Montichiari - Fontanelle

Apparitions of Our Lady - Rosa Mystica

"This will be My Hour of Grace"

 1947 - 1976

The apparitions of Our Blessed Mother under the title of "Rosa Mystica" (Mystical Rose) at Montichiari in Northern Italy to a humble Italian woman, Pierina Gilli, have great significance for our times. The original purpose of these appearances of Our Blessed Mother was the reform of the clergy and religious houses. By appearing with the two children of Fatima, Francisco and Jacinta, on December 7, 1947, (the sixth apparition) in the parish church, she showed that her appearance under the title of "Rosa Mystica" was a continuation of the message of Fatima. She once again urged us to pray the Rosary and do penance.

First apparition in spring of 1947:

Pierina Guilli was born on August 3, 1911, at Montichiari and worked as a nurse in the hospital there. The first time the dear Mother of Christ appeared to her was in a room of the hospital in the spring of 1947. Our Lady, a beautiful woman, wore a violet dress with a white veil around her head. She was very sad, her eyes were filled with tears, which fell to the floor. Her breast was pierced by three big swords. Our Lady said, "Prayer ­ Penitence ­ Expiation" and was silent.

Second apparition on July 13, 1947:

This time Our Lady appeared in a white dress and was adorned with three beautiful roses: white, red, and yellow, which Pierina was allowed to see in place of the swords. The white rose represented the spirit of prayer, the red one represented the spirit of sacrifice, and the yellow rose the spirit of penance and conversion. Our Lady said: " I am the Mother of Jesus and the Mother of all of you. Our Lord sends me to bring you a new Marian devotion to all religious orders and institutes, male and female, and to the priests of the world. I promise to protect those religious orders and institutes who will venerate me in this special way, increase their vocations, and achieve a greater striving for saintliness among the servants of God." Our Lady also requested that the 13th of each month be celebrated as a Marian day. Special prayers are to be said during the proceeding twelve days. Our Lady requested that the 13th of July be celebrated each year in honor of her, the Rosa Mystica (Mystical Rose). She called herself mysterious or mystical rose and asked people to repent for sins against faith and morals.

Third Apparition on 22nd October, 1947:

Pierina saw Our Lady again in the chapel of the hospital, in the presence of many staff members, doctors, and people from the town. This time, Our Lady requested that the desired devotion be realized, and said: I have placed myself as the mediatrix between my Divine son and mankind, especially for the soul consecrated to God. Tired of the continuous offenses, He already wanted to dispense His justice.
Pierina thanked Our Lady in the name of all present. Our Lady finished Her dialogue with the words; Live out of love!

Fourth Apparition on 16th November, 1947:

Our Lady appeared in the Basilica of Montichiari in the presence of some people. Among them were several priests. Pierina heard the words: Our Lord can no longer watch the many grievous sins against purity. He wants to send a flood of punishments. I have interceded that He may be merciful once more! Therefore, I ask for prayer and penance to atone for these sins.Pierina replied to Our Lady’s request with a willing "Yes". The Blessed Virgin added: I lovingly ask the priest to express their great love and stop the people from committing those sins. Whoever will atone for those sins, will receive my blessing and graces.In reply the seer’s question whether we may hope for forgiveness, Our Lady said: Yes, as long as these sins are no longer committed. With these words She went away.

Fifth Apparition on 22nd November, 1947:

Our Lady appeared once more to Pierina in the Basilica of Montichiari in the presence of several people, and demanded that the seer make four times the Sign of the Cross with her tongue on the tiles in the center of the church. Our Lady then descended onto the spot and said: I descend on this place, for many great conversions will happen here. And in a sad voice She continued: The Christians of your Italian nation belong to those who offend most my Divine Son Jesus through their sins of unchastity. Our Lord demands, therefore, PRAYER, GENEROUS SACRIFICES, AND PENANCE. Pierina asked: "What do we have to do to fulfill your demands for prayer and penance?" Our Lady replied full of tenderness: Prayer. After a short, silent pause, She explained: Penance means to accept every day all the little crosses and the duties too, in the spirit of penance. Thereupon She promised solemnly: On the 8th December, at noon, I shall appear again here in the Basilica. IT WILL BE THE HOUR OF GRACE. Pierina asked: "Please explain to me the meaning of Hour of Grace". This Hour of Grace will produce great and numerous conversions. Hardened and cold hearts resembling this marble will be touched by divine Grace, and they will become faithful to Our Lord in loyal love. This was the only time that Our Lady announced Her next appearance. All other apparitions came unannounced.

