Our Lady of Loreto 22" - 2309

Our Lady of Loreto is the title of the Virgin Mary with respect to the Holy House of Loreto, Italy. She is associated with many miracles, as is the Holy House. Our Lady of Loreto was declared the patron saint of air travellers and pilots. An 18th century composer named Barroni lost his hearing suddently and unexpectedly and, after having exhausted the succor of art without success, he invoked that of Mary and set out on a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Loreto. There he was cured, and in his gratitude to the Holy Madonna, he composed in her praise a chorus, which was performed for the first time on the 15th August 1737. This litany was then repeated every year afterwards for the feast of the Madonna. Rossini was struck with the charm of this composition that he introduced it into his Tancredi. Once Pope Pius VII had recovered his liberty, came to kneel before his entrance to Rome, and as a memorial of his visit, left a superb gold chalice, with this inscription: "Pius VII, sovereign pontiff, restored to liberty on the day of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and coming from France to Rome, left at Loretto this monument of his devotion and gratitude.”

Feast day: 10th December