Those who propagate my Rosary shall be saved

Blessed Bartolo Longo (1841-1926) started restoring Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Pompeii (Italy) and eventually initiated the construction of a larger church. Four outstanding miracles took place at the shrine in 1876.

The first involved a twelve-year-old child, Clorinda Lucarelli, a victim of fierce attacks of epilepsy. Distraught relatives of the child made a promise to help in the building of the proposed church if the child recovered her health. Clorinda was cured on the day the painting was exposed for veneration. Two doctors certified on oath that the cure was nothing less than miraculous.

A young woman, Concetta Vasterilla, who was dying in agony, was also cured when similar promises were made. During the day when the cornerstone of the new church was laid, May 8, 1876, Fr. Anthony Varone, who had received the Last Sacraments and was dying of gangrene, was likewise healed. He celebrated Holy Mass the following morning and acknowledged his miraculous cure from the pulpit on the feast of the Holy Rosary.

A month after the cornerstone was laid, another miracle took place when Giovannina Muta was cured. She had been in the last stages of consumption when she was persuaded to make certain promises to Our Lady of Pompeii. On June 8th, while Giovannina lay in bed, she saw in a vision the painting of Our Lady of Pompeii—although she had never seen the painting in actual fact. But as she gazed, Our Lady seemed to toss her a ribbon on which was written: "The Virgin of Pompeii grants your request, Giovannina Muta." When the vision faded, Giovannina was completely cured. Other marvelous miracles and favors have taken place which are far too numerous to mention here.

The promise of the Blessed Mother that "Those who propagate my Rosary shall be saved" was realized when Pope Saint John Paul II affirmed the salvation of Bartolo's soul at the ceremony of beatification which was conducted on October 26, 1980.

Taken and adapted from Catholic Tradition