Celebration of St Mary of the Miracles

A precious tradition: the Feast of Santa Maria dei Miracoli in Morbio Inferiore

On 29 July, the celebration of Santa Maria dei Miracoli is celebrated at the Sanctuary of Morbio Inferiore. It is the memory of the distant 29 July 1594, when, on the hill of Morbio, where a castle once stood, Caterina and Angela, two very sick girls, who had come with their mothers from Milan, were healed. They prayed with some women from Morbio before the 15th-century effigy of the Virgin Mary frescoed in the chapel of the destroyed castle, which ivy and brambles had protected and preserved. The anniversary of that event is experienced every year with affection and devotion.

The celebration day is spiritually prepared, starting on 20 July, by a well-participated Novena in the early morning with Holy Mass (daily at 05:45, preceded by Morning Prayer at 05:15; another Holy Mass is celebrated at 08:00, and in the evening at 17:30 and 20:00

The day of 29 July starts very early, with the first Eucharistic celebration at 03:00, in the middle of the night. It is a tradition that began many years ago with the then parish priest Monsignor Alfredo Noseda, who gave a considerable boost to the spiritual life of the Sanctuary.

The celebration of the Eucharist then punctuates the following hours: 04:00, 05:00, 06:00, 07:00, 08:00, 09:00, as dawn slowly breaks over the fullness of the day and pilgrims take turns in devout prayer in the Shrine. At 10:30 the concelebration of the Eucharist, animated by the Santa Maria dei Miracoli Chorale, while the celebrations continue in the afternoon with Holy Masses at 15:30 and 17:30, animated by the Parish Singing Group and preceded by the prayer of the Rosary at 15:00 and 17:00.

The evening Marian celebration begins at 8:30 p.m. and includes a procession through the streets of the old town with the participation of the local Civic Philharmonic. Along the way, new living pictures are set up: an evocative tradition dating back over the years and introduced by the aforementioned Msgr. Alfredo Noseda.

In 2023 the sets of the various pictures have been totally renewed and designed by the Morbio film director Francesco Rizzi. They propose a path of light referring to the significant moments of Mary's earthly journey. The procession ends high up on the parvis of the Sanctuary, where at 10.30 p.m. the last Holy Mass closes the whole day.