Our Lady of Prascondu
Italy (1619)
The history of the Sanctuary of Prascondu, dedicated to Our Lady of Loreto, dates back to the fall of 1618, when John Berardi, a lively and hard-working boy, went with his father to Pavia, to help him work and earn a bitter morsel of bread. One cold winter evening, after a tiring day at work, the father invited John to join him in prayer.
But that night, John refused because he was tired. The father slapped him and cursed him to silence. To the father’s despair, the curse worked and the boy was silent. Imploring the grace of Our Lady, he made a vow to pilgrimage to Loreto if cured.
On August 27, while grazing, John regained his speech after he saw the Virgin Mary in a vision, and agreet to build a church in her honor.
The boy and his father celebrated the cure and went on pilgrimage as vowed.
Text and image used with permission.
Source: "365 Days with Mary" by Michael O'Neill
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