Montichiari & Fontanelle Italy: Apparitions of Rosa Mystica
About the apparitions in Montichiari:
Near the Italian Alps in northern Italy is the small town of Montichiari. It was here, in the spring of 1947, that the Blessed Mother appeared to a hospital nurse named Pierina Gilli. She appeared very sad, with three large swords piercing her breast.
She only said: “prayer..penitence..expiation”.
This was followed by other visits by the Blessed Mother in 1947: July 13, October 22, November 16, November 22, December 7 and finally on December 8. After this, Pierina withdrew from the world and worked in a convent in the nearby town of Fontanelle.
Some 19 years later, in February 1966, Our Lady once again appeared to Pierina as she was praying in her room.
Our Lady told Pierina that she would appear in Fontanelle on April 17, the Sunday after Easter that year. Our Lady did indeed appear on that date, with instructions that Pierina kiss the top steps of a well in the town, and then instructed her to place a crucifix in a place that she pointed out.
This apparition was followed by another on May 13, in which she identified herself as the mother of Jesus and mother of all. She announced that she was sent to bring a new Marian devotion for all male and female institutes, religious orders and secular priests. Then, the third time was June 9…….and, again, on the Feast of the Transfiguration on August 6, 1966.
She went on to request that the 13th of each month be celebrated as a day of Mary and that July 13th be celebrated in honor of “Rosa Mystica”.
She also said: “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. … 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. … it is my wish that the Hour of Grace for the World be made known and spread throughout the world. … Soon one will recognize the greatness of this Hour of Grace. … If anyone is unable to visit his church, yet will pray at noon at home.” December 8, of course, coincides with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a holy day of obligation.
The Request of Our Heavenly Mother for the Hour of Grace:
1. To be started from 12 noon until 1 p.m. (one full hour of prayer);
2. During this hour the person making the Hour of Grace either at home or in a church must put away all distractions…do not answer the phone, check e-mail or any of the usual things that keep us from concentrating on prayer.
3. Begin the Hour of Grace by praying three times the 51st Psalm with outstretched arms. Here it is :
PSALM 51
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy steadfast love; according to thy abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in thy sight, so that thou art justified in thy sentence and blameless in thy judgment.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Fill me with joy and gladness; let the bones which thou hast broken rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners will return to thee.
14 Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of thy deliverance.
15 O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.
16 For thou hast no delight in sacrifice; were I to give a burnt offering, thou wouldst not be pleased.
17 The sacrifice acceptable to God* is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Do good to Zion in thy good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,
19 then wilt thou delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on thy altar.
4. The rest of the Hour of Grace may be spent in silent communication with God, adoring the Sacred Host, meditating upon the Passion of Jesus, saying the Holy Rosary, praising God in you own way or by using favorite prayers, singing hymns, etc.
Fontanelle is a place in open country, about two miles from Montichiari. Its name comes from the little springs which flow in this here. Fontanelle became a place of worship and Marian devotion, where the pilgrims can restore their souls and meet the God’s Grace. Here at the shrine you will find a complete schedule of Masses, Confession, Rosaries and more. Today such celebrations are held in many countries throughout the world.
Originally, the Bishop of Brescia condemned the apparitions, saying “the Mystica phenomena failed to give good reasons for credibility” and that whoever promoted it “disturbs the faith of believers, inducing them to act contrary to the teachings of the Church.”, but time has changed that….and a new bishop designated the site an official Diocesan Shrine on December 7, 2019. It does not indicate full approval of the apparitions, but is obviously a step along the way, very similar to what appears to be happening in Medjugorje.
Here is an interesting blog post about a visit to Montichiari from Tom and Sue Melillo.
Traveling to Montichiari:
Montichiari is near Bergamo, site of the John XXIII Institute. You can take a train from Milan via Brescia, which is the nearest station to Montichiari. The journey takes a little over one hour. Get train & bus schedules, see fares & buy tickets here.
Address: Via Madonnina, 25018 – Montichiari (BS)
Click here for the official website of Rosa Mystica..it provides a wealth of information, including quotes from priests and bishops in the area. If you are traveling with a group and wish to celebrate Mass, there is a reservation form on their website.
There is also a Rosa Mystica Shrine in the U.S. at Edmeston, New York.
⇐ Back to Catholic places of interest in Italy
Please can you inform me ,what is the cheapest time to trace to this shrine,Rosa Mystica,also send details of reasonable accommodation,thank you
Praise the Lord 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 🙏🙏🙏
A group of pilgrims from India will be visiting the church on Monday 14 May. Is there a possibility of having holy mass at the shrine. Three priests are accompanying with us.. Pls reply to my email.. Thanks
You should click on the link to their page and fill out the reservation form for groups.