The Faith places in Abruzzo

The Science of the Miracle in Lanciano (CH)

The Prodigious Spring - Pescosansonesco (PE)

The Veronica of Christ - Manoppello (PE)

The staircase to the Divine forgiveness - Campli (TE)

On the road to San Francesco - Isola del Gran Sasso D'Italia (TE)

Isola del Gran Sasso (TE) - Santuario di San Gabriele

Continuity of the Faith Places
THE CONTINUITY OF THE ANCIENT WORLD FROM PREHISTORY TO INDUSTRIALISATION

The Faith Places in Abruzzo

Sacradness of Caves

Rock painting in the heremitages

The Faith places in Abruzzo

The religion of the Italic people was simple and essential and had been refusing for centuries the philosophies, utopias and religions coming from the East.

Even Christianity, become popular in towns since the first centuries, could spread in this agricultural-pastoral world rather late, only between the VII and VIII centuries. Of course it was not possible to change traditions and rites. The church preferred to accept and insert itself in the traditional places of cult, adapting the ancient pagan rites to the new religion.

Sacradness of caves

The caves became homes and consequently holy places due to the necessity of the people to settle near the places where they worked. Presently these caves keep the sacral connotations since the Saints brought from Christianity added to the primeval gods. This is the case of St. Archangel Michael who replaced Hercules, worshipped by the ancient shepherd-warriors, both as a warrior against the devil and having the same image, with the sword lifted in the act of striking, while Hercules handling a club.

Rock painting in the hermitages

Rock paintings have recently been found in Abruzzo.

The most ancient rock paintings go back to the neolithic period and represent religious subjects painted with red ochre (praying figures, priests etc). other rock paintings go back to the bronze- iron

Period painted with charcoal and represent above all battles.

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THE SCIENCE OF THE MIRACLE
LANCIANO (CH)

The city of Lanciano, for over twelve centuries, has preserved the first eucharistic miracle acknowledged by the Catholic Church. The extraordinary prodigy took place in the 7th century in St. Legonziano’s church. The officiant had doubts about the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament. During the celebration of the Mass the monk could witness the transformation of the host into living flesh of the wine into living blood which glotted becoming five blood cells of different shaped and size. There have been many analysis made by ecclesiastical authorities and scientists and the results complete with photos at the microscope demonstrate that the flesh is real flesh and the blood is real blood and both of them belong to the human species and to the same blood group. The Host of brown colour is kept in a precious silver ostensory of Neapolitan school. The coagulated blood is yellow ochre and is contained in an ancient ampulla made of rock crystal. Recently the Eucharistic miracle is preserved in St. Francesco’s church built in the 13th century. The sanctuary can receive handicapped pilgrims.

How to reach the Sanctuary: A14 exit Lanciano, then follow the signs leading to the Sanctuary.

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"Folli di Maria"

Casalbordino (CH)

The religious fervour linked to the cult of the sanctuary of Madonna dei miracoli in the suburbs of Casalbordino attracted even D’annunzio’s genius who described the fanatism and religiosity in his novel The Triumph of Death.

In 1576 a believer is told to go and check his field after a big storm. On the way he heard the bells announcing the consecration of the holy mass. The believer knelt and worshipped our Lord. Just then The Virgin Mary appeared to him and a living light surrounded all the wood, wet by rain. The Virgin spoke to the man and said that men’s sins caused the violent storm of the preceding day and gave him a message for the priest of the nearby town of Pollutri. He had to preach the sanctification of the holy days often neglected by the parishioners busy with the labours in their fields. She also told him that his field had not been spoiled. The same year a chapel was built in the place where the Virgin had appeared.

The Virgin is celebrated from 9 to 15 June with processions singing religious songs.

How to reach the sanctuary: A14 exit Vasto nord – Casalbordino. Follow the signs

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THE PRODIGIOUS SPRING OF PESCOSANSONESCO (PE)

The sanctuary of the Blessed Nunzio Sulprizio, with a miraculous fountain, was built below a rock. Nunzio Sulprizio was born in Pecosansonesco at the beginning of the 19th century in a modest family. As he was made an orphan he spent his childhood with his motherly grandmother who educated him to pray and behave himself. When his granny died, he was compelled to live with an uncle of his who was violent and intoxicate. As he was treated cruelly the boy went to live in the outskirts of the village near a big reddish rock from which clear and fresh water sprang. Here he used to wash a bad wound he had in his ankle which had become a sore.

