Description

The first apparition to Pierina Gilli, a hospital nurse, was of Our Lady, a beautiful woman. She wore a violet dress and a white veil around her head and appeared to Pierina in a room of the hospital, in the spring of 1947. Mary 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 June 13, 1947, Our Lady appeared again in the hospital early one 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. Pierina asked her, “Please tell me who you are.” The Lady answered, smiling, “I am the Mother of Jesus and the Mother of all of you.” Here she paused, then she went on, “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, fewer betrayed vocations, and great sanctity among the servants of God. I wish the 13th of each month to be celebrated as the day of Mary. On the twelve preceding days, special prayers of preparation should be said.” With an expression of great joy, she went on, “On this day I shall send to these religious institutes, members of orders, and secular priests who have honored me in this way, a superabundance of graces and great sanctity. I wish the 13th of July of each year to be celebrated in honor of the ‘Rosa Mystica,’ the Mystical Rose.”