You are mine, and for that reason I shall do with you as I please. Love nothing as you love Me.” Thus God claimed Bridget as His prophetess and spokesperson. The Virgin Mary taught her that there are two ways to reach God’s heart: humility and true contrition, or contemplation of Christ’s sufferings. “Contemplate My beauty through the beauty of the elements… Look at Me. I am the fairest on Tabor, but the most reviled on the Cross, where I had neither form nor comeliness. Look at Me and reflect… Amend your faults! Listen to the voice with which I cried to you: ‘I thirst for you!’”

How to Pray the Bridgettine Rosary

In addition to the Prayers, Saint Bridget also received from the Virgin the Bridgettine Rosary, dedicated to Our Lady’s sorrows and her sixty-three years on Earth. When prayed daily for one year, it is said to guarantee the fulfilment of the 21 promises made by Jesus to the faithful.

Pope Urban V approved the Bridgettine Rosary and the indulgences associated with it: seven years’ indulgence and seven quarantines for each recitation of the Rosary; one hundred days for every Our Father, Hail Mary and Creed; a plenary indulgence at the hour of death for those who pray it at least once a week; a plenary indulgence for those who recite it daily; forty days for those who wear the Rosary, pray at the sound of the bells for someone dying, and recite the Our Father and Hail Mary while making an examination of conscience; and so on.

To recite the Bridgettine Rosary, a special rosary is used, consisting of gold-coloured beads (on which the Creed is said), silver-coloured beads (for the Our Father), and blue beads (for the Hail Mary). Unlike the traditional Rosary, which has five decades per mystery, the Bridgettine Rosary has six.

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St. Brigit devotional rosary

This devotional chaplet consist of 6 groups of 10 beads

The Madonna del Latte is an ancient and powerful iconography that contains all the tenderness of motherhood and the greatness of the Virgin Mary.

The Christian iconography of the Madonna del Latte has ancient origins. According to scholars, it was already widespread in Egypt in the sixth century AD, as a Christian adaptation of older depictions of the goddess Isis nursing her son, the god Horus. As has often happened, pagan images have blended with Christian ones, giving rise to something new. In this case, a representation of motherhood, but also a more profound symbolism, which over the centuries has been elaborated and adapted to different meanings.

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Virgin with baby and grapes in coloured Valgardena wood

This statue in maple wood is hand made by the Valgardena artisans, following the local artistic tradition.

The Madonna del Latte, who offers her breast to the Infant Jesus, or who tenderly breastfeeds him, expresses, on the one hand, the tenderness and intimacy of a mother who takes care of her child, but given the particular nature of this mother and this Child, the role of Mary as the Mother of God is also superimposed on it.

Subsequently, the depiction of the Madonna offering her own milk with her breasts uncovered was also used in other contexts, in which saints or prelates benefited from this gesture. In this case, the meaning of the image is to be found in the desire to underline the benevolence of the Virgin towards the character in question.

Again, the milk offered by Mary becomes a blessing and a relief for the souls in Purgatory.

In the Middle Ages, the image of the Madonna lactans was also used for the symbolic meaning of the transmission of wisdom from the Church to the people.

In any case, the iconography of the Virgin Mary offering milk takes on a symbolic and spiritual meaning, communicating messages of devotion, divine motherhood and intercession.

The cult of Madonna del Latte spread throughout Europe, especially in rural centres, where the figure of the Virgin had a substantial spiritual and emotional impact on people and where the element of milk assumed a symbolic-taumaturgical value. In Western Europe, ampoules containing Sacred Milk began to appear in churches, capable of great miracles, first of all to return the milk to childbirth. The veneration of the Virgin continued to grow, and the cult of the Madonna del Latte continued to strengthen, between iconographic representation and popular veneration.

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Mary cradling Baby 30cm Angela Tripi

Nativity scene figurine made by Italian artist Angela Tripi.