After an admission to hospital in l’Aquila a soldier uncle took him to Naples where another officer took care of him. The young boy died at the age of nineteen loved by many Neapolitan believers who named him “Our little Saint”. They say that after his death, during some apparitions, the Venerable spoke and radiated a scent coming from his sore. Pope John XXIII decreed him to be the protector of the workers and in 1963 Pope Paul VI beatified him. The celebrations in honour of the Blessed Nunzio take place in May the fifth.

How to reach the sanctuary

A25 exit Casauria-Torre dei Passeri. Follow the signs.

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THE VERONICA OF CHRIST
MANOPPELLO (PE)

The sanctuary of the Holy Image in Manoppello has been place of cult for about five centuries for hundreds of thousands of believers. It is said that in 1506 an angel gave Giacomo Antonio Leonello a bundle begging him to give that devotion which would bring everybody peace and well being. When the man opened the bundle, he could see the sore image of Jesus impressed on a flimsy veil. At present the veil is kept between two glasses. The image is perfectly visible and its expression can’t be reproduced by human hand. It seems to be an apparition. In fact the expression of the face shows a deeply human and mysteriously intensity.

In 1718 Pope Clemente XI accorded plenary indulgence to all the pilgrims who went to visit the sanctuary. At present the sanctuary is run by the Minor Cappuccini Friars. The Holy Image is celebrated on the second Sunday of May.

How to get there: A 25 exit Alanno-Scafa. Follow the sign to the sanctuary

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THE STAIRCASE TO THE DIVINE FORGIVENESS CAMPLI (TE)

Pope Clemente XIV ascribed thed priviledge of the Holy staircase to the city of Campli in 1772 thanks to the lawyer Giampalma Palma.

The staircase is made of 28 oak steps which the penitent must climb on his knees in order to receive the absolution from his sins. On the walls there are paintings of the eighteen century representing the most important moments od the Passion of Christ. On top of the staircase we find the Sancta Sanctorum with the author and the painting of the Redeemer

Who makes the believer free from the sins and the frescoes of Pope Clemente and St. Elena. Now the believer purified in his soul can come down again walking.

The religious of the Holy Staircase is very important because, according to the tradition, it was Jesus who going up and down fro Pilate’s praetorium consecrated the stones of the steps with his own blood.

How to reach Campli: Motorway to Teramo (A24 from Rome or A14 rom Pescara) Follow main road 81 to Campli

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ON THE ROAD TO SAN FRANCESCO
ISOLA DEL GRAN SASSO D'ITALIA (TE)

St. Gabriel of our lady of sorrows is one of the most popular saints in the world. Every year 2.000 pilgrims visit His sanctuary situated at the foot of Gran Sasso Mountain. Francesco was born in Assisi in 1838 and, after remaining motherless, he moved to Spoleto (PG) with his family. Here he spent his light-hearted adolescence studying with profit but without disregarding his Christian duty.

During a procession of the Sacra Icona of Spoleto he decided to take vows and in 1856, in September, he entered the novitiate of the Passionists in Morrovalle (MC) and became Gabriel of our Lady of Sorrows.

He spent his last years in the little monastery in Isola del Gran Sasso where he died of tuberculosis at the age of 24.

In 1892, when his mortal remains were exhumed, the first prodigies began to come true. He was beautified by Pope Pio X and sanctified by Pope Benedetto XV in 1920. Six years later Pope John 23 made him Patron of ABRUZZO. The sactuary of St Gabriel was builton the ramins of an ancient monastery founded in 1216 after a visit by St Francesco D’Assisi. On the 27th of February a liturgical feast in honour of the Saint is celebrated and a popular feast takes place on the last Sundays of August.

How to reach the sanctuary: A24 exit St Gabriel and then follow the route signs.

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Continuity of the Faith Places THE CONTINUITY OF THE ANCIENT WORLD FROM PREHISTORY TO INDUSTRIALISATION

The Faith Places in Abruzzo Sacradness of Caves Rock painting in the heremitages
The Faith places in Abruzzo The religion of the Italic people was simple and essential and had been refusing for centuries the philosophies, utopias and religions coming from the East. Even Christianity, become popular in towns since the first centuries, could spread in this agricultural-pastoral world rather late, only between the VII and VIII centuries. Of course it was not possible to change traditions and rites. The church preferred to accept and insert itself in the traditional places of cult, adapting the ancient pagan rites to the new religion. Sacradness of caves The caves became homes and consequently holy places due to the necessity of the people to settle near the places where they worked. Presently these caves keep the sacral connotations since the Saints brought from Christianity added to the primeval gods. This is the case of St. Archangel Michael who replaced Hercules, worshipped by the ancient shepherd-warriors, both as a warrior against the devil and having the same image, with the sword lifted in the act of striking, while Hercules handling a club. Rock painting in the hermitages Rock paintings have recently been found in Abruzzo. The most ancient rock paintings go back to the neolithic period and represent religious subjects painted with red ochre (praying figures, priests etc). other rock paintings go back to the bronze- iron Period painted with charcoal and represent above all battles.

