How Mary stopped the plague on Monte Berico (I)

A rare manuscript, kept at the Bertoliana library in Vicenza, Italy, tells in great detail the story of the events that took place in this city in northern Italy "shaken and decimated" by a serious epidemic of plague in 1426-1430.

On March 7, 1426, an old peasant woman named Vincenza Parisi, saw on the hill of Monte Berico, near the city of Vicenza, a woman dressed like a magnificent queen, with clothes more resplendent than the sun, and emanating a thousand perfumes. Overwhelmed by so much beauty, Vincenza fell to the ground. The strikingly beautiful woman helped her to her feet, and said to her: "I am the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Christ who died on the cross for the salvation of mankind. Please go and tell the people of Vicenza on my behalf to build a church here in my honor if they want to remain healthy, otherwise the plague will continue to rage."

Vincenza asked: "But the people will not believe me. And where, O glorious Mother, will they find the money to do these things? " - "You will insist that the people do what I request," the Virgin replied, "otherwise they will never be rid of the plague, and as long as they do not obey, they will experience my Son’s anger against them."

And she went on: "As proof of what I say, ask the people to start digging here, and a spring will flow out of the dry rock. As soon as construction starts, money will come." And with an olive branch, she marked the place where the church should be built on the soil, at the exact place where the main altar of the shrine stands today.

"All those who visit this church with devotion," she added, "on my feast days and on the first Sunday of each month, will receive abundant graces and God’s mercy, as well as a blessing from my maternal hand.” Vincenza went down to the town and announced this message, but no one believed her. The local bishop, Pietro Emiliani, dismissed her saying that she was crazy.

Adapted from an article by Pina Baglioni, published in the Italian magazine 30 Days

The quotes are taken from Codice n. 1430, from the Bertoliana library in Vicenza