Religious observances honor the Virgin Mary across Italy

Various religious observances and local traditions are being held in Italy centered on the Virgin Mary. On August 22, the Catholic Church celebrates the memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary Queen, a feast officially instituted by Pope Pius XII in 1954 through the encyclical ‘Ad Caeli Reginam’. This liturgical day emphasizes Mary’s role as mother of Christ and her participation in the work of redemption.

In Calabria, the Sanctuary of ‘Santa Maria delle Grazie’ in Torre di Ruggiero is preparing for a series of celebrations from August 30 to September 9, including a Novena, pilgrimages, and solemn festivities.

In Giovinazzo, a traditional pilgrimage to the Casale di Corsignano took place on August 22. The event included a procession, a Mass presided over by Monsignor Domenico Basile, and a commemorative plaque for Angelo Stallone, a former carrier of the Sacred Edicola.