Our Lady of Arch Sanctuary

When in 1450, was the first prodigious event, the image of Our Lady of the Arch was painted on a wall, which ran alongside the road from Naples (Napoli) to Somma Vesuviana, for about 8 km far from Naples and less than a mile from the nearest town called Sant'Anastasia (Southern Italy).

136^ ANNIVERSARY OF THE "INCONORAZIONE"  FEAST

Since 1924, the 50th anniversary of the Virgin (September 8, 1874) was set up outside a party which is celebrated on the second Sunday of September. This year marks the event Sunday, September 12th, 2010.

At the time, held a solemn procession with the statue of Our Lady of the Arch for the city streets.

Today those entering the shrine, can see the sacred image of Our Lady of the Arc's temple built in 1621 on the exact place where the low wall was painted. The image presents a rectangular shape (See photo left).

The rest of that is covered with marble.

During the restoration, in 1952, took off the front panel of marble and the light was great part of the original image (see photo right down).

So we know better, so, how look (appear) the image of Our Lady  to the pilgrims that went before and certainly had, since then a deep devotion, as Each year, Easter Monday, we rushed to a village festival.

We often wonder why in the name of "Madonna of the Arch." Just do not know. 

Perhaps cause a nearby arch .More probably because all the country was so called, by remains of an ancient Roman aqueduct. Anyway Providence chose this name assign of the heavenly protection of the Mother of our Lord.

FROM A LITTLE WALL TO A FAMOUS SANCTUARY

The construction of the Sanctuary started in 1593, completed at the beginning of the XVII century, and has been restored lately. The façade and the sides present pilasters of Vesuvian gray stone. On the sides frames with fake arcades run around the church’s windows. 

But how was that an effigy of the Madonna on a low wall painted, reached the current sanctuary?

A series of miraculous events will punctuate the history here they are:

- The miracle of Easter Monday 1450 - when the left cheek image flowed live blood. This event attracted the presence of numerous people and so it came to little shrine construction.
The events took place exactly like this:
During a popular feast which took place exactly on that date, a furios young players bowling, was close to the miraculous shrine and played who did more to goaway by hitting a wooden ball with a mallet. In the game, the ball went to one of two to break against a linden tree that stood near the Sacred Image of Virgin Mary, making him lose the game.

The young player loser, blinded by rage, cursing threw the ball against the image of Our Lady, hitting the left cheek. The latter, as if it were meat, began to bleed. People jumped on the sacrilegious and was about to lynch him, when passing by the Count of Sarno, Raimondo Orsini, justiciar the Kingdom of Naples, he made free the victim, but the miracle ascertained, after a summary trial, he didhanged at the same lime tree that had stopped the ball. After twenty-four hoursthe tree withered.

The Face of the Madonna was tinged with blood again in March 1638. The fact was drawn up a deed to the presence of the Viceroy of Naples, the Vicar General of Nola, many religious priests and laity.

- Over time, given the neglect, the little shrine was in poor condition and was going to ruin. Our Lady appeared during a dream to a woman from the nearby Anastasia, named Eleanor, wife of Mark Antony Sarno, who provident, according to his economic condition, an initial restoration work. Then another benefactor, the Mr Scipione Capece de Rubeis unseasoned, reinforces the static and built a small temple. Afterwards a church was built there. - The miracle in the person to a woman named Aurelia Del Prete, which, as a result of conduct profanity, his feet fell on the night of Easter Monday 1590.This incident shocked the public conscience and led to the decision to build a largest temple. Indeed, in 1592, Pope Clement VIII sent St. John Leonardi from Lucca who prepares the construction of the sanctuary. On 8 March 1594, the sanctuary was entrusted the Dominican Order, the 1st August following, he took possession. This order did the completion of the Shrine is that the adjacent convent in the structure as they appear today. 

- The Miraculous Icon of Our Lady of the Arch, was always left to the center of the sanctuary and Further embellishments were added in the form of an altar and a temple of polychromatic marble. At this point, another prodigy dot the history of this shrine and manifested predilection of Virgin Mary for that Image: the miracle of the stone that broken in the hands of the architect, on February 15, 1621. Built the shrine, he wanted to beautify the shrine of Our Lady incorporating current temple.

 It was then that the architect Bartolomeo Picchiatti covering the image with marble and reduced visual primitive at present. During this procedure, reducing the thickness of the wall revealed a large stone from Vesuvius, that one of his points, came under the image of Virgin Mary. All were useless attempts to break that stone was a stumbling block and that could even cause the fall of the plaster on which was depicted the precious Image. Suddenly the four that night, while the Dominican community had collected in deep prayer, the architect of the Madonna pleaded She herself will remove that obstacle. 

 During the eruption of Vesuvius From 15 December 1631 to 21 January 1632, due to a terrible eruption of Vesuvius about 3000 people fled to the sanctuary in search of protection. despite earthquakes,fall of torrential rain, ash and lapilli, which broke all the windows of the sanctuary, except for the central window where he painted a picture of Our Lady of Arc. All remained unharmed. In memory, the survivors placed it in the back of the image, a slab of black marble with gold lettering engraved plaque the new marvel event. That black marble, today is a landmark for all the faithful who remember this miracle,use rub lovingly and with so much faith, perhaps a handkerchief to call down protection of the Blessed Virgin, touching this part of the wall that is closer to your Image.

THE IMAGE OF OUR LADY OF STARS SURROUNDED

Not for a pattern behind the glass that protects the image of Our Lady of Arch, you see many small stars.
This ornament is to remember another miracle took place March 25, 1675.Towards the sunset of that day, a monk of the monastery, while praying before magination, he sees the appearance of many stars shine the light.
Fearing a hallucination, the clerk called immediately without saying anything. Even the latter could witness the phenomenon. It was called the Prior, then P. Rosella and also not could do without a finding of fact.
Finally, he was named Bishop of Nola, who confirmed the miracle.