Motherhood in art

As already mentioned, the first representations of Our Lady of Milk appeared in Christianised Egypt, within the Coptic church. These were variants of the iconography of the Madonna and Child. Byzantine art absorbed these representations, defining the Madonna Galaktotrophousa (Nursing Madonna), one of the Marian titles used in the cataloguing of icons. When the Galaktotrophousa passed from the East to the West, however, despite its highly revered status, it did not align with the stylistic and aesthetic preferences of European artists. As representations of Our Lady of Milk spread and became popular, from 1300 the iconographer was transformed in increasingly incisive ways, moving from the stylised forms typical of icons to more realistic images, losing the frontal vision in favour of more dynamic and varied poses, both for the Virgin and for the Child.

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Sacred icons

In this category you will find hand-painted icons, antique and modern icons, screen printed, cross-shaped icons and icons with silver or gold inserts.

This change must also be sought in social causes. In the twelfth century, the Sacrament of Marriage was established, defining the role of the woman as a bride and mother, subordinate to her husband, yet committed to the education of children and the management of the home. In a sense, this rehabilitated the figure of the woman, until then associated with Eve and Original Sin, and the Marian cult obtained a great implementation, precisely thanks to the symbolism of the Mother and Child expressed in such a powerful, direct and capable way to move the interiority and emotionality of anyone who contemplated it. For this reason, Mary needed to lose her frivolity and inaccessible hieratic nature, to become more human, more true, closer to all the women and mothers who could recognise themselves in her and take her as a model. In fact, it was precisely among women that devotion to Madonna del Latte became more widespread, especially among mothers and women in labour, who turned to the Virgin for milk to feed their children and for the strength to protect them.

With the beginning of the Council of Trent in 1543, the Church had to review its position regarding iconographic representations, limiting those that could even marginally betray a sensual nature or distract the faithful from prayer. Many depictions of Madonna del Latte were retouched to address this problem and even renamed. Still, popular veneration did not cease, and the intimate maternal dimension of these images of Our Lady with the Child Jesus did not disappear.

Mary was not the only one to be represented in this way. In ancient Western art, there were milk-carrying saints, galactophores, that is, milk carriers, to whom young mothers and pregnant women turned. Saint Agata, Brigida, and Romana are just a few examples.

Madonne del latte: some paintings

Great artists have tried to immortalise the tenderness of Mary, the mother who breastfeeds the Child, a gesture that amalgamates earthly love and spirituality.
Very famous is the Byzantine icon of the Virgo lactans from Montevergine, which is exhibited in St. Peter’s Basilica during the end-of-year and January 1st celebrations.
The facade of the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere is adorned with a 13th-century mosaic depicting the Madonna enthroned while nursing the Child.
Around 1320, Ambrogio Lorenzetti revolutionised the iconography of the Madonna del latte by abandoning the austere lines and the hieratic Madonnas of the icons and representing the Virgin Mary gently looking at her son, and the Child, who sucks milk naturally.
Leonardo Da Vinci returned to the same subject in his Madonna Litta, depicting the Madonna and Child in the same position as in Ambrogio Lorenzetti’s work.
In Greccio, a 1409 fresco attributed to the Master of Narni combines the themes of the Madonna del Latte and the Nativity, placing the scene on the Holy Night and inserting the figure of Saint Joseph.

Prayer to Madonna del latte

During the New Year’s Mass 2024, Pope Francis reminded the faithful of the need to welcome the gift of women, to respect, protect and value every woman, as “those who injure a single woman profane God, born of a woman”. With these words, the Holy Father wished to recall the primacy of Mary, mother of Jesus, man and God. In an age of war and violence, it is to her that we must look, as an icon of peace, and with her to all women: “We need to look to mothers and women to find peace, to get out of the spirals of violence and hatred, and return to having human looks and hearts that see”.

Moreover, the Pontiff had already stressed on several occasions not only the importance of women and mothers, but also the naturalness of breastfeeding, which is holy and legitimate, re-establishing the sacred bond of motherhood and the figure of Madonne del latte. There is nothing simpler and more powerful than a mother who holds and breastfeeds her baby, in Pope Francis’ vision of the sacredness and beauty of daily life, in which the divine mystery is linked to the tangible and human reality of motherhood.

This is the prayer to be addressed to Madonna del latte:

Watch, O Queen of love and sorrow,
Bless, O Mary, all mothers,
Strengthen, O Mary, all mothers,
Sanctify, O Mary, all mothers.

