The apparitions of Our Lady as “Rosa Mystica”

Tomorrow, July 13th, is a new feast day in honor of the Blessed Virgin under a new title, that of “Rosa Mystica” (Mystical Rose.) I am posting this today to give you a head’s up on it. Tomorrow I’ll be posting information on devotions.

The apparitions of Our Lady as “Rosa Mystica” occurred between 1947 and 1976 in Montichiari, Italy, to Pierina Gilli, a nurse. The primary purpose was the reform of clergy and religious houses, continuing the message of Fatima by urging prayer, penance, and the Rosary. Today is the feast day of the Apparition. Interestingly, July 13th is the anniversary of the Fatima Apparition when the three seers were given a vision of Hell as well as three secrets. What is really intersting is that this newly approved apparition taken as a extension of Fatima. 

The Church had doubts about the apparition’s supernatural character. After initially refusing to acknowledge the apparition, about a decade after the seer’s death in 1991, the investigation was reopened and only within the past few years “gained steam” leading to its official approval this past Monday, July 8th.

This is the story of the Apparition, gleaned from several sites listed in the link in the previous sentence.

The first Apparition ocurred in the Spring  of 1947. Our Lady appeared to Pierina Gilli  in a hospital room, wearing a violet dress and white veil about her head. She also appeared to be sad, with tears and three swords in her chest. She called for “Prayer, Penance, Expiation.”

During the second Apparition on July 13, 1947, Our Lady appeared in a white dress with three roses (white for prayer, red for sacrifice, yellow for penance and conversion) instead of swords. Our Lady said:

“I am the Mother of Jesus and the Mother of all of you. Our Lord sends me to bring you a new Marian devotion to all religious orders and institutes, male and female, and to the priests of the world. I promise to protect those religious orders and institutes who will venerate me in this special way, increase their vocations, and achieve a greater striving for saintliness among the servants of God.”

She also requested Marian devotion on the 13th of each month, with July 13th being celebrated in honor of her under her title of Mystical Rose.

In the third Apparition on October 22, 1947,  Mary emphasized her role as, quote:

“I have placed myself as the mediatrix between my Divine Son and mankind, especially for the soul consecrated to God. Tired of the continuous offenses, He already wanted to dispense His Justice.”

Our Lady concluded her visit with saying:

“Live out of love!”

The fourth Apparition on November 16, 1947, Our Lady appeared in the Basilica of Montichiari, saying:

“Our Lord can no longer watch the many grievous sins against purity. He wants to send a flood of punishments. I have interceded that He may be merciful once more! Therefore, I ask for prayer and penance to atone for these sins.”

The Blessed Virgin added:

“I lovingly ask the priests to express their great love and stop the people from committing those sins. Whoever will atone for those sins, will receive my blessing and graces.”

In reply to the Pierina Gilli’s question as to whether we may hope for forgiveness, Our Lady said:

“Yes, as long as these sins are no longer committed.”

With these words, she went away.

In the fifth Apparition on November 22, 1947, Our Lady appeared in the Basilica of Montichiari and said:

“I descend on this place, for many great conversions will happen here,”

and in a sad voice she continued:

“The Christians of your Italian nation belong to those who offend most my Divine Son, Jesus through their sins of unchastity. Our Lord demands, therefore, PRAYER, GENEROUS SACRIFICES, AND PENANCE!”

Pierina asked: “What do we have to do to fulfill your demands for prayer and penance?”

Our Lady replied full of tenderness:

“Prayer!”

After a short, silent pause, she explained:

“Penance means to accept every day all the little crosses and the duties too, in the spirit of penance.”

Thereupon, she promised solemnly:

“On the December 8th, at noon, I shall appear again here in the Basilica. It will be the Hour of Grace.”

Pierina asked: “Please explain to me the meaning of the “Hour of Grace?””

This Hour of Grace will produce great and numerous conversions. Hardened and cold hearts resembling this marble will be touched by Divine Grace, and they will become faithful to Our Lord in loyal love.” 

For sixth Apparition onDecember 7, 1947, Our Lady appeared at the Basilica of Montichiari with the two deceased Fatima children, Jacinta and Francisco Marto (now saints), emphasizing her connection to the message of Fatima and the devotion to her Immaculate Heart, along with her desire to be venerated under the title of  “Rosa Mystica.” Another reason for appearing with the two Fatima seers was revealed when Our Lady said:

Jacinta and Francisco” they will help you in your trials and suffering. They too, suffered. I wish from you the simplicity and goodness of these two children.

