Our Story
 From 1973 to 1983, Mother Elena Leonardi, a spiritual daughter of St. Padre Pio, had many visions of Our Lord, the Blessed Virgin and Padre Pio. In a private revelations, Our Lady gave Mother Leonardi a series of numbers. It was finally determined that these numbers were coordinates (latitude and longitude). These coordinates led to Edmeston; a small town in Upstate New York. Mother Elena Leonardi,  through the intercession of the Blessed Mother traveled from Italy to Edmeston, NY to build a House of Prayer 0n the site of the longitude and latitude coordinates. Mother Leonardi carried the Image of our Lady, praying the rosary for three weeks for the exact site of the Chapel.  The building began almost immediately and was dedicated as a Marian center for priests in 1985. With total love for the Blessed Virgin Mary, the very humble beginnings of the Rosa Mystica House of Prayer began. The remote site presented challenges, and without means, was to be left in waiting. The M.A.N. Foundation, dedicated to building churches, supporting the clergy, and feeding the poor, purchased the property and restored the beautiful Image of Rosa Mystica and sacred relics to the Rosa Mystica House of Prayer and completely restored the Chapel. Recognizing the need for continued support, the Rosa Mystica Foundation of America was formed to provide the stewardship. Through the generosity and commitment of the faithful to become stewards of the foundation, we can ensure the propagation of faith to all, through The Rosa Mystica House of Prayer, offering an open invitation to seek Jesus through the unfailing intercession of our Mother Mary, for spiritual, physical and emotional healing.  

Pierina Gilli (Image:Wikipedia)

The Pilgrims come
Mary's call for Prayer, Penance and Sacrifice
The apparitions of Our Blessed Mother under the title of "Rosa Mystica" (Mystical Rose) appeared in Montichiari,  Italy to a humble Italian woman named Pierina Gilli. It is believed that the original purpose of these appearances of Our Blessed Mother was to reform the clergy and religious houses of the time. Appearing with the two children of Fatima, Francisco and Jacinta, on December 7, 1947, in the local parish church for the sixth time, under the title of "Rosa Mystica" Mary continued the Message of Fatima, urging us to do penance and pray the Rosary.

Pierina Gilli was born on August 3, 1911, at Montichiari and worked as a nurse in the hospital there. The first time the dear Mother of Christ appeared to her was in a room of the hospital in the spring of 1947. Our Lady, a beautiful woman, wore a violet dress with a white veil around her head. She was very sad, her eyes were filled with tears, which fell to the floor. Her breast was pierced by three big swords. Our Lady said, "Prayer, ­ Penitence, ­ Expiation" and was silent.

On July 13, 1947, Our Lady again appeared in the hospital on Sunday morning. This time she was dressed in white and instead of the three swords, she had three roses: a white one, a red one, and a golden one. Our Lady explained to Pierina the meaning of the three swords and the three roses. The first sword means loss of the vocation as a priest or a monk. The second sword means priests, monks, and nuns who live in deadly sin. The third sword means priests and monks who commit the treason of Judas. In giving up their vocation, they often lose their faith, their eternal beatitude, and become enemies of the Church. The white rose means the spirit of prayer. The red rose means the spirit of expiation and sacrifice. The yellow or golden rose means the spirit of penitence. She told Pierina, "I am the Mother of Jesus and the Mother of all of you. Our Lord sends me to bring a new Marian devotion for all male and female institutes, religious orders, and secular priests. I promise those religious institutes, orders and secular priests who venerate me in this special way my special protection, an increase of spiritual vocations, few betrayed vocations, and great sanctity among the servants of God. I wish the 13th day of each month to be celebrated as the day of Mary. On the 12 preceding days, special prayers of preparation should be said."Bishop Rudolf Graber of Germany writes, "... we are dealing at the deepest level with Mary's concern for the renewal and sanctification of priests and all persons dedicated to religion."

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It is on this spot that the Rosa Mystica House of Prayer was built.

Continue to read more and see early photos about the history and story behind Rosa Mystica.

Excerpts from the book, Mary, The Mystical Rose, by A. M. Weigl ­ printed with ecclesiastical permission, February 2, 1974 and Private Revelation from the Blessed Mother to Mother Elena Leonardi.