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The
most important Sanctuary in the Molise is now the one at Castelpetroso,
dedicated to the Grieving Virgin who, on 22nd March 1888,
appeared in a grotto close to the site of the current church.
Pilgrims
arrive mainly from the Campania region (provinces of Caserta and
Benevento) and from the two provinces in the Molise. The
best known pilgrimage, which dates back to the end of the 19th
century, is the one carried out by the faithful of Pietramelara. The
journey is about 70 km long, covered on foot over the space of one day
and one night, on the first Thursday and Friday of the month of May. The
pilgrims number about 300. During the journey, they pray and sing hymns
to the Madonna. Once they reach the Sanctuary, they enter on their knees,
take part in the religious services by taking communion; they then take
part in an evening Via Matris with torches, finishing the day with the
night-time wake.
On
Saturday, after another mass, they leave the Sanctuary walking backwards
and taking their leave with a “salute” to the Virgin. At the end
they start on their journey back to Pietramelara.
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