“Dear tourist friends of the Gargano, you have chosen our land for a period of well-deserved rest and to enjoy and admire the naturalistic heritage of the ‘Mountain of the Sun’, rich in beaches and woods”.
“And, I am sure, also to know the richness of faith and art that the millenary dialogue with God of the Gargano people has engraved on historical monuments: they are the visible signs that mark in the stones, but above all in the hearts, the testimony of the presence of the sacred, which has identified Monte Gargano for centuries”. He underlines it mgr. Franco Mosconearchbishop of Manfredonia-Vieste-San Giovanni Rotondoin his message to tourists.
Two of these monuments, recalls the prelate, “have crossed regional borders and are known throughout the world: the thousand-year-old sanctuary of St. Michael the Archangel to Monte Sant’Angelowhere our entire history of yesterday and today is contained, as well as the recent one of San Pio da Pietrelcina to San Giovanni Rotondowhich with the great works of charity involved, helps every visitor to discover the ardent charity that inflamed the heart of the holy Capuchin friar for over fifty years, a citizen of Gargano”.
These two sanctuaries have always been places of “special mercy”: to San Michele del Gargano, where “the rock opens up and sins are forgiven”, countless pilgrims from all social classes have flocked for fifteen centuries; while in San Giovanni Rotondo Padre Pio of Pietrelcina “he exercised the priestly ministry throughout his life and gave peace and relief to the hearts of thousands and thousands of men and women pilgrims of consolation”, writes the archbishop.
“Our era – observes Mgr. Moscone – is marked by wars and injustices that grip everyone’s hearts: we are also experiencing terrible moments and frightening risks in Europe. It is urgent for every man, especially if Christian, not only to pray for peace, but to make choices and gestures of peace, every day, even on days of well-deserved vacation. I hope that during your stay you can rediscover or strengthen the authentic joy in the depths of your heart, discover the beauty of Creation that God has abundantly poured into this promontory of ours and find true peace to give to your loved ones, friends and how many you will meet on your journey.”
An invitation, then, “to discover the identity and spring spirituality of the Gargano, visiting our ‘special’ places where our communities live, joining us to praise and meet the Lord and to draw strength from the true source of life which is the Risen Christ.”
The message concludes with the wish for “moments of peace, silence, healthy reading, reflection and prayer, together with immersion in a natural area of unique and incomparable beauty”, “to spend a holiday period peacefully with family and friends , making this time of rest an extraordinary opportunity to give the deserved space to family unity and the harmony of friendships” and to young people “to also take care of their own interiority, avoiding falling into the trap of easy ‘summer transgression ‘ and to experience the holiday as a time of friendship, good company and fascinating discoveries”.