On the seventh Apparition on December 8, 1947, Our Lady appeared on a large white staircase, decorated with a white, red and yellow rose. She said with a smile:

I am the Immaculate Conception. 

And descending several steps with great majesty, she continued:

I am Mary, full of grace, Mother of my Divine Son, Jesus Christ.

Descending even more, she said:

Through my coming to Montichiari, I wish to be known as the Rosa Mystica. It is my wish that every year, on the 8th of December, at noon, the Hour Of Grace for the World be celebrated . Many divine and bodily graces will be received through this devotion. Our Lord, my Divine Son Jesus, will send His overflowing mercy if good people will pray continuously for their sinful brothers. One should very soon notify the Holy Father of the Church, Pope Pius XII, that it is my wish that the Hour Of Grace for the World be made known and spread throughout the world. If anyone is unable to visit his church, yet will pray at noon at home, he will also receive graces through me. Whoever prays on these tiles and weeps tears of penance, will find a secure heavenly ladder and receive protection and grace through my motherly heart.

Then Our Lady showed Pierina her heart and said:

Look at this heart, which loves mankind so very much, but most people only shower offenses upon it. If the good and the bad unite in prayer they will obtain mercy and peace through this heart. The Lord is still protecting the good and is holding back a great punishment because of my intercession.

Our Lady smiled again and went on:

Soon one will recognize the greatness of this Hour of Grace.

(More on this “Hour of Grace” in this post.)

In 1966, a new series of apparitions  ocurred at Fontanelle, on the outskirts of Montichiari. These focused on the healing powers of a spring where pilgrims gather water for pious uses. Our Lady touched the water twice with her hands and said to Pierina.

My Divine Son sent me here to bestow healing power on this water. I want the sick and all my Children to come to this miraculous well. children must first ask pardon for their sins and draw the water lovingly from the well.

There were more apparitions in the ensuing years, as this post is long enough already, I will just refer you to: The History Of Apparitions Mary Appears As “Rosa Mystica” In Montichiari And Fontanelle

So, there it is. We have a new day to honor Our Lady with some new devotions (see the links in the Vatican approval post of mine I linked to way up above.)

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The Hour Of Grace from Mary, Mystical Rose

This is a post on “The Hour of Grace” announced during a recently approved apparition of Our Lady to Pierina Gilli in 1947.

The Hour Of Grace is on December 8th, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

From 12 Noon To 1 PM, (your local time, so this should cover the Earth with graces for a 24 hour period.)

THE REQUEST OF OUR BLESSED MOTHER FOR THE HOUR OF GRACE:

1. The Hour of Grace is to be one full hour of prayer, beginning at 12:00 Noon and continuing until 1:00 PM, on December 8th, Feast of the Immaculate Conception. 

2. During this hour, the person making the “Hour of Grace” either at home, church, the grotto, must put away all distractions (do not answer the phones or answer any doors or do anything but totally concentrate on your union with God during this special Hour of Grace).

3. Begin the Hour of Grace by praying Psalm 51 three times with out-stretched arms.

4. The rest of the Hour of Grace may be spent in silent communication with God meditating upon the Passion of Jesus, saying the Holy Rosary, Precious Blood Chaplet, Divine Mercy Chaplet, Chaplet of St. Michael, Sorrowful Mother Chaplet, etc.

The Blessed Virgin has requested that Her important message be sent throughout the entire world. Please help Her Mission: “that all souls be drawn to God and that Jesus will be loved in every heart.” (My note on this: If you have a Catholic-centric blog or podcast, or routinely post Catholic stuff on your social media accounts, please share this post and/or at least the links I gave in this postand this one. Obviously, prior to the Hour of Grace!)

If the children cannot recite Psalm 51 between 12 noon and 1:00 p.m., because they may be in school, say it in the evening as a family.  

The Blessed Virgin Mary promised that whatever a person asked Her for during this Hour of Grace (even in impossible cases) would be granted to them, in accordance with the Will of the Eternal Father.

Since December 8th is still five months off, I will reblog this just before that day. I’m posting this today just to get you thinking about it and perhaps prepare.

