Lentorama 2021: Take Your Holiday to Go

Day 4: Feast of Our Lady of the Audience

In the early 15th century, a wealthy family brought a statue of the Virgin Mary and Jesus to the town of Sambuca di Sicilia, and hid it in the fortifications there. In 1575, the statue was rediscovered by a farmer, and he and his colleagues decided to parade it around town. There was an outbreak of leprosy going on, and they hoped that the procession would miraculously stop it. Which apparently is just what happened, giving the statue the name of Our Lady of the Audience (referring to her hearing the prayers of the sick).

This led to an annual procession, held on the third Sunday in May, where the statue is again paraded around town (though no further miracles, as far as I can tell). Other cities and town in Sicily also celebrate the feast, using either a replica statue or a painting of the miracle. In the US, some churches that were founded by Sicilians also observe the feast, perhaps most notably Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Kansas City (which has a page dedicated to the feast and their replica statue).