THE PRODIGIOUS SPRING OF PESCOSANSONESCO (PE)
The sanctuary of the Blessed Nunzio Sulprizio, with a miraculous fountain, was built below a rock. Nunzio Sulprizio was born in Pecosansonesco at the beginning of the 19th century in a modest family. As he was made an orphan he spent his childhood with his motherly grandmother who educated him to pray and behave himself. When his granny died, he was compelled to live with an uncle of his who was violent and intoxicate. As he was treated cruelly the boy went to live in the outskirts of the village near a big reddish rock from which clear and fresh water sprang. Here he used to wash a bad wound he had in his ankle which had become a sore. After an admission to hospital in l’Aquila a soldier uncle took him to Naples where another officer took care of him. The young boy died at the age of nineteen loved by many Neapolitan believers who named him “Our little Saint”. They say that after his death, during some apparitions, the Venerable spoke and radiated a scent coming from his sore. Pope John XXIII decreed him to be the protector of the workers and in 1963 Pope Paul VI beatified him. The celebrations in honour of the Blessed Nunzio take place in May the fifth. How to reach the sanctuary A25 exit Casauria-Torre dei Passeri. Follow the signs.

THE VERONICA OF CHRIST MANOPPELLO (PE)
The sanctuary of the Holy Image in Manoppello has been place of cult for about five centuries for hundreds of thousands of believers. It is said that in 1506 an angel gave Giacomo Antonio Leonello a bundle begging him to give that devotion which would bring everybody peace and well being. When the man opened the bundle, he could see the sore image of Jesus impressed on a flimsy veil. At present the veil is kept between two glasses. The image is perfectly visible and its expression can’t be reproduced by human hand. It seems to be an apparition. In fact the expression of the face shows a deeply human and mysteriously intensity. In 1718 Pope Clemente XI accorded plenary indulgence to all the pilgrims who went to visit the sanctuary. At present the sanctuary is run by the Minor Cappuccini Friars. The Holy Image is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. How to get there: A 25 exit Alanno-Scafa. Follow the sign to the sanctuary

THE STAIRCASE TO THE DIVINE FORGIVENESS CAMPLI (TE)
Pope Clemente XIV ascribed thed priviledge of the Holy staircase to the city of Campli in 1772 thanks to the lawyer Giampalma Palma. The staircase is made of 28 oak steps which the penitent must climb on his knees in order to receive the absolution from his sins. On the walls there are paintings of the eighteen century representing the most important moments od the Passion of Christ. On top of the staircase we find the Sancta Sanctorum with the author and the painting of the Redeemer Who makes the believer free from the sins and the frescoes of Pope Clemente and St. Elena. Now the believer purified in his soul can come down again walking. The religious of the Holy Staircase is very important because, according to the tradition, it was Jesus who going up and down fro Pilate’s praetorium consecrated the stones of the steps with his own blood. How to reach Campli: Motorway to Teramo (A24 from Rome or A14 rom Pescara) Follow main road 81 to Campli

ON THE ROAD TO SAN FRANCESCO ISOLA DEL GRAN SASSO D'ITALIA (TE)
St. Gabriel of our lady of sorrows is one of the most popular saints in the world. Every year 2.000 pilgrims visit His sanctuary situated at the foot of Gran Sasso Mountain. Francesco was born in Assisi in 1838 and, after remaining motherless, he moved to Spoleto (PG) with his family. Here he spent his light-hearted adolescence studying with profit but without disregarding his Christian duty. During a procession of the Sacra Icona of Spoleto he decided to take vows and in 1856, in September, he entered the novitiate of the Passionists in Morrovalle (MC) and became Gabriel of our Lady of Sorrows. He spent his last years in the little monastery in Isola del Gran Sasso where he died of tuberculosis at the age of 24. In 1892, when his mortal remains were exhumed, the first prodigies began to come true. He was beautified by Pope Pio X and sanctified by Pope Benedetto XV in 1920. Six years later Pope John 23 made him Patron of ABRUZZO. The sactuary of St Gabriel was builton the ramins of an ancient monastery founded in 1216 after a visit by St Francesco D’Assisi. On the 27th of February a liturgical feast in honour of the Saint is celebrated and a popular feast takes place on the last Sundays of August. How to reach the sanctuary: A24 exit St Gabriel and then follow the route signs.