The first traces of a church in the place where the current sanctuary stands date back to 1525. The original church, dedicated to St. Bartholomew, however, collapsed in 1832 following a violent earthquake. Only one fresco was saved, a Madonna with Child by Paolo Botulli da Percanestro (disciple of Perugino)
In 1860, Mrs. Santa Bonifazi of Fratta, a locality in whose territory the ancient church was located, sent word to the parish priest, Don Brunetti, that the Madonna «... wants to be honored again in that place» and to rebuild the church . The economic situation of the parish, however, was not such as to allow such a grandiose work and the parish priest commented that, if the Madonna wanted the church, she had to provide the necessary money.
It therefore happened that, in 1862, a child of only five years old, who was playing near the ruins of the church of San Bartolomeo, claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary. The child was called Federico (Righetto) Cionchi. According to the facts reported, the Virgin first appeared to him by calling him by name, then caressed him on the head, then spoke simple words to him ("Righetto, be good!").
The news of the apparition spread quickly and in a short time the necessary funds were found for the construction of a new and larger sanctuary, the works of which were financed by grants from the faithful. The church was dedicated to Maria Auxilium Christianorum (Mary Help of Christians).
Subsequently, a new earthquake (1878) devastated the newly built church, but with the contributions of many devotees and Pope Leo XIII the work was quickly restored.