Watch over grieving mothers.
Bless their joys and sorrows.
Strengthen them in their irreplaceable mission.
Sanctify them by giving them the Fruit of your womb.

Please, Lord:

For all the mothers who spend their lives,
day after day, in the service of their children,
and calmly face the “terrible daily life”,
so that
they find in you, the support and the strength to
continue even in moments of fatigue and mistrust

Please, Lord.

For all the mothers who weep
for mistakes and the falls of their children,
and suffer to feel them far away,
so that in faith they rediscover
the real reason for their complete dedication,
even in the hour of abandonment,

Please, Lord.

For all parents who,
distracted by multiple commitments,
risk forgetting
that words do not educate them,
but by example and consistency,
so that they find the courage to verify life
In light of Mary’s example,

Please, Lord.

Amen

With the towering lily-shaped structures carried on the shoulders of devotees, the Festival of the Lilies in Nola is a thrilling explosion of tradition and devotion.

What is the Festival of the Lilies and when is it celebrated?
Every year, on 22 June if it falls on a Sunday, or on the following Sunday, Nola celebrates its patron saint, Saint Paolino, with this magnificent event, which has been included since December 2013 in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The Festival of the Lilies in Nola is an explosion of tradition, devotion, and popular joy that takes place each year in the picturesque town in Campania. This celebration, with its towering lily-shaped structures carried on the shoulders of the faithful, is a true display of faith and community pride.
It is not the only patronal festival offered by Southern Italy, especially in the summer months. Among the five most famous patronal festivals are the Feast of San Gennaro in Naples, San Nicola in Bari, Sant’Agata in Catania, San Giovanni in Salerno, and San Biagio in Ragusa.
However, it is particularly in the Sicilian summer that a wide selection of patronal festivals takes place, with ten major celebrations lighting up towns with processions, fireworks, and moments of great joy. These include the festival of Santa Rosalia, patron saint of Palermo, of San Giuseppe in Cefalù, of San Vito in Mazara del Vallo, and many others that fully represent the festive and colourful spirit of the Sicilian summer. These festivals enchant visitors, offering them the opportunity to immerse themselves in local traditions and to experience the hospitality and joy that permeate the South of our country.

Returning to Nola and the Festival of the Lilies, the event takes its name from the “Gigli” – the processional structures – a testament to an ancient and extraordinary art, known precisely as the Lilies of Nola. These are imposing, dancing obelisks made of wood, clay, and brightly coloured papier-mâché, towering over twenty metres high, and carried by groups of bearers.
These bearers, with surprising strength and skill, transport the obelisks through the streets of the town, giving life to a truly unique spectacle.

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Processional canopies

A selection of processional canopies in different styles and models.

The Festival of the Lilies in Nola is a manifestation of religious devotion that has its roots in the city’s ancient history. The Lilies of Nola represent a symbol of faith and unity for the local community, which participates with enthusiasm in the construction of the structures and the organisation of the event. This unique and fascinating tradition continues to attract visitors from around the world, captivated by its beauty and deep spirituality.

When did the Festival of the Lilies in Nola begin?

The Festival of the Lilies in Nola is a traditional celebration that has ancient origins. It is believed that the Lilies originate from the “majo” tree – a large tree symbolising fertility used in ancient pagan rites before the advent of Christianity.
The Festival of the Lilies, as we know it today, is deeply felt and firmly rooted in the culture of the city of Nola. Its origins date back to 410 AD, when Nola was invaded by the Vandals. The city was plundered and many of its inhabitants were captured and deported as slaves. Among them was the then bishop of Nola, Pontius Meropius Anicius Paolino.
With the Festival of the Lilies, Nola commemorates its liberation, honouring the saint and parading the Lilies created in his memory. This is how the Festival of the Lily – or of the Lilies – was born.

What are the Lilies of Nola?

