As we continue to reflect on the most meaningful moments of the International Congress of the Canossian Lay People, one experience stands out for its quiet depth: a symbolic yet deeply moving pilgrimage through the garden of the General House of the Canossian Sisters.
For one extraordinary day, this tranquil space was transformed into a living globe, dotted with the Marian shrines most beloved by St. Maddalena di Canossa.
With banners displaying evocative images of these sacred sites, and with hearts stilled in reverent silence, the participants retraced the spiritual journey of the woman from whom it all began. Each shrine represented not only a geographic location, but a moment in Maddalena’s own life of faith—places where she turned to Mary with her sorrows, her hopes, and that tireless love for the poor that defined her mission.
“Mary is the only one who can help us,” Maddalena once wrote.
In what became a kind of spiritual crescendo, the group moved shrine by shrine, drawing ever closer to Mary—whom Maddalena affectionately called Mother. Even now, in the uncertainty of the modern world, Mary remains an inexhaustible source of maternal love and comfort.
This is the enduring power of Maddalena’s witness: her message speaks not just to the past, but to the very real concerns of contemporary lay life. In silence and prayer, the participants entrusted to Mary and Maddalena their most pressing realities—family, work, children, and the search for meaning.
The Five Shrines: A Pilgrimage of the Heart
Our Lady of Loreto
A shrine deeply rooted in her soul, often visited on her travels to Coriano and Rome. With tender anticipation, she once wrote:
“On Saturday I hope to be with my beloved Treasure…”
To Maddalena, Loreto was a sacred home—a dwelling place of trust, intimacy, and the mystery of the Incarnation.
Our Lady of Monte Berico
Overlooking Vicenza, Monte Berico embraces Maddalena’s early years and her vocational call. From this sanctuary, Mary seems to cast a loving gaze over the land that would become the seedbed of a global mission.
Santa Maria dei Miracoli
A Renaissance jewel in the heart of Verona, this sanctuary offered Maddalena both rest and inspiration. Here, artistic beauty and popular devotion intertwine, lifting the soul through grace and wonder.
Our Lady of the Crown
Nestled dramatically in the cliffs of Monte Baldo, suspended between heaven and earth, this is a shrine of silence and spiritual ascent. Its striking location mirrors the courage of faith and the strength born of suffering—both central to Maddalena’s journey.
Our Lady of Caravaggio
A familiar stop on Maddalena’s frequent journeys between Bergamo and Milan. In a moving passage from her Memoirs, she confides:
“I was so overwhelmed that I wept for nearly an hour before Mary, calling her through my tears by the name of ‘Mother’.”
Caravaggio became a sanctuary of solace for her—a place of discernment and quiet strength.
A Glimpse into History and Grace: The Five Shrines
➤ Sanctuary of the Holy House of Loreto (Loreto, Ancona)
At its heart lies the Holy House—believed to have been miraculously transported from Nazareth. The current basilica, dating to the 15th and 16th centuries, boasts masterpieces by Bramante, Sansovino, and others. One of Europe’s foremost Marian sites, it stands as guardian of the mystery of the Incarnation.
➤ Sanctuary of Our Lady of Monte Berico (Vicenza)
Born of two Marian apparitions during the 15th-century plague, this sanctuary stands high above Vicenza. The present Baroque basilica, built in the 17th century, is both a beacon of maternal protection and a place of profound spiritual life.
➤ Sanctuary of Santa Maria dei Miracoli (Lonigo, Vicenza)
Erected after a miraculous event in the late 1400s, this sanctuary is one of the finest examples of Renaissance sacred architecture in Verona. Its richly frescoed interior evokes a sacred beauty that naturally draws the heart toward praise.
➤ Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Crown (Spiazzi, Verona)
Carved into the cliffs above the Adige Valley, this breathtaking 15th-century shrine is accessible only on foot. It draws thousands of pilgrims seeking stillness, courage, and a faith that climbs inward and upward.
➤ Sanctuary of Our Lady of Caravaggio (Caravaggio, Bergamo)
Built on the site of a 1432 Marian apparition, this grand sanctuary blends spiritual intimacy with architectural grandeur. Commissioned by St. Charles Borromeo in the 16th century and expanded over the years, it remains a beloved place of pilgrimage in Lombardy. The Virgin’s message: “Let Fridays be days of fasting for peace.”
