In a sharp reversal, the bishop of Bergamo, Italy, on Wednesday set aside a longstanding prohibition against devotions at an alleged and particularly spectacular if largely unknown apparition site in Ghiaie di Bonate, a hamlet northeast of Milan.
The bishop, Monsignor Francesco Beschi, “announced a decision at the end of a Holy See procedure… to authorize, value, and accompany the cult of ‘Mary Queen of the Family’ at the parish chapel,” erasing a ban on such devotion first set in place in 1948. The apparitions, phenomena, and messages are still considered “non constat” — unproven — however.
But the order, at the behest of the Vatican, acknowledges that pilgrimages and devotions inspired by thirteen apparitions that took place over a period of twenty-one days from May 13 to May 31, 1944 have continued non-stop, bearing obvious fruit in what the bishop described, on an order technically executed on February 11, the feast day of Lourdes, as a “true, concrete, and humble” way.
The 1948 judgment, now negated, had been harsh, stating that “every form of devotion for Our Lady, worshipped as appeared at Ghiaie di Bonate, in compliance with the canonical laws, remains hereunder forbidden.” Moreover, it was caused by the actions of a priest that even Pope John XXIII held as suspect. The new declaration notes that the majority of the faithful, especially the seer, Adelaide Roncalli, have “always trusted the wisdom of the Church by living a real and fruitful Marian devotion.”
She was a girl of just seven, was Adelaide, when Mary appeared with the Holy Family at Ghiaie di Bonate. The apparitions, sometimes including eight angels, continued for nine consecutive days, with first several girlfriends accompanying her, then dozens, and then hundreds of townsfolk, swelling to crowds estimated at 200,000.
After a short respite, the apparitions recommenced on May 28, continuing till the end of the month, when 350,00 were said to have jammed the area, many of them reporting extraordinary solar and other miracles — more in number than witnessed the great sun miracle at Fatima.
Just as Fatima came toward the end of World War One, so did Ghiaie di Bonate — known now as the “Fatima Epilogue” — come at the end of World War Two, which had a grueling effect on this part of Italy.
The celestial phenomena included striking rays of sun that fell upon Adelaide.
Noted one observer, Dr. Eliana Maggi, in a deposition to the initial episcopal committee, “At the outset of the apparition a sun ray shone on the child’s head. I raised my eyes to the sky and saw a cross-shaped rift in the sky and a shower of golden and silvery spots, for a minute or two, and everybody hailed it as a miracle.”
In fact others described the sun as taking on the shape of a cross or the solar disc whirling dizzily and forming a ring. Like Dr. Maggi, many witnessed gold stars along with small yellow clouds in the sky. Various “phosphorescent” colors seemed iridescent on the hands of those praying.
More spectacularly, the alleged sun miracles were seen not just as Ghiaie di Bonate but nearby towns such Tavernola. Some estimate that all told more than a million witnessed solar displays during the course of the apparitions.
Trouble came when, soon after the apparitions, Adelaide was coerced into renouncing what she had seen — though she retracted that renunciation less than a year later. Pope John XXIII, in a July 8, 1960, letter, himself said her testimony had been withdrawn “on account of the threats and fears of hell exerted by somebody” and lamented that “the terror for those threats” persisted.
That “somebody” was Don Luigi Cortesi, young philosopher and teacher of Bergamo’s Seminary who played “devil’s advocate” — perhaps too literally — forcing the young child to cast grave doubt on what she had claimed.
As Adelaide reported in her diary: “In a room of the Orsoline’s convent in Bergamo, after closing all doors, Don Cortesi dictated the words to be written on the wretched note. I remember perfectly that, on account of the state of moral violence I was being submitted to, I stained it and he split the sheet of paper and made me write it again, with great patience, in order to reach his aim. That’s how the betrayal was carried out.”
