Fontanelle Apparitions Recognized by Church: New Devotion Emerges
At Fontanelle di Montichiari, a new atmosphere can be felt. It has been 35 years since the first alleged apparition of the “beautiful Lady dressed in white,” near that small spring in the locality of San Giorgio, to Pierina Gilli.
Years passed in a semi-clandestine manner by the faithful who believed in those apparitions; years during which it was not possible to gain the official support of the Catholic Church, which has always maintained a very cautious stance. But now, the letter from Bishop Giulio Sanguineti has changed the game, clarifying 35 years of obscurity, during which the message of the “Rosa Mistica” was heard and practiced more in South America and India than in Italy.
The new association and official recognition
The appointment by the Bishop of a priest in charge of overseeing the cult at Fontanelle, don Pierino Boselli, director of the diocesan liturgical office, has revived the spirits of those who have always believed in those twenty alleged apparitions, described by Pierina Gilli (who died in 1991) between 1946 and 1982.
Today, these individuals have their representatives on the board of the new association, called “Rosa Mistica – Fontanelle”, also founded through the mediation of the Bishop with the aim to “promote and spread devotion to the Madonna in the locality of Fontanelle”.
It is to The Virgin Mary that the Bishop refers in his letter to the previous two associations, when he states serenely and hopefully that “our movement is within the full will of God and the Madonna.”
The supporters and testimonies of faith
Among the members of the new association are citizens of Montichiari who have always been devoted to Rosa Mistica. Notable among them are respectable individuals such as the spouses Marisa and Leonardo Tanzini, owners of Vesmoda, or former provincial councilor Vigilio Belletti.
Also, the well-known accountant Antonio Rodella, banker Ezio Soldini, and Bruno Rossi, nephew of Monsignor Francesco Rossi, who was Abbot of Montichiari from 1949 to 1971. During the most controversial period of the apparitions, Rossi did not hide his loving support for those events, and for the messages of “prayer, sacrifice, and penance” that Pierina claimed to have received from the Madonna Rosa Mistica.
“All these people waited with humility and patience,” – states Rosanna Brichetti, researcher of the apparition phenomenon and wife of Vittorio Messori – “and now their reward is received through this loving embrace of the Church.”
However, this embrace is unlikely to become an official approval. This circumstance should not discourage the faithful who believed in the apparition. Even Mother Teresa of Calcutta was a fervent devotee of it.
The statements of religious figures and scholars
“I am coordinating with the bishop the timing and manner of my entry,” – explains don Pierino Boselli, parish priest of Verolavecchia – “I have already visited Fontanelle privately to pray and to see how things are going.” Meanwhile, Mariology scholars continue their research into the qualities of “those waters and that good faith” at Fontanelle.
They have already received positive opinions from scientists in Loreto, writer Vittorio Messori (who previously authored the well-known interview with Pope Woytyla), researcher Brichetti, and former mayor of Palazzolo Marino Gamba.
“I am pleased with this turn of events for the Brescian Church,” – Gamba reveals – “which can only bring serenity to those who love the Madonna. I already noticed improvements when I interviewed Bishop Mario Olmi last year, who was Abbot of Montichiari for years. He has always been somewhat hesitant in the past to give the green light.”
Thus, a new atmosphere is expected on April 22nd, Divine Mercy Sunday, for the thousands of pilgrims expected at Fontanelle from Italy and abroad, to remember with two processions (at 11:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.) the 35th anniversary of the first apparitions.