The Lilies of Nola are enormous wooden structures representing towers in the shape of lilies. They are carefully and skilfully built by local craftsmen, who dedicate several months to their construction.
Each Lily is approximately 25 metres tall and weighs several tonnes. Made of papier-mâché and clay, they are constructed around the “borda”, a central beam that supports all structural elements and ensures maximum stability. The structure consists of a robust wooden frame, and the papier-mâché is painted and decorated with flowers, ribbons, and religious symbols.
There are eight Lilies of Nola, named after the ancient guilds of arts and crafts: Greengrocer, Delicatessen Seller, Wine Vendor, Baker, Boat, Butcher, Shoemaker, Blacksmith, and Tailor.
The construction of the Lilies of Nola involves the entire community. Each neighbourhood in the town has its own Lily, and residents come together to work on its preparation. It is a time of great unity and sharing, where artistic and manual skills are passed down from generation to generation.
The Festival of the Lilies begins with a solemn procession through the streets of Nola, led by the principal Lily, dedicated to Saint Paolino.
The wooden tower is carried on the shoulders of the bearers, called “cullatori” – a name derived from the rocking motion they make as they move, similar to cradling. The collective of cullatori who take turns bearing the tower throughout the route is called a “paranza”, each made up of 128 “paranzari”, who must demonstrate great strength and skill in carrying the Lily.
The cullatori lift and manoeuvre the Lilies using special wooden beams known as “varre” and “varretielli”.

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Fiberglass statues

Fiberglass statues. Religious statues entirely made in Italy and hand-painted with oil colours

The procession is accompanied by a brass band and traditional songs. The streets of Nola fill with spectators and worshippers who witness the grandeur of the Lilies and take part in the religious devotion.
The festival continues throughout the day, with prayers, celebrations, and communal moments.
In addition to the eight Lilies, the “Boat” is also carried in procession – another magnificent scenic structure that commemorates Saint Paolino’s return to Nola by sea.

The story of Saint Paolino of Nola

Saint Paolino of Nola, born Meropius, came into the world in Bordeaux, France, in the 4th century. He was a bishop and Christian saint, known for his great generosity and dedication to the most needy.
He not only gave away all his possessions to ransom the inhabitants of Nola who had been taken prisoner by the barbarians and to support families fallen into hardship, but he also offered himself as a prisoner to free the son of a widow who had been sent to Africa as a slave to the king’s court.
There, Paolino pretended to be a gardener and managed to win everyone’s favour – even the king’s – thanks to his kind heart and prophetic abilities.
When the king discovered that his gardener was in fact a bishop, he immediately released him – along with all the prisoners from Nola.
The townspeople welcomed the bishop and the freed captives with joy and gave Paolino a lily as a symbol of their happiness. For this reason, every year the city of Nola renews its devotion to Saint Paolino through the Festival of the Lilies, bearing witness to the deep faith and unbreakable bond between the people of Nola and their patron saint.

On 17 February, the Church commemorates the Seven Holy Founders of the Order of the Servants of Mary, who renounced everything to consecrate their lives to the Virgin and to charity.

The Seven Holy Founders of the Order of the Servants of Mary were seven Florentine gentlemen, wealthy merchants, who chose to abandon a life of comfort and riches in order to devote themselves entirely to penance, contemplation, and devotion to the Virgin Mary. A decision made even more courageous and extraordinary by the time in which these men lived, at the beginning of the thirteenth century, when the Florentine Republic was shaken by fratricidal wars and the pursuit of profit, even at the expense of oppressing the weak, seemed to be the only law for many. It is likely that these seven men were influenced by the great mendicant orders, such as the Franciscans and the Dominicans, but also by the Benedictine monks of Camaldoli, the Abbey of Vallombrosa, and Cluny. Moreover, the Seven Holy Founders were already members of a lay company of laudesi devoted to the Blessed Virgin, the Company of the Servants of Saint Mary, one of the confraternities present in Florence at that time, dedicated to works of charity and penance. Indeed, their first act as a new order was to leave their homes and possessions and give all their goods to the poor.

