marian anniversaries     july

July 11

Madonna del Carmine, Anghiari, Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy

A 12-year-old shepherdess, Marietta Del Mazza, reported apparitions of the Virgin on July 11, 1536 and days following. The Madonna requested a church to be built at the spot, and the local landlord to donate his painting of her. When news spread through the region, along with reports of miracles attributed to the Virgin's intercession, the bishops of Arezzo and Sansepolcro conducted an investigation and authorized a shrine at the apparition site in the Combarbio area. Completed in 1539, the sanctuary was staffed by the Franciscan order at first, then by the Carmelites until 1782. Since 1987 it has been under the jurisdiction of the local bishop. Like many contemporary works of the Florentine school, the landlord's painting shows the infant St. John the Baptist pointing to the Child Jesus. 

Sources: 

The diocese's website, www.diocesi.arezzo.it
"Dettaglio del Santuario," Censimento Santuari Cristiani in Italia, www.santuaricristiani.iccd.beniculturali.it/Common/dettaglio.aspx?idsantuario=1751
web.rete.toscana.it (photo of 1500s painting)

Also celebrated this date:

Our Lady of the Southern Cross, Sydney, Australia. New painting unveiled in Catholic cathedral, 1988. Feast May 24.
Onze Lieve Vrouw van Groeninghe, Kortrijk, West Flanders, Belgium. Flemish victory over French occupiers attributed to Mary's intercession, 1302.
Notre-Dame de l'Immaculée-Conception, Neussargues, Cantal, Auvergne, France. Church blessed, 1853.
Beata Vergine del Carmine, Sorrento, Napoli, Campania, Italy. Icon crowned, 1880; reenactment on following Sunday; festa July 16.
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe del Centro, Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico. Church dedicated, 1880; feast December 12.
Matka Boska Świętolipska, Święta Lipka, Reszel, Kętrzyn, Warmia-Mazuria, Poland. Icon crowned, 1968.
Notre-Dame de la Visitation, Martigny, Valais, Switzerland. Church consecrated, 1683.
Mother of God of Three Hands, Blagodatnoye, Volnovakha, Donetsk, Ukraine (June 28 Julian). Also July 12 / 25.
 

Where We Walked ~~~ Mary Ann Daly