Our Lady of Pompeii

July 12, 2013

The Marian shrine Padre Pio prayed to throughout his life — a painting that compels prayer, 900 documented miracles, and a rose that refused to die. (4 min read)

In anticipation of visiting Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo, my mother and I visited a Marian shrine in Pompeii that was particularly dear to him.

Pio prayed the novena to Our Lady of Pompeii throughout his life, and made numerous pilgrimages to the shrine. Pio also asked others to pray a novena to Our Lady of Pompeii on his behalf. Pio sent a rose to this shrine on the 50th anniversary of the receipt of the stigmata. While Pio died a few days after the anniversary, the rose, which was honoured in the church, still looked alive over a year later.

The shrine in Pompeii was founded by Bartolo Longo near the ancient city of Pompeii. Our driver told us that we were the first tourists in ten years who asked to be taken to this place and we were rewarded with a beautiful and tranquil visit which was quite a contrast to the crowds and tourist tat outside.

Longo dedicated his life to spreading devotion to Mary. On one occasion he was given a painting of her that was in very poor condition. He had this painting restored and a church built to house it. Jewels were embedded into the painting and a crown was placed on the Madonna.

Bartolo realised that there was something unique about the painting which, he said, “impressed the soul”. Visitors to the shrine, upon seeing the image, were compelled to pray. The painting came to be known as the Madonna of Pompeii as various cures and favours were soon reported by those who prayed before it. Bartolo, whose own mother was one of the first cured, documented more than 900 miracles from these prayers. He also composed a novena to Our Lady of Pompeii which became widely circulated.

Apologies for the quality of the image of Our Lady of Pompeii at the head of this post but it was the best I could capture on the day.

Today, the church remains highly energised. We said prayers here for Padre Pio and for our loved ones and I later left a Casa crystal on the ancient Pompeii site to strengthen connection with Abadiania.

There is a lovely chapter on Padre Pio’s devotion to Mary in the book “Pray, Hope and Don’t Worry”, which I highly recommend.