Documents from the time show that in 1233, the Seven Holy Founders decided to abandon their activities in order to embrace communal life and dedicate themselves to Mary Most Holy, Mother of God. Initially, they chose as their place of retreat Cafaggio, a rural area where there stood a small oratory in which the seven men would stop to pray together after their almsgathering. Soon they began to repair the adjoining hospice, so as to be able to welcome new brothers. Later, on the ruins of this oratory, the Basilica of the Most Holy Annunciation would arise. In 1234, Bishop Ardingo Foraboschi wished to offer the confraternity a piece of land on Monte Senario. Here they began to build huts on the ruins of an ancient castle, which became their cells, and a small church dedicated to Our Lady.

In 1239, Cardinal Goffredo Castiglioni, who would become Pope under the name Celestine IV, assigned to them the Rule of Saint Augustine, a point of reference in monastic life for countless communities from the fifth century onwards. Initially, the name chosen for the community was Company of Our Lady of Sorrows, but one day, while two of them were returning to Monte Senario from Florence, a child saw them and said that they looked like two servants of Mary. From this came the new name.

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Our Lady of Sorrows statue with gold detailing resin 20 cm

Statue depicting Our Lady of Sorrows, an image linked to the 7 pains she faced in the Gospels.

Soon the fame of the order spread beyond Tuscany, into Umbria, Emilia, and even Germany, and many other men joined the Holy Founders, creating communities similar to that of Monte Senario. However, in 1274, the Second Council of Lyon issued a decree announcing the suppression of all religious orders founded after the Fourth Lateran Council of 1215, unless they had obtained papal confirmation, and the natural extinction of those which, although having received it, did not show a clear usefulness for the universal Church. Philip Benizi, a young man of twenty-one who would become the future Prior General, worked tirelessly and succeeded in obtaining papal recognition, thus saving the Order.

In 1304, Pope Benedict XI officially approved the Rule and the Constitutions of the Servants of Mary.

The Order experienced alternating fortunes due to the Protestant Reformation, also taking part in the Council of Trent. New convents were opened in Germany and Spain. In 1652, Pope Innocent X imposed a forced reform on all religious orders, and several convents of the Servants of Mary were closed.

At the beginning of the eighteenth century, the Order reached its greatest development, both in the number of convents and of brothers, but by the end of the same century many places of worship were closed and the brothers were dispersed. Only in the twentieth century was there a new expansion of the Servants of Mary, now spread throughout the world.

On 30 July 1725, Pope Benedict XIII confirmed the cult of some of the Seven Holy Founders, but only on 15 January 1888 were they all canonised by Pope Leo XIII, and their common feast fixed for 17 February.

The Seven Founders were canonised simply with their names: Bonfiglio, Bonagiunta, Manetto, Uguccione, Amadio, Sostegno, and Alessio. Their remains lie all together in a tomb on Monte Senario.

Who were the Seven Holy Founders

But who were the Seven Holy Founders? In reality, there are very few documents concerning the life and work of these men.

Bonfiglio Monaldi was the founder and leader of the lay group, and later the first Prior of the Order of the Servants of Mary. His recurring iconography shows him accompanied by a dove resting on his shoulder, symbol of the Holy Spirit. In him, more than in his brothers, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit were greatly manifested. He was also endowed with great charisma, which made him a natural leader and contributed to the fame of the community and the ever-increasing influx of new penitents. He died on 1 January 1262.

Bonagiunta Manetti distinguished himself by his austerity and rigour. Severe and uncompromising towards himself, he at the same time showed gentleness, kindness, and understanding towards others. He held the prestigious office of Prior General of the Servants of Mary in the brief period between 1256 and 1257. Because of his tireless defence of truth and justice, he was the target of an attempted poisoning, but divine providence saved him from this danger. His earthly life came to an end on 31 August 1267.

Manetto dell’Antella was also Prior General of the Order of the Servants of Mary. A man endowed with remarkable organisational and leadership abilities, he brought the Order into France. It is believed that Manetto dell’Antella died on 20 August 1268.

Among the group of the Seven Holy Founders of the Order of the Servants of Mary, Saint Amadio was the richest in charity and love. His very name suggested it: Ama-Dio (Love God). That love warmed all who were close to him, first and foremost his fellow brothers. Saint Amadio passed away on 18 April 1266.

