On Thursday 23 May, at 6pm, in the conference room of the Diocesan Museum of Andria, the public meeting will be held, organized by the association of the Volto Santo-section of Ruvo, dedicated to the figure of Sister Amalia Di Rellamystic and religious woman from Ruva.
«The purpose of the meeting – they explain from the association -, organized on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of her ascent to Heaven, is to spread the life and works of the disciple of the Holy Face who did a lot for the territory of Andria and for all the places in where he went and for the people he met. Lin her light she emanated serenity to all those who met her: this is what emerged from the collection of testimonies that is being carried out”.
During the meeting on May 23, some ecclesiastical representatives who had the opportunity to experience life episodes with her will speak, others will talk about the Holy Face of Manoppello to which the nun was devoted. «The veil depicting the Holy Face – continues the association -, displayed inside the Sanctuary of Manoppello, is strongly linked to the life of Sister Amalia.
The meeting, moderated by the journalist Angela Ciciriello, will be attended by: Nunzia De Astis, president of the Volto Santo Association (Ruvo di P. branch); Antonio Bini, journalist and scholar of the Holy Face; Don Mimmo Francavilla, director of Caritas Diocesana – Andria section; Don Peppino Lapenna, former parish priest of the church of San Michele Arcangelo in Andria; Michele Ippedico, author of the book “La puppet di Dio” (dedicated to the life of Sister Amalia)
The Volto Santa association mentions some episodes from the life of the mystic from Ruva. «It happens that, before taking her vows, Amalia Di Rella is often ill. There are many doctors who visit her, but none of them are able to give a connotation to the cause of her illnesses, and by not identifying the disease exactly, she is not even able to prescribe a certain cure. Some doctors describe her illness as inexplicable. Amalia begins to have visions of her: Jesus and other religious figures, such as Padre Pio and Padre Domenico da Cese, her spiritual guide, appear to her and speak to her.
He suddenly heals from all illnesses while standing in front of the “Holy Face” of Manoppello, an important sanctuary in Abruzzo, a destination for pilgrims from Italy and all over the world. The testimonies of those who knew her tell of stigmata on her hands and feet, a wound on her side and a wound on her forehead in the shape of a crown of thorns and a laceration on her left ankle. To many people these signs remind us of Christ when he was chained, along with the other two thieves, as he ascended Calvary. Sister Amalia appears to be the only one to have received this latest wound.
After a few years – we are in the early 70s – Amalia founded the association of Holy Face of Manoppello; in 1976 he took his vows, while in 1981 he pronounced his perpetual vows, under Monsignor Grazia, bishop of the then diocese of Bitonto-Ruvo, in the church of Purgatory in Ruvo. In 1986 he founded the order of diocesan nuns called Disciples of the Holy Face under the guidance of Don Tonino Bello».
«His life and his works – writes Nunzia De Astis, president of the Volto Santo association of Ruvo – do not only have a religious aspect, but a cultural correlation with the common people, with our traditions and with our history» . The intent of the meeting is also to start a path towards his possible cause for beatification and canonization.
Wednesday 22 May 2024
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