Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Torre di Ruggiero
Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie, Torre di Ruggiero
On April 17, 1677, two local girls, Isabella Cristello and Antonia De Luca, went to the sanctuary to pray and here, while they were gathered, Isabella healed the evil that had long afflicted her, and at the same time the two boys Women who witnessed the heavenly vision of the Virgin who asked to be worshiped in this place by peoples near and far, and from this place she would have bestowed her graces and favors abundantly. The graces in the days that followed followed one another innumerable and as the news spread, more and more people marched in procession to take part in the amazing events. However, the silence on the sanctuary fell due to the devastating earthquake that devastated Calabria on February 5, 1783, causing thousands of deaths and devastation. The church was completely destroyed and traces of the venerated image were also lost. 74 years later, the Madonna herself returned to awaken the centuries-old devotion by appearing to the peasant woman from Torre, Pascale Luna, and asking for the sanctuary to be rebuilt. But the necessary funds were lacking and so people slowly forgot the promise of reconstruction. On the afternoon of April 10, 1858, Saturday in albis, while working the land near the sanctuary, he saw a spring of water gushing and remembered that tradition remembered a spring in that place, he quenched his thirst and washed his aching limbs and healed immediately. Moved by the child prodigy, he ran to the village and the people of Torresi understood that it was another sign desired by the Madonna to rebuild her sanctuary.
Text / Source: FAI - FONDO PER L'AMBIENTE ITALIANO ETS