Also during this pilgrimage Fra Elia manifested himself…
The origins of the place date back to the time of the tumultuous struggles between the Guelphs and Ghibellines, between 1350 and 1440, when some local inhabitants, in order to escape violence, hid in a ‘corna busa,’ which in the local dialect means natural cavity. “Corna-busa,” meaning pierced mountain, opening in the rock. A dialect definition, a simple, immediate name, as simple and grandiose is this place dedicated to the Virgin.
The story goes that a very religious old woman is said to have brought with her into the cave the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows, to whom the group of refugees would address their invocations. The devotion increased following the first miracle, in which a deaf-mute shepherdess, taking refuge in the cave with her flock to escape a thunderstorm, was attracted to the effigy of Our Lady lying somewhere, picked it up, saw that the Virgin had the body of Christ in her arms, and, seized with compassion, began to pray. She regained her voice and hearing. After the first miracle, devotion to Mary of Sorrows increased, thus leading, beginning in the 1500s, to the construction of the shrine dedicated to the cult of Our Lady of the Cave, which later became Our Lady of the Cornabusa.
Domeinca June 23 we too from the Bergamo Apostles of God Association were there in spite of the cold, the pouring rain, the fog… The Sanctuary is nestled in an impervious and wooded area on the right side of the Imagna Valley, 658 meters above sea level , at 11.00 the temperature was below 16 degrees .many of the participants in summer clothes endured everything in great faith.
The day was unforgettable for everyone especially because we were accompanied in three places by the intense scent of roses that we perceived at the Convent of Calvi….also in the church when on the altar the priest thanked the association of Fra Elia of the Apostles of God (later he wanted to know more and when he can he will come with us to visit it) then as soon as we entered the museum we all still perceived the scent and for the third time in the room of Pope Roncalli devoted to Our Lady. We felt we were in heaven together with our friar.
The Mass celebrated with an extraoridinarily glorious rite abducted us from our poor world in crisis….leaving our sorrows behind us accompanied by the enchanting choir of St. Cecilia and the occasional droplets of ‘water peeking out from the rock. Around one o’clock a delicious lunch in the restaurant next to the shrine. Once the rain ceased, a Rosary before the image of the shepherdess of the Madonnina and then the return to our homes.