Marian Anniversaries

July 17

Madonna dell'Umiltà, Pistoia, Tuscany, Italy

In 1383, Paolo Serafini painted the fresco of the Madonna of Humility for the chapel of Santa Maria Forisportam (St. Mary Outside the Gate) outside town. A century later, Pistoia erupted in bloody civil strife. On July 17, 1490, a group of people took refuge in the chapel. While praying, they saw drops of sweat pour from the Virgin's face onto her clothing. Some witnesses rang the bell, while others ran to spread the news. The combat ended, and both sides ran to see the miracle. A magnificent new sanctuary, renamed for the painting, was dedicated at the site December 31, 1582. The image shows the Madonna seated on a cushion on the floor, nursing the child at her right breast. The Basilica celebrates the feast of the Madonna of Humility on July 17 with solemn mass and vespers.

Source: "Madonna dell'Umiltà - Pistoia - 17 Luglio 1490," Maria di nazareth, www.mariadinazareth.it

Also celebrated this date:

	Madonna dell'Apparizione, Verghereto, Forlì Cesena, Emilia Romagna, Italy. Festa.
	Madonna del Portico, Rome, Italy. Sapphire icon appeared, 524.
	Matka Boża Szkaplerzna, Czerna, Nowogrodziec, Bolesławiec, Lower Silesia, Poland (Scapular Mother of God). Icon crowned, 1988.
	Madonna Łokietkowa, Wiślica, Busko, Świętokrzyskie, Poland. Early 1300s relief of smiling Madonna and Child crowned, 1966.
	Matka Boża Szkaplerzna, Tomaszów Lubelski, Lublin, Poland. Icon crowned, 1994.
	Nuestra Señora del Carmen, La Orotava, Tenerife, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. Statue crowned, 1988.