September 3
Madonna dei Monti, Rome, Italy
On April 26, 1579, Giampietro Fenarolo stood on a pile of hay in a barn, swinging a sickle toward the wall, when he heard a voice: "Watch what you're doing. Don't hurt me." He went on working, but then heard: "Ah, have mercy on my son, if not me." Investigating more carefully, he uncovered a beautiful fresco of the Madonna and Child, a relic of the time when the place had been a convent of Poor Clares. As news of the discovery spread through Rome, many people came to admire the image. In 1580, a blind woman named Anastasia regained her sight while praying before it. The miracle convinced Pope Gregory XIII to authorize construction of a new church there. Designed by Giacomo della Porta, this became the church of Santa Maria ai Monti (St. Mary in the Mounts), in the central district that occupies three of Rome's seven hills. Installed on the high altar in a magnificent setting, the image was crowned September 3, 1632. A replica processes through the streets every year on or about April 26. (Picture from www.immaginidimaria.it. Information from Guglielmo Gumppenberg, Atlante Mariano, Verona, 1844; and other sources.)
Also commemorated this date:
 | Maria Madre del Buon Pastore (Our Lady, Mother of the Good Shepherd). Memorial of the Pauline Family of Catholic religious. |
| Notre-Dame, Corneville-sur-Risle, Eure, Normandy, France. Abbey dedicated, 1147. |
| Notre-Dame, Quézac, Cantal, Auvergne, France. Sanctuary consecrated, 1887. Pilgrimage first Sunday in September. |
| Madonna dei Cappuccini, Casalpusterlengo, Lodi, Lombardy, Italy (Our Lady of the Capuchins). Statue crowned, 1780. Commemorative pilgrimage 1st Sun. in Sept. |
| Madonna delle Grazie, Chiusdino, Siena, Tuscany, Italy. Festa: solemn mass, procession. |
| Maria Santissima dell'Udienza, Giuliana, Palermo, Sicily, Italy (St. Mary of the Hearing). Festa, procession. |
| Matka Boża Łaskawa, Pieranie, Dąbrowa Biskupia, Inowrocław, Kuyavia-Pomerania, Poland (Gracious Mother of God). Icon crowned, 1967. Feast Sun. near Sept. 8. |
| Matka Cyganów, Rywałd, Radzyń Chełmiński, Grudziądz, Kuyavia-Pomerania, Poland (Mother of Gypsies). Statue crowned, 1972. Feast Sept. 8 or following Sun. |
| Królowa Rodzin, Lubasz, Czarnków-Trzcianka, Greater Poland, Poland (Queen of Families). Icon crowned, 2000. Feast Sept. 8. |
| Matka Boska Łysiecka, Gliwice, Silesia, Poland, in Trinity Armenian Catholic Church. 1500s icon crowned, 1989. Feast Aug. 15. |
| Virgen del Milagro, Ruesga, Asón-Agüera, Cantabria, Spain (Virgin of the Miracle). Fiesta, procession. |
| Mare de Déu de Puiggraciós, Vallès, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Church opened for worship, 1711. Festa Sept. 8. |