Under the title of “The Mystical Rose”, Montichiari, a small Italian town she was emerged in 1947 as an epicenter of supernatural phenomena. It was here that the Virgin Mary, under the title of the Mystical Rose, made her appearances and requested the minting of a medal in her honor.
History and Meaning of The Mystical Rose in Montichiari
Pierina Gilli, born on August 3, 1911 and a nurse by profession, was chosen to receive the messages. In 1947, during the spring a beautiful lady wrapped in a purple robe and a white veil made her first appearance to Pierina.
The lady, with a sad face, carried three swords on her chest and tears flowed to the floor from her eyes. In a mellow voice, the lady pleaded: “Prayer, Penance, Reparation” and then kept silent. It would not be the last time that the so-called Mother of God would appear before Pierina.
The symbolism of swords and roses in Montichiari
On July 13 of that same year, she appeared again at the hospital, this time dressed in white and with three roses – white, red and gold – instead of the swords. The Lady who identified herself as the Mother of Jesus and the Mother of us all, expressed her desire to establish a new Marian devotion. Swords and roses were not mere ornaments each had a profound meaning.
Swords represented the loss of priestly vocations, the life in sin of consecrated people and the betrayal of those who abandoned their vocation and became enemies of the Church. On the other hand, roses symbolize the spirit of prayer (white), reparation and sacrifice (red) and penance (gold).
The apparitions continued their course, always with messages of love, devotion and faith. During her apparitions, the Mystical Rose Virgin asked for prayer and penance, promising grace and holiness to those who venerated her.
Fontanelli: The Apparitions and the Miraculous Fountain of Montichiari
In 1966, a new phase of apparitions began in Fontanelli, a field in Montichiari where there was a hidden water source in a cave. In one of the apparitions, the Virgin Mary gave this fountain a miraculous healing power, urging the faithful to drink from it and to wash themselves in her spirit of penance and purification. The Montichiari phenomenon has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the Catholic faith.
The story of the Mystical Rose reminds us of the importance of prayer, penance and devotion. It tells us about Mary’s constant intercession before her Son for humanity, an intercession that asks for love, faith and sacrifice.
This story, beyond its supernatural nature, is a call to the humanization of our faith and an invitation to live in love for our neighbor, as the Mystical Virgin Rose herself taught us through her apparitions to Pierina Gilli.
In her dedication to the Mystical Rose, the Virgin Mary emphasized the importance of priests and religion in the Church. He called for fervent prayer for them, asking for the sanctification of their work and the consolidation of their vocation.
He also emphasized the importance of celebrating the Hour of Grace, at 12 noon, every December 8, the day of the Immaculate Conception where Our Lady promised to shed abundant thanks to those who were in prayer.
The Sanctuary of the Mystical Rose in Montichiari: Center for Pilgrimage and spiritual consolation
The construction of a sanctuary in Montichiari was another wish expressed by the Mystical Virgin Rose. The intention was for this place to become a pilgrimage center for the faithful, a space where they could venerate the Mystical Rose pray for priestly vocations and find spiritual comfort.
The last appearance of the Mystical Rose to Pierina Gilli took place in 1976, almost thirty years after the first. On this occasion, Our Lady appeared in tears, expressing her sadness for those who did not yet believe in her messages and for the state of the world and of the Church.
Pierina Gilli died in 1991, leaving as a legacy a Marian devotion that is still in force today. Many faithful from all over the world have come to the site of the apparitions and have testified to receiving graces and healings, thus nourishing the faith and hope of those who believe in the messages of the Mystical Rose.
Finally, it is important to mention that despite the great popular devotion to the Mystical Rose, the apparitions in Montichiari have not been officially recognized by the Catholic Church.
The local diocese has issued statements asking the faithful to discern cautiously and remain faithful to the official teachings of the Church.
The case of the Mystical Rose is a reminder of the role of Mary as a mother and protector, who intercedes for humanity and guides the faithful to her Son, Jesus Christ. It invites us to reflect on the importance of prayer, penance and faith in our lives.
