Grosseto. Our Lady of Graces is back in the cathedral of Grosseto after three years of “absence” because the fifteenth-century panel had been transferred to Siena to undergo conservative restoration.
In the afternoon of Saturday 27 April, at 5.30 pm, the painting of the Virgin of the Assumption venerated by the people of Grosseto with the title of Madonna delle Grazie was transferred from the bishop’s palace, where it had been taken last April 23rd on return from Siena, to the cathedral. The “double” of the cathedral’s bell tower greets his return.
The operations, supervised by the cathedral chapter, were carried out by the Grandini company. The sacred image was escorted by two Carabinieri and two municipal officers. Arriving in the cathedral churchyard, she received a kiss from the Chapter’s candidate, Canon Don Ivano Rossi, who, together with other canons and the president of the Marian Congregation, Valeria Maggi, entered the cathedral. Until May 9th the image will be exposed to the veneration of the faithful inside the “processional machine” located on the ancient main altar. Once the solemn five-year celebrations are over, the image will return to its usual location, in the niche of the chapel dedicated to her, a diocesan Marian sanctuary.
An applause broke out from the assembly the moment the table was laid out for everyone to see.
The welcome ceremony, followed by the Rosary and the pre-holiday Mass, were broadcast live on TV9.
Now the diocese of Grosseto is preparing to celebrate the five-yearly celebrations.
Every year, in fact, for centuries, the first Sunday of May is celebrated, in Grosseto, the feast of the Madonna delle Grazie, co-patron of the City and the Diocese of Grosseto, which is then solemnized in a special way every five years. It will be the same this year too.
The festival is organized by the Congregation Madonna delle Grazie and the Cathedral Chapter.
In the year in which the Diocese remembers the 50th anniversary of the establishment of CaritasBishop Giovanni wanted the Marian festival of the city and the diocese to also be linked to this particular anniversary to be helped by the history and testimony of Mary to continually recover that concern for service and love, which is a specific trait of the Mother of God. For this reason on May 5thpresiding over the solemn Pontifical at 5pm, in the cathedral, will be Monsignor Carlo Roberto Maria Radaelli, metropolitan archbishop of Gorizia and president of Italian Caritas and of the episcopal commission for the service of charity and health.
Born in Milan on 23 June 1956, Monsignor Radaelli has been a priest since 1980. On 8 April 2004 he was elected to the titular Church of Lambesi and appointed auxiliary of Milan. He received episcopal ordination on 5 June of the same year. On 28 June 2012 he was promoted to metropolitan archbishop of Gorizia.
The triduum
In preparation for the five-yearly celebrations, the Chapter and the Marian Congregation have planned a triduum of prayersa, which will be preached by Don Luca Caprini, vicar general of the diocese of Pitigliano-Sovana-Orbetello.
In the first three days of May, therefore, the parishes of the urban area will alternate in the cathedral, gathered in small groups, which will animate the triduum: on May 1st it will be the turn of the Maria SS parishes. Sorrowful, SS. Crucifix, Saint Francis of Assisi; on May 2nd in the parishes of Cottolengo, San Giuseppe and Santa Lucia; on May 3 of the parishes of the Holy Family and Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
Every evening at 5.30 pm the rosary; at 6.00 pm the Eucharistic concelebration presided over by Don Caprini and concelebrated by the priests of the parishes involved.
On Saturday 4 May, during the 6pm Mass, live on TV9, the offering of oil for the votive lamp, this year by the parish of the Sacred Heart.
The solemn celebration
On Sunday 5 May the parishes of the Diocese will meet again at 4.30pm in three different points of the historic center.
The parishes of the urban area in Piazza San Francesco; the parishes of the hilly-coastal Vicarìa (Roccatederighi, Sassofortino, Boccheggiano, Ribolla, Tatti, Torniella, Montemassi, Sticciano, Montepescali, Olmini, Roccastrada, Bagno di Gavorrano, Caldana, Vetulonia, Gavorrano, Ravi, Giuncarico, Castiglione della Pescaia, Punta Ala , Tirli, Scarlino, Scarlino scalo, Marina di Grosseto, Buriano) to Porta Corsica.
Finally, the parishes of the Ombrone-Bruna area (Roselle, Arcille, Nomadelfia, Marrucheti, Campagnatico, Montorsaio, Batignano, Sasso d’Ombrone, Poggi del Sasso, Casal di Pari, Alberese, Rispescia, Braccagni, Casotto Pescatori, Principina Terra, Istia d’Ombrone) at Porta Vecchia.
The individual groups, each moving from the meeting place, will head towards the Cathedral praying the Rosary. At 5pm the solemn Pontifical presided over by Monsignor Radaelli, at the end of which the procession with the image of the Virgin will emerge and cross some streets of the city centre.
