History
The hamlet of San Damiano, officially known as San Damiano Piacentino, became famous through the apparitions of Mary to Rosa Buzzini (1909-1981). She was married to Giuseppe Quattrini and was later called “Mama Rosa”. Rosa had very little education and consequently could barely read or write when the visions began. The woman spoke in the local dialect. Rosa was called the seer due to these extraordinary events.
Rosa is a simple peasant woman, small in stature and stout. She lives in simplicity and is a devout woman. Rosa is married to Giuseppe Quattrini and is the mother of three children; two sons and a daughter. Rosa has love for and shows obedience to the church. This also applies to her two sisters, who have entered the convent. At the time of the apparitions, the church forbids Rosa to visit her two sisters in the convent.
When Rosa becomes pregnant with her third child, she falls ill. Shortly before she is due to give birth, doctors tell her not to keep the child, as it will mean her death. Rosa does not want an abortion and keeps the baby. After the child is born by C-section, neither mother nor child dies. After the birth of the child, Rosa develops puerperal fever and peritonitis for months. She becomes very seriously ill and then receives visits from Our Lady. These visits begin on 29 September 1961, and Rosa is immediately healed. Many apparitions of Mary follow. These events are supernatural.
The day of 29 September 1961 holds a significant event. A young, unknown woman with a blue scarf comes to Rosa’s family to beg for 500 lire, and Aunt Adèle speaks to the visitor. The requested money is intended for the purchase of three candles for the church of Saint Mary in San Giovanni Rotondo, where Father Pio works. Aunt Adèle says that they are very poor and only have 1000 lire, which has been borrowed. The visitor says she must give the money anyway. The aunt tells the woman that her niece, Rosa, is lying seriously ill and will die because she has peritonitis. The young woman asks if she may see the sick girl and is then allowed inside. Rosa and the woman speak to each other. Rosa hears the woman say that she must keep hoping and trust in Father Pio. Rosa trusts the well-known priest and often prays to him. The woman says that if Rosa trusts in Father Pio, he will heal her. The woman touches Rosa’s wounds and tells Rosa to get up. She cannot, and must give her hands to the woman. Suddenly, Rosa feels a great shock. She gets up and is healed. The woman and Rosa pray. Then the woman says that Rosa must go to Father Pio. Rosa remarks that she does not have enough money for the trip to Father Pio. The woman says that Rosa should not think about money. A moment will come when she has everything she needs. Then the young woman leaves.
Later, Rosa receives money from an unknown person for a trip to Padre Pio. With the money she suddenly receives, Rosa buys new clothes to wear and take with her. In May 1962, Rosa travels with a pilgrimage from the diocese to San Giovanni Rotondo, where Padre Pio is active. When she arrives, she sees the young woman with the light blue scarf again. The woman asks Rosa if she recognises her. Rosa answers affirmatively, and then she is instructed to pray at the statue the woman points to. It is the Mother of Consolation and of the Suffering. After celebrating mass, the woman takes Rosa to Padre Pio, who will give her instructions. After mass, Rosa sees the Holy Virgin shining on the altar, and She directs her to Padre Pio. Padre Pio’s instruction is that Rosa must assist the sick in a spiritual way. The Father encourages Rosa and promises to help her. In the following two years, Rosa cares for the sick and visits the monastery in San Giovanni Rotondo several times. During a visit to the well-known Father, she hears from him that her assignment has been completed and that a great event awaits her at home.
On 16 October 1964, Rosa hears a voice telling her to go outside. There, she sees a large white cloud in the sky, surrounded by gold and silver stars and roses of all colours. Then Mary appears by a pear tree. Mary is wearing a crown with 12 stars, and Rosa receives the message that she must tell others to pray a lot because Jesus can no longer carry his cross. Mary wants everyone to be saved and says that She is the Mother of Love. Mary also informs Rosa that the people are Her children and they must be saved. This is why She has come. Mary says that She will return every Friday and will provide messages which Rosa must make known to everyone.
On 21 October 1966, Maria asks Rosa to dig a well in the rose garden, which is called Paradijshofje. This is done just behind the pear tree. Rosa gets help and people dig a well 12 metres deep and hit rock. On 14 September 1967, someone manages to split the rock, and a lot of water immediately gushes out. Rosa says to dig further, and at a depth of 17 metres, a huge amount of water is found. This happens on 26 October 1967.
The message from Mary to Rosa on 2 June 1967 is that visitors to San Damiano must bring plenty of water, as water ensures the health of soul and body and strengthens faith. During the apparition of 22 August 1967, Mary tells Rosa that She is the Mother of forgiveness. On 10 November 1967, Mary tells Rosa that the rosary is the most powerful weapon to save people. During the apparition of 16 June 1968, Mary says that She will stay with those present day and night and, in the small paradisiacal garden, She awaits people to redeem them, to love them and to one day carry them into heaven. On 11 November 1968, Mary says that people should give white handkerchiefs to the sick and these dry the tears. Those who receive a handkerchief receive a great gift, namely drying the tears with it and seeing the light of heaven. It is also noticeable that people often perceive the scent of roses, even when no roses are present.
