Beata Vergine di Pompei Pray for Us

Today is the feast della Beata Vergine di Pompei.

For anyone who is unfamiliar with the story of Our Lady of Pompeii, the shrine in Italia or Blessed Bartolo Longo it is quite a story.

Bartolo Longo was born at Latiano in Brindisi, Italia. His father was a doctor & his mother raised him in the Catholic faith. Like many a well raised Catholic today, when he went to college he lost his faith. He got involved in a satanist cult & was ordained a priest for it. Through the efforts of a good friend, Vincent Pepe, who witnessed to Bartolo the gentleness of Christ Bartolo turned away from satanism. Pepe arranged for him to meet a saintly Dominican priest, Alberto Radente. After a long period of repentance, Longo made his profession as a lay Dominican & took the name Brother Rosario.

Eventually Bartolo founded a shrine in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary near the location of the ruins of Pompeii. You can read the whole story of the shrine & the image here.

Twice a year at the shrine there is a special prayer written by Blessed Bartolo called Supplica alla Vergine that is prayed at noon. Today is one of those days.

May La Beata Vergine del Santo Rosario di Pompei watch over you & intercede for all your needs, especially those that seem the most hopeless this day.