M A N Foundation

The apparitions of Our Blessed Mother under the title of "Rosa Mystica" (Mystical Rose) at Montichiari in Northern Italy to a humble Italian woman, Pierina Gilli, have great significance for our times. The original purpose of these appearances of Our Blessed Mother was the reform of the clergy and religious houses. By appearing with the two children of Fatima, Francisco and Jacinta, on December 7, 1947, (the sixth apparition) in the parish church, she showed that her appearance under the title of "Rosa Mystica" was a continuation of the message of Fatima. She once again urged us to pray the Rosary and do Guilli was born on August 3, 1911, at Montichiari and worked as a nurse in the hospital there.

The first time the dear Mother of Christ appeared to her was in a room of the hospital in the spring of 1947. Our Lady, a beautiful woman, wore a violet dress with a white veil around her head. She was very sad, her eyes were filled with tears, which fell to the floor. Her breast was pierced by three big swords. Our Lady said, "Prayer ­ Penitence ­ Expiation" and was silent.

On July 13, 1947, Our Lady again appeared in the hospital on Sunday morning. This time she was dressed in white and instead of the three swords, she had three roses: a white one, a red one, and a golden one. Our Lady explained to Pierina the meaning of the three swords and the three roses. The first sword means loss of the vocation as a priest or a monk. The second sword means priests, monks, and nuns who live in deadly sin. The third sword means priests and monks who commit the treason of Judas. While giving up their vocation, they often lose also their faith, their eternal beatitude, and become enemies of the Church. The white rose means the spirit of prayer. The red rose means the spirit of expiation and sacrifice. The yellow or golden rose means the spirit of penitence. She told Pierina, "I am the Mother of Jesus and the Mother of all of you. Our Lord sends me to bring a new Marian devotion for all male and female institutes, religious orders, and secular priests. I promise those religious institutes, orders and secular priests who venerate me in this special way my special protection, an increase of spiritual vocations, few betrayed vocations, and great sanctity among the servants of God. I wish the 13th day of each month to be celebrated as the day of Mary. On the 12 preceding days, special prayers of preparation should be said."Bishop Rudolf Graber of Germany writes, "... we are dealing at the deepest level with Mary's concern for the renewal and sanctification of priests and all persons dedicated to religion."

From 1973 to 1983, Mother Elena Leonardi, a stigmatist, had many visions of Our Lord, the Blessed Virgin and Padre Pio. In a private revelation, Our Lady gave Mother Leonardi a series of numbers. It was finally determined that these numbers were coordinates (latitude and longitude). These coordinates led to Edmeston; a small town in Upstate New York. It is on this spot that we have erected Rosa Mystica Chapel.

Excerpts from the book, Mary, The Mystical Rose, by A. M. Weigl ­ printed with ecclesiastical permission, February 2, 1974 and Private Revelation from the Blessed Mother to Mother Elena Leonardi