April 8 Madonna della Brina (Madonna of the Frost, Our Lady of Frost, Virgin of Basella), Basella, Bergamo, Lombardy, Italy.
April 8 Madonna della Brina (Madonna of the Frost, Our Lady of Frost, Virgin of Basella), Basella, Bergamo, Lombardy, Italy.
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During the night between April 7 and 8, 1356, in Basella in the Province of Bergamo, in Lombardy, Italy, there had been a heavy frost that devastated the countryside. At sunrise, Marina Cassone, a 15 year old peasant, arose to mournfully survey the great damage. Crops and farm equipment were completely ruined. Having no other means of survival than their farm, Marina began to lament, crying out, "Holy Virgin!"
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Then a Lady appeared with her child and asked her, "Marina, why are you crying?" "But you see, Lady, the frost damage? The poor will starve! " promptly replied Marina. The Lady gently replied, "Oh, no! The harvest will not be damaged, and will be more abundant than in other years. " Marina incredulously queries, "But who are you?" "Come to this place in nine days and I will tell you everything." promised the Lady.
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Nine days later, on April 17, Marina eagerly goes to her early morning appointment. Then the Lady tells her, "You have done well to keep the promise Marina. I am the Mother of God, and have appeared here to comfort you and your countrymen. In this place there was a church dedicated to me. Tell your neighbors who are here to dig and find the ruins. " Marina shyly replies, "Lady mine, no one will believe me."
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The Blessed Virgin then collect three stones and placed on the floor and says: "Under these stones is an altar dedicated to me. Here the priest should celebrate Mass every fortnight for the souls buried here."
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The news spread quickly, the peasants believing Marina's account, but the leaders, ignorant of the history, refused to believe her. However, some of the people began to dig in the area indicated by the Virgin, and discovered an altar and the ruins of an old church that was buried for centuries. The Bishop of Bergamo, Lanfranco Silvestri, examined this situation, and on May 1 1356, placed the cornerstone of the new shrine to the Virgin, before a large crowd.
The shrine was completed in five months, and became the site of continuous pilgrimages. On feasts, the faithful arrive in tens of thousands, silently walking barefoot in pilgrimage, as a sign of penance.
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In the place where the feet of the Virgin rested, there was erected a Carrara marble statue depicting the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus in her hand and knees in front of Marina. And written in large letters the words which recall the appearance: "I am the Mother of God who appeared here for your comfort."
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In the next century Bartolomeo Colleoni expanded the sanctuary and built a convent which was entrusted to the Dominicans to celebrate the sacred rites and spiritually help the pilgrims.
Everything continued until 1784, when the monastery was abolished by the Venetian Republic.
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One hundred years after this, the church was restored, and in 1920 the monastery was entrusted to the Passionist Fathers. In 1921 the coronation ceremony of the statue of the sanctuary was made.