Mantova and Sardinia hold Marian celebrations on July 6

On July 6, the town of Mantova in northern Italy will hold a Santa Messa at the Madonna del Terremoto church to mark the anniversary of the 1693 earthquake that damaged the region. The ceremony will also include prayers for the victims of the recent devastating earthquake in Venezuela.

In Sardinia, thousands of faithful gathered for the annual sea procession of the Madonna di Bonaria. After Mass, the statue was placed on a tugboat and escorted by about 500 vessels across the harbor, a tradition that honors the patron saint of Sardinia and remembers migrants who have lost their lives in the Mediterranean. The event coincided with the centenary celebrations of the Basilica’s consecration.