Our Lady of Miracles

in Alcamo). The cult of Madonna of Miracles in Alcamo dates back to 21 June 1547, the day people remember the Madonna's apparition to some women near a stream running north of Alcamo. saw the apparition of a woman with a child on the contrary, after being hit by the pebbles, they strangely felt a certain sense of wellbeing Then the local authorities inquired on the spot, cut down the near grove The old patron saint's memory however remains in Alcamo people's mind: in fact they call San Francesco di Paola "santu patri" (whose translation means "patron saint") as the Church named after him was called the Holy Crucified Church. The Madonna's discovered image was first called "Our Lady Source of Mercy”, which hosts the Madonna's image. Inside the Church there is a white marble sarcophagus containing the mortal remains of the governor Don Fernando Vega, according to his will. == Celebrations ==

Every year in Alcamo there are the celebrations in honour of Our Lady of Miracles since 19 June until 21 of June. This is the most important religious and folkloristic festivity in Alcamo. in this way the beginning of the celebrations changes every year, while the last day is always the 21 of June. The celebrations include: • "The pealing of church bells" which opens the celebrations together with the burst of crackers and the passing of the band through the town streets; • The descent to the Sanctuary of Madonna of Miracles (called "calata"), in which all civil and religious authorities of the town (together with the Mayor) take part; they are preceded by the band and the gonfalon of the town.) festival. • The Procession of Our Lady of Miracles' statue along the town streets and return to the mother church. and by the Observatory Zoomafia of Lega anti vivisezione, (organizations which protect animals) that denounced the abuses animals suffered and the presence of people involved in illicit activities. File:I Cavalieri di San Giorgio - Alcamo.jpg|Costumes of "I Cavalieri di San Giorgio" worn during the historical cortege (1966). File:Horse racing in Alcamo (1979).jpg|Horse races in Corso 6 Aprile (1979). File:Calata al Santuario della Madonna dei Miracoli di Alcamo - 08.JPG|The Descent to the sanctuary. File:Maria SS dei Miracoli - ALCAMO processione 2010 042.JPG|The solemn procession of Our Lady of Miracles' statue. File:Maria SS dei Miracoli - ALCAMO processione 2010 198.JPG|Our Lady of Miracles' statue before the solemn procession. File:Maria SS dei Miracoli - ALCAMO preparazione 2010 032.JPG|"Tuppu di la Maronna" File:Calata al Santuario della Madonna dei Miracoli di Alcamo - 04.JPG|The Sanctuary of Madonna of Miracles during the traditional "calata" (descent). == Penitential Procession ==

Since 1615, the year in which Alcamo was seriously hit by pestilence, there is the so-called "Penitential procession" of Madonna of Miracles. It takes place on the third Sunday of Lent: the Madonna's statue is brought from the Basilica of Our Lady's Assumption to the Church of Saints Paul and Bartholomew, where it remains for a week and is solemnized, then it goes back to the mother church. == See also ==