Adelaide also met with great suffering when, after initial entrance into a convent, she was forced out for no clear reason. Afterward she maintained her strict devotion but married and began a family. One boy who was present at the initial apparitions and 
later became a priest, Father Candido Maffeis, noted that instead of fading away, has “shown a thread, let’s call it underground or celestial if you want, that has kept alive the confidence that Mary will get things straight herself, because men have blundered and confounded people, ideas, messages, and personal passions, both ideological and scientific, using too human and sectarian a standard, and have stifled the luminous historic event of Ghiaie di Bonate.” It is said that when Padre Pio met a group from Bonate, he had said, “What are you doing down here, you who have Our Lady of Bonate in your village?”
The messages were simple and pertained not to dramatic world events — at least not that is publicly known — but to individual and family holiness.
[The messages of Ghiaie di Bonate (from La Madonna di Ghiaie di Bonate):
1) Unity and sanctity of the family
Adelaide’s vision, in the 9th apparition, is emblematic and encompasses all the teachings about the sanctity of the family, underlining the four indispensable virtues: patience, faithfulness, meekness and family silence. It is an authentic masterpiece of divine goodness.
The couple of doves represent the two members of one’s family, the Holy Family, the typical pattern for every family. The horse, that is the householder, fallen under the sway of temptation, gives up prayer, gets up and passes behind the Virgin’s shoulder, slips out of the open door (the freedom that God grants to every creature), and heads for a field of lilies that it wants to trample down. The white sheep, the other consort, remains in the church praying together with the two virtues: the spotted dog (faithfulness betrayed), the grey donkey (the repentant patience that husband and wife must practice). Prayer, the value of hurt faithfulness and repentant patience stir God who sends Saint Joseph to aid. He catches it out and leads it back to pardon and prayer with meekness. Thus the unity and sanctity of the family is recomposed.
2) Children’s duties
“You must be good, obedient, respectful with your neighbours and sincere: pray well …” (1°)
“You must be good, obedient and sincere, and you must pray well and be respectful of your neighbour”. (2°)
Children must contribute to the good of their family. In the first two apparitions Our Lady draws up a practical schedule of family life for young and older children, highlighting the following duties: goodness, obedience, respect for one’s neighbour, sincerity and prayer.
3) Prayer and repentance
“Tell them that if they want their children to be healed they must repent, pray a lot and avoid certain sins. If the people repent soon the war will finish in two months, otherwise it will go on for two more years.”(3°)
“Pray for the poor sinners who need the children’s prayers.” (4°)
“Pray for the poor stubborn sinners who are dying in this moment and who pierce my Heart.” (6°)
“The prayer I like best is the Hail Mary.” (6°)
“Pray also for the Holy Father who is living difficult moments.” (10°)
“Pray a lot for those who have a sick soul; my Son Jesus died on the cross to save them. Many people do not understand these words of mine, that is why I suffer so much”. (11°)
“Pray for the Pope and tell him to act quickly because I want to be solicitous to everyone in this place. Anything is required from me. I will intercede with my Son for it.” (13°)
Our Lady speaks to all families urging them to pray and do penance for the safety of the family institution. We must pray well and have our children pray because the prayers of the innocent, requested by the Blessed Virgin, will redeem the poor sinners. War is also the cause and result of the many sins; She urges us to do penance and pray for peace.
4) Meditation
“Meditate upon these words all the days of your life, summon up your courage in all your sorrows. (7°)
“Tomorrow will be the last time I speak to you, then for seven days I will let you reflect on what I have told you. Try and get my words straight as they will be very useful for you when you grow up if you want to become all mine.” (8°)
Our Lady invites us to reflect upon what She said to Adelaide. Master of spiritual life, she wants us to get her teachings straight as they will turn very useful during our long journey towards salvation.
5) Love for one’s neighbour
“You must be good, obedient, respectful with your neighbours and sincere: pray well and come back to this place for nine evenings, always at this time.” (1°)
“You must be good, obedient and sincere, and you must pray well and be respectful of your neighbour.” (2°)
“Peace is coming soon, but I am anxious for that world peace in which everybody loves one another like brothers.” (10°)
6) Suffering
Our Lady’s suffering
“Pray for the poor stubborn sinners who are dying in this moment and who pierce my Heart.” (6°)
“Pray for the stubborn sinners who make my Heart suffer cause they do not think of death.” (10°).
