Madonna di Valmala
23 September 2015
Valmala: a country, on the valletta side of Valle Varaita, about 800 metres above sea level.
Valmala it now has around a hundred inhabitants. But at the time of the story that we tell housed well six hundred souls in 24 townships.
But today we're not here to talk about feats of heroes or acts of war.
The historical fact that gave a new face to the country and the landscape is of another order of things…
We write of the sanctuary of the mother of mercy in the Ail of Valmala and its prodigious origin.
Go back in time, to 155 years ago, in early August 1834.
Among the scattered villages of Valmala spreads a strange news:
– Up there at Ail has appeared a weeping Lady!
– ' Na indignant that fear, that to pioura sempe…
The news brought to the Valley by some shepherds makes tough around the country, giving rise to different comments, mostly unfavorable.
The name of the shepherdesses is more than significant: named all four Maria. Here they are in order of age:
Maria Ballesteros (11/12/1823)
Mary Margaret Pittavino (7/18/1822)
Maria Pittavino (7/4/1822)
Maria Castaneda (4/29/1822)
But here's how the first appearance. In early August the four Marie with small Chiffredo and a few others have come to Muhammad. It's about ten in the morning. Placed on their floe backpack, already are going to get to play, when…
Here's there among them, now you don't know where, a beautiful lady, in her 20s, with his hands outstretched toward them and open arms attitude benevolent, maternal.
Wearing a long dark red dress that goes down to the feet and an equally long veil blue, uk at the front by a glittering Golden Stud. Shaking your hips a gleaming gold belt. In Chief is wearing a Crown of dazzling light.
Its appearance is sad. His eyes are filled with tears.
The Lady does not speak; but her crying is more than significant:
the tears of a mother always say so many things…
Text and images taken from “Following in the footsteps of the Virgin…”
Giraudo Publisher
Aldo Parker lyrics – Illustrations by Elda and Don Cesare Maero