Monday, December 10, 2012

Camerino to Loretto

From Camerino to Loretto. It was a great and rich experience being in Camerino for 8days. The friars were simply good and fraternal. I had two lessons in Italian Language every day one by a Novice and another by an elderly friar.  Thanks to the fraternity for taking a great care of me. They took me around for a little sightseeing too. The entire fraternity went to celebrate a festal mass close by and thereafter a dinner with the parishioners on 5th of this month and in the morning on 6th I left for Loretto. It is a famous Marian shrine known all over the world. It is is known for the "Holy House" of Mother Mary brought by the angels from Nazareth. Millions of people have visited this pilgrim centre. Thousands do visit every day from all over the world. 
After the feast of Immaculate conception of Mary, which is a national feast in Italy, they celebrate the feast our Lady of Loretto here. It is a grand celebration and well planned and organized. They have a vigil Mass preceded by Holy Rosary and then followed by a lovely procession. On 9th night there were around 8 thousand pilgrims from all over Europe. What a faith in Mother Mary. The Cardinal of Palermo presided over the Masss. I had the opportunity to concelebrate the vigil Mass. The procession was a simply awesome and spiritual experience.

A Friar from Camerino

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