Sixth Apparition on 7th December, 1947:

Our Blessed Virgin appeared once more at the Basilica of Montichiari Three people were present including the father confessor of the seer. Our Lady, the Mystical Rose, wore a white cloak which was held by a boy at the right-hand side, and by a girl on the left-hand side.
Our Lady said: I shall show my heart tomorrow of which the people know so little. In Fatima I asked that the devotion to my heart be spread. And with an ever sweeter voice She went on: I wanted to bring my heart into Christian families in Bonate: (near Bergamo, Italy) and after a brief pause She added: Here, in Montichiari, I wish to be venerated as the ROSA MYSTICA as already indicated so often, together with the devotion to my heart which must be specially practiced in religious institutes so that they may obtain more graces through my motherly heart. Our Lady then confided a secret to Pierina with the promise that She would tell her the time for the secret to be made public. Pierina also wanted to know who the children were. Our Lady replied: Jacinta and Francisco; they will help you in your trials and suffering. They too, suffered. I wish from you the simplicity and goodness of these two children. Our Lady then spread out Her arms as a sign of Her protection, lifted Her eyes to Heaven and disappeared with the words: Praised be the Lord!

Seventh Apparition on 8th December, 1947:

On this great feast countless priest were present. It was only with a great deal of effort that Pierina was able to get into the Basilica. She knelt in the center of the church, just where the other apparitions had taken place. During the recitation of the Holy Rosary, Pierina called out: "O, Our Lady!" Great silence ensued! Our Lady appeared on a large white staircase, decorated with a white, red and yellow rose. She said with a smile: I am the Immaculate Conception. And descending several steps with great majesty She continued: I am Mary, full of grace, Mother of My Divine Son Jesus Christ. Descending even more, She said: Through my coming to Montichiari, I which to be known as the ROSA MYSTICA It is my wish that every year, on 8th December, at noon, the HOUR OF GRACE FOR THE WORLD be celebrated . Many divine and bodily graces will be received through this devotion. Our Lord, my Divine Son Jesus, will send His overflowing mercy if good people will pray continuously for their sinful brother. One should very soon notify the Holy Father of the Church, Pope Pius XII, that it is my wish that the HOUR OF GRACE FOR THE WORLD be made known and spread throughout the world. If anyone is unable to visit his church, yet will pray at noon at home, he will also receive graces through me. Whoever prays on these tiles and weeps tears of penance, will find a secure heavenly ladder and receive protection and grace through my motherly heart. Then Our Lady showed Pierina her heart and said: Look at this heart which loves mankind so very much, but most people only shower offenses upon it. If the good and the bad unite in prayer they will obtain mercy and peace through this heart. The Lord is still protection the good and is holding back a great punishment because of my intercession. Our Lady smiled again and went on: Soon one will recognize the greatness of this Hour of Grace. When Pierina saw that Our Lady was going to depart, she said: "Dear Lady, I thank you! Bless my homeland Italy and the whole world, but especially the Holy Father, the priest, the religious, and the sinners." Our Lady replied: I have already prepared a flood of graces for all the children who listen to my words and keep them in their hearts. She assured Pierina that she would return at a suitable time when the Secret entrusted to her, would be made public through the Ecclesiastical authority. Our Lady then said ‘good-bye’. Pierina withdrew to a convent where, hidden from the world, she served in the kitchen and where she waited in silence for the hour which, as promised, came after 19 years, on White Sunday (Sunday after Easter), 17th April, 1966, in Fontanelle, a settlement of only a few houses spread around and situated about 2-3 km outside Montichiari. Our Blessed Lady kept her promise.

Fontanelle

In 1966, Our Lady began a new series of apparitions at a spring in Fontanelle, on the outskirts of Montichiari. Standing by the spring on Easter Sunday, she touched the water twice with her hands and said to Pierina. "My Divine son sent me here to bestow healing power on this water. I want the sick and all my children to come to this miraculous well. children must first ask pardon for their sins and draw the water lovingly from the well". Pilgrims fill plastic receptacles with this water and take it to their homes to be used for pious or therapeutic purposes. At the request of Mary, a medal depicting Rosa Mystica as Mother of the church, has been widely distributed. A beautiful statue conforming to Pierina' s description of Rosa Mystica is venerated in a basilica of the church and another in a small shrine in Fontanelle.

Msgr. Abato Francesco Rossi who was a vicar in Montichiari between 1949 and 1971 is absolutely convinced about the authenticity of the visions. Pope Pius XII granted Pierina a personal audience and blessed her. He parted from her saying: "Please, pray for us, too." Before opening the Vatican Council II, Pope John XXIII urged the whole world by means of his Apostle letter to pray for the success of the council, to venerate the Mother of God as a Mystical Rose and to pray rosary for this purpose. Likewise, the believers were urged also by Pope Paul VI in his address of May 5, 1969 to invoke Our Lady primarily as a Mystical Rose in May. On November 21, 1964, in his council speech he proclaimed: "We wish that in the years ahead the Most Blessed Virgin Mary was venerated and honoured by all Christian people under this title" (Rosa Mystica)”.

Today, more than ever, the faithful is exhorted to contribute greatly ro this inner renewal. We are asked to pray for the intentions of the Holy Father. Salvation is possible only through a genuine renewal of the spirit. Throughout all or our Church's history, it is the prayer that renewal must strat form the Church leaders or the sheherds and then spread to its members, the flock of Christ.