Hereafter, Maria continues to visit Rosa, from whom she receives many messages intended for everyone. This continues until Rosa's death in 1981. In total, Rosa receives more than 2000 messages from Maria.
Rosa is the first to tell Edgardo Pellacani, the priest of San Damiano, what is happening to her and Maria.
Retired clergy will organise pilgrimages to San Damiano. Bishops are displeased with this, and the pilgrimages are opposed through repression.
In 1968, Bishop Rosa prohibited the dissemination of Our Lady's messages. In 1970, the bishop repeated this.
Mary calls herself the Comforter of the Afflicted. She ensures that Rosa and Father Pio work together to strengthen people's faith. Mary gives Rosa the plan for a “City of Roses”.
One day Maria says to Rosa that Jesus has chosen her as his instrument because she is so very ignorant.
The French organisation “Les apôtres de Notre Dame Miraculeuse des Roses” (“The Apostles of Our Miraculous Lady of the Roses”), from Cambrai, is involved with the pilgrimage site. They provide Italian and French books and information in particular.
Pilgrimage site
In San Damiano, people come from all over the world to pray to Our Lady, who has promised to come to this place until the end of time. Here, Mary is known as “Our Lady of the Roses, Miracle Worker.”.
The enclosed area is full of roses and apparitions have taken place here. This is the “garden of apparitions”. Next to it is Mama Rosa's house, with a large fence in front of it. The pear tree, where Maria stood, is also here. Visitors pray in the rose garden, some under awnings. There is also a large statue of Padre Pio here. Rosa had many contacts with this priest.
Near the rose garden is the fountain with miraculous water. There are some taps, from which water is supposed to come.
At the edge of the estate are long walls, and these are covered with innumerable ex-votos.
Near the church, there is parking and in the direction of the apparition site, there is a shop selling devotional items, where French is also spoken besides Italian.
Rosa can be visited at the nearby cemetery, approximately 500 metres outside the hamlet. Upon entering the cemetery, turn immediately right; she is interred in the first chapel of the deceased.
The apparitions at San Damiano have not yet been recognised by the bishop. This is remarkable, given the clear messages Our Lady has given to Rosa. Rosa has never been interrogated by ecclesiastical authority.
ACCESSIBILITY
The village of San Damiano belongs to the municipality of San Giorgio Piacentino and is located about 20 km south of Piacenza, not far from the Nure river. On the Milan-Bologna motorway, take the Piacenza-Sud exit and follow the road towards San Polo. Upon reaching San Giorgio, drive towards Centovera. Then, follow the signs for “San Damiano” and pass the extensive grounds of the military airfield. After that, you will reach San Damiano.
The organisation of the place of apparition is managed by the “Association les apôtres de Notre-Dame Miraculeuse des Roses”, Via Iussano 1, 29019 San Damiano, Italy.
Current news can be found on www.san-damiano.com and www.santuariosandamiano.org.
Experience
Today I'm visiting “Mama Rosa” in the Italian town of San Damiano. After Piacenza, it's another 20 kilometres further, and then I arrive at the vast grounds of a military airbase. It's quiet here, and there's no sign of any fast aerial devils.
After driving around the large airport, I arrive in the village of San Damiano. This hamlet also appears peaceful. This calm is short-lived, as the sky quickly clouds over and a violent thunderstorm breaks out. With clatter and flashes, the earth is blessed.
After parking the car in the square next to the closed church, I visit the shop selling devotional items about 100 metres further on. Italian and French are spoken here, not just Italian. Virtually all the books available are in these two languages, as very little is stocked in German or English. Suddenly I see a small work written in Dutch, but I leave that book behind as it already belongs to my collection. A friend of mine would certainly be interested in it, so I pay for the little book anyway. I also buy a large flask to put spring water from the pilgrimage site in.
The next stop in San Damiano is the large estate, which includes the house of the seer “Mama Rosa” and the rose garden. When I arrive there, it's still thundering and the rain is coming down in buckets. I don't need to be blessed with such abundance at the moment. The rosary is being prayed by at least 100 Italian pilgrims. Fortunately, this takes place under some large, covered areas, as the rain still hasn't let up. A friend asked me to bring back water from the spring, and I've already bought a small bottle for this purpose. Unfortunately, I can't fulfil this request, as the taps at the spring aren't dispensing any water. For a moment, I consider placing the open bottle in the rain, but I decide against it.
After half an hour, the sky clears up a bit and I go to the rose garden. As I stand by the fence, all sorts of thoughts about San Damiano come to mind. So much has happened here! The time for thoughts and prayers arrives. Next, I want to enter “Mama Rosa's” house, but the gate is closed and visits are not allowed today.
After the stay in the estate, I leave the village and go to the cemetery. There, I greet “mama Rosa” and pray for her soul's rest. She passed on so many messages.
Environment
To get to San Damiano from the city of Piacenza, you need to travel 23 km south. From the global city of Milan, the distance is 94 km to the southeast to reach the pilgrimage site of San Damiano. From Parma, it is a 68 km journey west to get to San Damiano. From Brescia to San Damiano is 98 km south. Departing from the pilgrimage site of Montichiari to San Damiano means covering 107 km southwest.
Posted: 9 June 2024
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