About Ghiaie di Bonate & the Apparitions of Our Lady “Mary Queen of the Family”:
On May 13, 1944, in the village of Ghiaie di Bonate, Italy a young 7 year old girl named Adelaide… was blessed with apparitions of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and St. Joseph (the Holy Family). These apparitions sometimes included eight angels, and continued for nine consecutive days. At first, only several of her friends accompanied her, but later almost the entire town joined her, along with thousands from all over.
Following a short break, the apparitions began again on May 28 and lasted through the end of the month, totaling 13 in all. Towards the end, it was estimated that over 350,000 people were present and, like in Fatima, many reported extraordinary solar phenomena.
It is significant to note that at this point in time Italy had suffered through the ravages of World War II and, like she had done at Fatima, Our Lady appeared during the latter phase of the war. Her message was one of Peace and Hope. In fact, the apparitions of Ghiaie di Bonate were called “Fatima’s epilogue”.
About the Shrine:
As devotion grew, a small shrine was established here; however in 1948 the Bishop forbade devotion, claiming that “every form of devotion for Our Lady, as she appeared at Ghiaie di Bonate, remained hereunder forbidden, in compliance with the canonical laws.”
That ruling was never questioned by Adelaide, who remained obedient, but it was subject to some controversy by others as to how the ruling was made.
In 2019, the bishop, Monsignor Francesco Beschi, announced a decision at the end of a Holy See procedure… “to authorize, value, and accompany the cult of ‘Mary Queen of the Family’ at the parish chapel,” erasing a ban on such devotion first set in place in 1948.
The apparitions, phenomena, and messages are still considered “non constat” — unproven — however.
Traveling to Ghiaie & the Shrine Our Lady of Ghiaie:
Ghiaie is located about 25 miles northeast of Milan, near Bergamo,
Via C. Carsana, 47, 24040 Bonate Sopra BG, Italy
Click here for the official website of Madonna delle Ghiaie.
