Our Lady of the Beech Tree
Castelluccio, Italy 17th c.)
In 1672 the Blessed Virgin told a shepherd boy that she wished to be venerated at a certain place in the beech woods near Castelluccio, whereupon the child discovered a terracotta Madonna affixed to one of the trees there. The 7” Madonna of the Beech was moved to a shrine, and later in 1722 to its own mountain sanctuary. In 1975 the sacred image was stolen and replaced with a copy.
Since 1756, an annual pilgrimage on Ascension Day brings the image to the town and back again, and on St. Anne's day, July 26, a procession goes to the site of the beech tree.
Text and image used with permission.
Source: "365 Days with Mary" by Michael O'Neill
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