“Pray a lot for those who have a sick soul; my Son Jesus died on the cross to save them. Many people do not understand these words of mine, that is why I suffer so much”. (11°)
The Pope’s and the Church’s suffering
“Pray also for the Holy Father who is living difficult moments. He is ill treated by many and many attempt his life. I will protect him and he will not leave the Vatican. Peace is coming soon, but I am anxious for that world peace in which everybody loves one another like brothers. Only this way the Pope will suffer less”. (10°)
Adelaide’s suffering
“You will suffer a lot, but do not cry, as you will come with me to Paradise!” (2°)
“Meditate upon these words all the days of your life, summon up your courage in all your sorrows.” (7°)
“Dear child, you are all mine, but even if you are dearest to my heart, tomorrow I’ll leave you in this valley of sorrow and weep. You will see me again in your hour; I will take you to Paradise enwrapped in my mantle. I will also take with me those who understand you and suffer”. (12°)
“Dear daughter, I am sorry I must leave you, but my time has passed. Do not lose heart if you do not see me for a while. Think of what I have told you; I will come back in your hour. You will be a little martyr in this valley of real sorrows. Do not get discouraged, I wish my triumph to happen soon.” (13°)
“I will be your award if your martyrdom is cheerful. These words of mine will be of great comfort to you in your trials. Endure everything patiently and then you will reach me in Paradise. […] Cheer up, because we will meet again, my dear little martyr”. (13°)
The suffering of the sick
“No, it is not necessary for everybody to come here, those who can afford it may come here and they will be healed or remain sick according to their sacrifices, but they must not commit great sins anymore”. (6°)
“The sick who want to be healed must trust me more and sanctify their suffering if they want to earn Paradise. If they do not do this, they will not be awarded and will be severely punished instead. I hope that all those who get to know my words will make every kind of efforts to earn Paradise. Those who suffer without complaining will obtain anything they ask from my Son and me.” (11°)
The soul’s suffering
“Pray a lot for those who have a sick soul; my Son Jesus died on the cross to save them. Many people do not understand these words of mine, that is why I suffer so much”. (11°)
7) Peace
“If the people repent soon the war will finish in two months, otherwise it will go on for two more years.” (3°)
“Pray also for the Holy Father who is living difficult moments. He is ill treated by many and many attempt his life. I will protect him and he will not leave the Vatican. Peace is coming soon, but I am anxious for that world peace in which everybody loves one another like brothers. Only this way the Pope will suffer less”. (10°)
8) No to great sins
“Many mothers have impaired children on account of their great sins; let them sin no more and their children will be healed “. (4°)
“Pray for the poor stubborn sinners who are dying in this moment and who pierce my Heart.” (6°)”
No, it is not necessary for everybody to come here, those who can afford it may come here and they will be healed or remain sick according to their sacrifices, but they must not commit great sins anymore”. (7°)
“Pray for the stubborn sinners who make my Heart suffer cause they do not think of death.” (10°).
Most of the children’s diseases are due to the bad inclinations of their parents (drugs, sex, alcohol, …) and are the sad retribution and heritage of these bad behaviours. Moral principles have declined and certain sins (contraception, induced abortion, divorce, premarital and extramarital sex) have obtained the qualification for full citizenship by law. And now that all respect for life has sunk it is the turn of euthanasia, driven forward by the merciless atheistic logic of a barren society. Our Lady warned us against this and gave us premonitory advice!
9) Conversion
“… many will be converted and I will be recognized by the Church”. (7°)
10) Triumph
“… and I will be recognized by the Church”. (7°)
“Do not get discouraged, I wish my triumph to happen soon. Pray for the Pope and tell him to act quickly because I want to be solicitous to everyone in this place.” (13°)
11) Repentance and amends
“Those who make you suffer intentionally will not come to Heaven if they do not make amends for their wrongs and do not repent deeply.” (13°)
This is a serious warning that hangs over everyone and above all over those who, since 1944, in the face of so many glaring testimonies, have been voluntarily contributing to oppose a seven-year-old child’s innocence. Our Lady’s admonishing words weigh a ton on all the story of the apparitions of Ghiaie di Bonate.
