Next Sunday, with a solemn procession in which the sacred image of the Holy Mary the liberator is carried in triumph, the people of Viterbo will renew the centuries-old vow of entrusting Viterbo to her protection. It is a rite that dates back to the year 1320 when a series of strange atmospheric phenomena struck the city, the people of Viterbo then went to the church of the Trinity and to make them stop they invoked the protection of the “Madonna enthroned with Child” kept in the church. The phenomena miraculously stopped, and from that moment the sacred image was acclaimed by popular acclaim as the protector of the city, with the name of Maria Santissima Liberatrice. In 1523, the citizens once again invoked the help of the “liberator” to put an end to a series of bloody clashes that caused many victims among the members of the noble families of Viterbo. Once again, their prayers were answered and the fighting ended. Since then, every year with a solemn procession in which the sacred image is carried in triumph, the people of Viterbo invoke the protection of Mary Most Holy Liberator for the city. This year the event, at the behest of Bishop Orazio Francesco Piazza, also takes on another meaning: that of gratitude towards the Madonna who protected Viterbo last 7 May, during the clean-up operations of the 2000 kilo bomb dating back to 1942, found during excavations on a construction site.
This morning in the Aurora room of the Municipality, the press conference to present the event. At the speakers’ table: the mayor Chiara Frontini, the prior of the church of the Trinity, Father Giuseppe Scalella, Marco Mandola, representing the bearers of the liberating Madonna, the president of the association of porters of Santa Rosa, Massimo Mecarini and the delegate of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order Tuscia and Sabina, Roberto Saccarello. «An event that is not only religious but also civic in all respects – explained the mayor – A celebration to which the citizens of Viterbo have been particularly attached for centuries. I believe that in Italy there are not many religious events that involve the transport of “machines”, we are a community of porters and transporters, who also put their physical strength at the service of faith.”
At 6pm the procession will start from Piazza del Comune with the image of Maria Ss. Liberatrice at its head, supported by its bearers. The Constantinian Knights of San Giorgio acted as his honor escort, with them also the historical procession of the musicians and flag-wavers of the Pillar and the religious brotherhoods. At 7pm the procession will arrive at the Church of the Trinity where, after the greeting of Bishop Orazio Francesco Piazza, the act of entrusting the city of Viterbo to Maria Santissima Liberatrice will be repeated.
«It will be an important moment of sharing, a moment of unity between the civil and religious world – underlined Father Giuseppe Scalella – These are the two elements that come together and represent the very characterization of Christianity. Every year it is a great emotion to see this tradition of thanking the Madonna renewed. A miracle that gave rebirth to an entire population and its city.” Among the 12 bearers of the Madonna, hoisted on a canopy over 2 meters high and recently restored, were also the porters of Santa Rosa.
«We are very honored to form this brotherhood, which we also have with the knights of San Lanno a Vasanello and with Santa Corona a Canepina – concluded Mecarini – Since last year we have also established a twinning with the Fratelli Incollatori of Capena. We don’t shy away from sharing, on the contrary we are happy to make ourselves useful, but always tiptoeing into other people’s homes. And we are very happy to join the transport of Maria Santissima Liberatrice in the sections where Marco Mandola deems it most appropriate”.
