The Shrine of St. Mary of Mercy
A place of exciting beauty and an extraordinary story of faith and devotion
Where is
The suggestion of a place of faith and devotion
This small country shrine stands on the high ground reached by the road between Davoli and San Sostene, which crosses its border here. The view is exceptional, embracing the entire Gulf of Squillace and the countryside around the two towns. Introduced by a wide flight of steps, the church has as its distinguishing feature a portal with a granite arch surmounted by a mullioned window. Inside is the statue of Our Lady of Mercy, carried in procession on the third Sunday in September when a multitude of pilgrims come up from surrounding towns. On the feast calendar, solemnities, illuminations and fireworks.
A pope's seal in the history of the shrine
It is believed that in the Middle Ages the place was the site of a Basilian hermitage . It is known for certain, however, that in the Aragonese period a watchtower stood there. As for the church, the hypothesis that it dates back to the 16th century is well-founded, but the most generous document of details is the papal bull of Pope Urban VIII, which in 1634 established theArchconfraternity of Mercy, giving its adherents the right to be buried there, and instituted pilgrimages on the seven Saturdays preceding the solemnities of the Assumption, amplifying its notoriety as a shrine.
All's well that ends well
After the catastrophic earthquake of 1783, a building was added as a dormitory, the tower was converted into a bell tower, and the church became a conventual place of worship. During the Napoleonic period, between 1806 and 1809, suppressed the religious body, it was even turned into a hospital. Restored, it was further remodeled after the 1905 earthquake, assuming its present consistency. Last stage in its history, since the year 2000, the official status of Marian shrine.
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