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Devotions to honor Our Lady, the Mystical Rose

Yesterday I told you about a new Marian Apparition that was approved by Rome. The following is the list of general devotions to Our Lady, the Mystical Rose, whose feast day is this upcoming Saturday, July 13th! 

1. Each 13th day of the month must be dedicated to special acts of devotion to Mary, with preparation of prayer and mortification during the 12 preceding days. 

2. First Sunday after Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday!): we honor the Anniversary of the coming of Rosa Mystica to Fontenelle, where she blessed the water manifesting God’s mercy. 

The springs are reputed to have miraculous curative powers, just like that of Lourdes.

3. The 13th of July each year will be celebrated in honor of Mary as the “Rosa Mystica.” 

4. The 13th of October of the first year (I assume this is 2024? The “first year” of the aparition’s approval?) and then the second Sunday of the month each year thereafter will be sanctified with Holy Communion of Reparation, preceded by confession. 

Under this title, Holy Communions of Reperation, prayer groups or congregations can be formed. 

5. Each year on December 8th, on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, at midday the Hour of Grace will be practiced, awaiting particular graces of conversion and sanctification, promised for that hour. It shall be practiced in one’s own church, worshiping the most Blessed Sacrament if possible; otherwise privately or in groups of prayer. 

6. Go to the blessed spring, in procession, with pentitential prayers and bring the sick. Those in need of spiritual help for themselves and for their loved ones shall go there in a pilgrimage. 

(Obviously this can’t be done if you live far from Italy. Perhaps in the future Rome will make allowances for this and it can be done at Marian shrines outside of Italy.) 

7. The three words signified by the three roses, “Prayer, Sacrifice, and Penance,” remain fundamental characteristics of the devotion of Mary Rosa Mystica. We are to pray with perserverance and not seek to avoid sufferings. We are to do this on behalf of consecrated souls, and in particular for the conversion of consecrated souls who are unfaithful to their vocation; for the sactification of souls; and for an increase in the number of religious and priestly vocations. This purpose for the devotion was first suggested by Mary primarily for religious institutes, while remaining a proposal open to everyone. 

8. Also characteristic of all these messages is the purpose of reparation for offenses against the sacrament of the Eucharist, against the name of God and of Jesus, against the privaleges of Mary, against the Church and the Pope, against the innocence of the young ones and of simple souls, against the sacredness of human life and the sancity of the family. 

Naturally presupposed in all of these devotional practices is the obeservance of the Commandments, the practice of Christian virtues and first of all charity towards our neighbor.

Now we come to the daily observances of the devotion:

Everyday, make an effort to pray:

Thers is also this special version of the Rosary: A Meditated Holy Rosary, that is, “The Rosary of Three Roses”

I JUST LOVE HAVING NEW DEVOTIONS TO DO!

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My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Devotion to Rosa Mystica approved

I was not really aware of this apparition of Our Lady as I tend to ignore unapproved apparitions. However….. WE HAVE A NEW APPROVED APPARITION AND SOME NEW DEVOTIONS!!!!

The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has stated that it found no elements in the messages disseminated by Pierina Gilli that contradict the teachings of the Catholic Church on faith and morals. This declaration is included in a letter published on July 8, signed by the Prefect of the DDF, Victor Manuel Fernandez, and approved by the Pope. The letter addresses the devotion to Maria Rosa Mystica (‘Mary Mystical Rose’) and the messages that Pierina Gilli claims to have received from the Virgin Mary in 1947 and 1966. The letter highlights the positive aspects of these messages, while also noting some elements that require clarification to prevent misunderstandings.

Source: Green light for devotion to Our Lady Mystical Rose

OK, now on to the particulars of the devotion: 

The story of the devotion is told here: The Miraculous Image of Rosa Mystica, and here: Apparitions of Our Lady – Rosa Mystica – 1947 – 1976

These are “official” sites of the Apparition, this one is About Our Lady Maria, Rosa Mystica and details the life of the seer, Pierina Gilli and the basic story behind Our Lady’s visits and messages. 

This details all of the  Devotions to Honor Our Lady Maria, Rosa Mystica, whereas this tells you about what to do every day: Daily Devotions & Additional Prayers.

Here’s a link to the Diocesan Sanctuary of the Mystical Rose – Mother Of The Church and Montichiari Fountains

Here’s a nice downloadable PDF!

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)