The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-16
A BLUE MADONNA.
The Story of Desolina-A Miraculous Shrine
at COrano.
New York Herald

New York Herald.
A remarkable outbreak of religious hallucina-
ton has been spreading in Italy, near Piacenza,
where the mountain village of Corano has. it is
alleged, been the scene of miraculous appear.
ance of the Madonna. To this lonely spot, DIES.
titute OF railway and Geographic communication,
thousands are now flocking from all directions.
Men as well women are falling upon the
ground in delirium of supplication, kissing the
stones, weeping, laughing, singing many faint
ing or falling into commissions, and some lying
III state OF ecstatlc trance. The particulars
have been vague and imperfect; but the Siam pa
has published the following from CORE
spondent whom it had sent to the spot
He writes: Just a month ago a
little girl eleven years old, Desolina Lusenti,
grand-child Of the Corano bell ringer, declared
that she had seen on this mountain road of the
Boscone most beautiful lady tuna signora bella,
bela), dressed in blue, coming out Of the wood,
who said. My child, l am the Madonna. Christ
my Son. has allowed me to come once more on
earth. He is weary of the iniQuity of man, and
| am weary of their ncredulity. ] will stay in
this place for while among you. and you shall
come and adore me here and rebuild the oratory
which was once on this spot. She then disap-
peared, but few hours afterward ali Corano
knew what the girl had SEEM
Some were lncredulouS, but the greater num-
Der did not for a moment discuss the veracity of
the girls statement. DeSolina was hailed AS the
favorite child of the Madonna, and the whole
population went out in procession to the spot at
there commenced literal epidemic of
ecstasies and visions. While l write
moro than thirty little girls declare
that they have seen and are in direct communi-
cation with the Madonna. To these are added
men and women, young and old, married and
single. had scarcely put my foot outside she
walls of Piacenza before found that nothing
was spoken of by the people but the Madonna of
Corano. can only compare the frenzy of en-
thusiasm with which al rush to Csrano to that
of the Crusaders when about to behold Jerusa-
lem for the first time. For miles round this viii
lage the country has the appearance Of the Tus-
can Moremma at the time Of the unfortunate
prophet of Arcidosso, David Lazzarett. Hang
ing from the branches of the trees and on the
hedges on all sides are offerings presented by the
peasants to the miraculous shrine, which at
present consists of basket draped with three
or four cloths on the roadside, to the right, as
you proceed toward Corano
Hundreds and hundreds of persons are seen
laboriEg up the steep ascent, under the burning
rays of the July sun. Some girls scramble up
the bare rocks. supplicating the Virgin with loud
cries to appear, until they faint with fatigue.
Recovering their senses they say they hear the
voice of the Madonna while all present fall on the
ground, kissing the earth with cOnvulSive sobs
and floods of tears. A profound impression is
to be hysterica! sing, laugh and cry. causing
| others to initiate them. While l write this
thousands are thronging hther from the valleys
of the old duchess from Piedmont from
Llguria, from LON hardy. The number is esti-
mated at Is 900. The authorities are now inter
fering, and it is high time Several doctors who
have visited the place declare that the spread OF
this hallucination is likely to assume very
alarming proportions"