Saint Sostegno Sostegni was bound by a deep friendship with Saint Uguccione. Not by chance are the two always depicted together, and they have become a symbol of fraternity and friendship inspired by God. They also died on the same day, 3 May 1282.

Belonging to the Falconieri family and uncle of Saint Juliana, Saint Alessio distinguished himself as a shining example of humility. Pure and devout, his very existence was a praise to God. He devoted himself enthusiastically to almsgiving, collecting money to support his brothers sent to study at the Sorbonne in Paris. His life came to an end at the age of 110, on 17 February 1310.

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Prayer to the Seven Holy Founders of the Order of the Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, who in the perpetual remembrance of the sorrows of your most holy Mother, through the seven holy Fathers, enriched your Church with the new family of the Servants of Mary; grant to us, your servants, who dwell in this valley of tears, to be united to the sufferings of your most sorrowful Mother, so that we may merit to become partakers of everlasting consolation in heaven.

You who live and reign for ever and ever.

Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.

Amen.

Seven Holy Founders of the Order of the Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us.

Saint Francesco Antonio Fasani, a theologian and a man of great heart and charity, is also remembered for several miracles related to water and rain. That’s why he is invoked in times of drought.

A saint to pray to for rain? It might sound like a strange image, not quite fitting for the figure of a saint… Yet, in these days of scorching heat and drought, it would be comforting to have someone to turn to for a bit of relief—and especially to bring some respite to the many crops suffering from the lack of water. That’s where Saint Francesco Antonio Fasani comes in, also known—after earning his degree in theology—as the “Padre Maestro” (Master Father). But who was this humble man, deeply devoted to the Immaculate Virgin Mary, to whom many miracles have been attributed, including, indeed, the power to call down rain?

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Saint Francesco Antonio Fasani was born in Lucera, in Puglia, in 1681, and spent most of his life there as a member of the Order of Conventual Franciscan Friars, eventually becoming the Superior of the monastery. It is said that on the day of his birth, a strange light enveloped the humble home of his family, making it clear from the beginning to his fellow citizens that this was no ordinary man. Gentle and mild by nature, Giovanniello (as he was called as a child) showed from a very young age a strong inclination toward religion, the monastic life, and especially devotion to the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Throughout his life, he was deeply committed to others—particularly the poor and needy. He studied theology in Assisi, but above all devoted himself to charitable works, such as soup kitchens for the poor and gathering money and goods for the unfortunate. He never hesitated to defend the weak against the powerful, even when doing so earned him enemies who tried repeatedly to discredit him. But with his humility and kindness, Saint Francesco always managed to prove his innocence and have his virtues recognized.

As for the miracle of rain—which made him one of the saints invoked in times of drought—it was just one of many miracles attributed to him, ultimately leading to his canonization, which was proclaimed by Pope John Paul II in 1986 after a lengthy process. One day, during a long drought that was devastating the crops in Lucera, the Padre Maestro approached Duke Orazio Zunica to ask for alms for the poor. The Duke and his wife promised that if he could bring rain to Lucera, they would make a generous donation to the needy. Saint Francesco agreed, returned to the monastery, and locked himself in prayer before the Tabernacle and the altar of the Immaculate Virgin. Those who saw him claimed that at one point, he levitated in a kind of mystical trance. That very night, the rain came and lasted for several days, saving the crops. The Duke kept his promise and openly declared his belief that this must truly be the saint of rain.

Another miracle involving water and attributed to Saint Francesco Antonio Fasani concerned a convent of nuns who could no longer provide water to the poor because their well had dried up. The Saint told one of the sisters to draw water—and she discovered that the well had been miraculously refilled. The same happened with the cistern at the convent of San Francesco, where the Saint lived. For these reasons, Saint Francesco Antonio Fasani is still prayed to today in times of drought to ask for rain.

