Devotion to Mary: God's clemency towards men

CLEMENCE OF GOD TOWARDS MAN

Mary is present to the mystery that was accomplished one day in her womb, constituting her throne of God more shining than a throne of angels: "Hail, or most holy throne of the One who sits on the cherubs"; it is present in the outpouring of peace and forgiveness that God through his means bestows on the world: "Hail, clemency of God towards man". It is present in the mercy that continues to pour out abundantly, in the grace that gives us light: "Ave, field that produces abundance of mercies". It is present on the mouth of the Apostles who proclaim the Word and in the testimony of the Martyrs, who go to death for Christ: "Hail, thou of the Apostles the perennial voice", "Hail, of the Martyrs the indomitable daring".

John Paul II

MARIA WITH US

In the same place where the church of the Beata Vergine della Divina Provvidenza di Pancole now stands, there was a shrine on which Pier Francesco Fiorentino had frescoed the image of the Virgin nursing the Child (probably between 1475 and 1499). Subsequently the newsstand was neglected and landslide the roof was covered with brambles and ivy until it disappeared from view. In the second half of the seventeenth century, the entire Valdelsa experienced a period of poverty and famine due to drought. Legend has it that in the first days of April 1668 Bartolomea Ghini, a shepherdess who was dumb from birth, was particularly sad about her own poverty and by bringing the flock to pasture she was seized with despair so much that she cried out. At that point a beautiful lady appeared to her and asked her why she was so sad. When Bartolomea replied, the lady reassured her by telling her to go home because there she would find the pantry full of bread, the oil cruet full of oil and the cellar full of wine. At that point Bartolomea realized that he had spoken and ran away calling his parents at the top of their voices, amazed to hear his daughter speak and to find the pantry full. All the villagers therefore wanted to go to the pasture where she said she had seen the mysterious lady but found only a pile of brambles. At this point with plants and pruning hooks they eradicated the plants to discover that they were hiding the shrine with the image that Bartolomea said to portray the lady he had met. In the removal of the brambles the image was scratched by a billhook and the sign is still visible. Since then it was decided to venerate the Madonna with the title of Mother of Divine Providence. This news attracted a multitude of pilgrims who brought offerings and building materials for the construction of a church to protect the image. Thanks to such collaboration, the church was erected and consecrated in just two years (the works ended in 1670).

PANCOLE - BV of Divine Providence

FIORETTO: Will you be a prodigal son with God? Recite three Pater to the Heart of Jesus so as not to become him