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On November 11, 2020, when Pope Francis blessed the image of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in the Vatican, the pilgrimage of this image began on the occasion of the 190th anniversary of the apparitions to Saint Catherine Laboure. This initiative is promoted by the Congregation of the Mission in Italy in collaboration with the worldwide Vincentian Family.

After a breaking during the summer, the pilgrimage will begin on September 5th in Asti with stops in the area of Monregalese and Cebano.

Today, like 1830, the world is devastated by poverty, violence, and a health and financial crisis. The Blessed Mother invites us to the foot of the altar. After 190 years the Blessed Mother continues to provide for us … and she does so because her love is unwavering. On the night of July 18-19, 1830, the Blessed Mother appeared for the first time to Catherine Labouré, a young Daughter of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul. This was a rather lengthy encounter in which the Blessed Mother stated: The times are very evil. Misfortunes afflict France and the entire world will experience misfortunes of every sort … But come to the foot of this altar, there abundant graces will be spread over all those who ask for them with confidence and fervor. They will be given to the great and the small. Then once again, on November 27th, 1830, the Blessed Mother appeared again to Catherine Labouré, holding in her hands a small globe (representing humankind). Catherine contemplated her beauty and accepted the mission to make a medal: the persons who wear this medal will receive great graces

The members of the worldwide Vincentian Family, faithful to the Word of God, inspired by the charism which calls them to serve God in the person of the poor and encouraged by this initiative of the Blessed Mother to go on pilgrimage, want to remind us that the Blessed Mother continues to invite men and women to approach the foot of the altar.

Sunday, September 5: the sacred image will be brought to Asti, to the shrine of Blessed Virgin of Portone where it will be received at 09:00 hours. The Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 hours and 17:30 hours and the rosary will be prayed at 16:45 hours. September 6: the sacred image will be brought to Ceva where it will be received in the cathedral at 17:00 hours with the solemn celebration of Vespers followed by a celebration of the Eucharist with Marian reflections at 18:00 hours. At 20:30 hours there will a praying of the eucharistic rosary and the Sacrament of Reconciliation can be received until 22:00 hours. September 7: will be dedicated to vocations in Cebano – from 08:00-09:00 hours there will be exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, praying the rosary and morning prayer, followed by Eucharistic benediction. The Sacrament of Reconciliation 

can be received until 10:00 hours. At 10:30 hours there will be a eucharistic celebration for the priests and religious of Cebano who have exercised ministry there and this will also be a time to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Father Gian Carlo Galliano’s ordination to the priesthood. From 12:00-17:00 hours people will take half-hours turns accompanying Mary before her image. Then at 17:00 hours there will be Evening Prayer and the rosary. The image will then be brought to Dogliani and will arrive at 19:00 hours at the chapel of Madonna of Grazie that is dedicated to her. At 20:00 hours there will be the recitation of the rosary and at 20:30 hours the celebration of the eucharist. September 8: at 08:30-09:00 hours there will be a celebration of the Mass in honor of the Blessed Virgin and the image will then be brought to Sale Langhe where it is scheduled to arrive at 10:30 hours. At 11:00 hours there will be praying of the rosary and accompaniment of Mary. At 17:00 hours Mass will be celebrated and at 19:00 the image will be brought to Bagnasco(scheduled arrival time 20:00 hours at which time there will be a special celebration in honor of the birth of the Blessed Virgin). On the morning of September 9 there will be celebrations and private prayer and then, at 14:00 hours the image will be transferred to Garessio where at 15:30/16:00 hours there will be a celebration of the eucharist in the House of Reposo. At 20:00 hours the image will be brought to the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace of Valsorda where there will be a Marian vigil. On September 10, at 08:00 hours there will be a celebration in the Shrine and then the image will be brought to Frabosa where it will be received at 11:00 hours, mid-day prayer and the Angelus at 11:30 hours followed by benediction and distribution of the Miraculous Medal. Then there will be a prayer vigil. At 13:30 hours the rosary will be prayed and there will be an act of consecration to the Blessed Virgin. At 14:30 hours the image will depart for Villanova di Mondovi where, preceded by the Company of Mary, at 18:30 hours the Eucharist will be celebration. At the conclusion of the Mass the image will be transferred to the Community of the Missionary Sisters of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. There at 20:00 hours the rosary will be prayed and there will be a Marian Vigil throughout the night. At 15:30 hours on Saturday, September 11, there will be the celebration of the Eucharist with community reconciliation and at 16:45 hours the image will depart for the Shrine of Vicoforte, the Shrine of Regina Montis Regalis where at 17:30 hours there will be the recitation of the rosary and at 18:00 hours a celebration of the Eucharist, followed by time for personal prayer. The image will then be transferred to the Shrine of Our Lady of the Desert in Millesimo, in the province of Savona where the rosary will be prayed at 16:00 hours followed by the celebration of the Eucharist at the conclusion of the pilgrimage in the diocese of Mondovi. At the conclusion of this pilgrimage in Monregalese and Cebano, the sacred image will be transferred to Milan.

After 190 years, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal continues to watch over humankind and comes, as a pilgrim, to visit and to the meet with the members of the Christian communities spread throughout Italy. Thus, Mary fulfills the promise of love that is contained in her message: I will be remain with you, trust and do not be discouraged.

Elena Grazini 

Press Office 

Vincentian Family 

+39 338 190 24 36 

elena@elenagrazini.it

press@famvin.org +39 338 190 24 36