The Basilica-Sanctuary of Saint Francesco Antonio Fasani

The Church of Saint Francis of Assisi in the main square of Lucera has always been one of the town’s most important places of worship. More than 15 years after Saint Francesco Antonio Fasani’s canonization, in 2001 the church was declared the Diocesan Sanctuary of Saint Francesco Antonio Fasani. But even before that, it was a destination for frequent pilgrimages by the faithful, who came to pray before the Saint’s wax-covered remains, displayed in a crystal and bronze case beneath the main altar. In fact, in 1951 Pope Pius XII had declared Saint Francesco Antonio blessed and had his remains transferred to the church. In 2008, the basilica was also designated a “Monument Witness to a Culture of Peace” by UNESCO. The house on Via Torretta where the Saint was born was converted into an oratory and is now visited by many pilgrims.

Devotion to the Immaculate Conception

Saint Francesco Antonio Fasani was always deeply devoted to the Immaculate Virgin Mary. From childhood, he prayed the Rosary before an image of the Immaculate with his family, and as he grew older, his love for Mary in this form became so profound that he earned the nickname “Sinner of the Immaculate”—even though the Catholic dogma of the Immaculate Conception would not be proclaimed until much later, in 1854. It is said that it was the Virgin herself—whose holy cards he gave to children—who guided him in the many miraculous healings in which he took part. Today, in the Church of Saint Francis dedicated to him, there is a statue of the Immaculate that he had brought from Naples. He used to pray in front of it, and it is now the center of great devotion. The image of the Immaculate was also painted on the door of his cell, and to her Saint Francesco dedicated prayers and songs, including:
“…Among all pure creatures, you, Mary, are the most perfect; you alone are called blessed among women: O Immaculate Conception. Let everyone say she is to be praised, the Queen of Heaven, the Immaculate!”

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The statue represents Mother Mary in a white dress and a blue cloak

Patron Saints for Rain

Saint Francesco Antonio Fasani is not the only saint to be invoked in times of drought. Just as in ancient times people turned to the gods for help in everyday life, so too with the spread of Christianity did popular devotion turn to the saints, who became patrons and protectors of various aspects of life and work. There is no shortage of saints associated with climatic events, to be called upon for protection for oneself and one’s crops, in times of drought, floods, or hail. Let’s take a look at some of them:

Saint Gemolo

On February 4, the Church celebrates Saint Gemolo, a martyr who lived around the year 1000. According to legend, he was the nephew of a bishop and went to confront some bandits who had robbed his uncle, demanding the return of the stolen goods in the name of God and the Apostles Peter and Paul. The bandits refused, and when they asked if he would be willing to die in the name of those same saints, he said yes—so they beheaded him. Gemolo then picked up his own head, got back on his horse, and returned to his uncle, dying in his arms. At the place where he died, a spring appeared, scattered with small red stones believed to be drops of the young martyr’s blood. In the 14th century, an oratory was built nearby in his honor, and another spring emerged. From that moment, pilgrims associated Gemolo with rain, and in the centuries that followed, people came from Piedmont and Lombardy to collect water from his spring and sprinkle it over their fields to protect their crops from drought.

Saint Anthony

One day, Saint Anthony of Padua was preaching in Limoges, France, outdoors, as the huge crowd of faithful could not be accommodated indoors. Suddenly the sky filled with rain clouds, but the Saint assured the people that it would not rain. Rain did fall—but miraculously, the crowd gathered to hear Saint Anthony remained dry.

Saint George, the Saint of Hail

Saint Cristanziano, Saint Vittorio of Caesarea, Saint Lucio of Cavargna, and Saint Dominic of Sora are just a few of the saints to invoke in case of hail. But Saint George—prince of Cappadocia, martyr, and patron of knights—is especially associated with hail because his feast day falls at the end of April, a month known for unstable weather. He is thus known as the Saint of Hail or the Knight of the Cold.

Saint James

When the heat is unbearable in July, prayers are said to Saint James, whose feast day falls on July 25. The hottest days, from July 22 to August 23, are called the “dog days” from the Latin canicula, “little dog,” a nickname for the star Sirius.

Saint Sabina

A Christian martyr of the 2nd century, Saint Sabina is prayed to both as a protector against violent rain and as an intercessor in times of drought. Her feast day is August 29.

Icon of Saint George with red mantle
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Saint James Apostle Statue, 30 cm in colored resin
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Saint Sabina with palm and book in painted maple wood of Valgardena
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