The bell tower:

Built in the early 1950s, at the same time the two linden trees that adorn the facade were planted. It is handed down by oral tradition that there was also great and animated discussion among the residents: Luigen ed Baciciot had collaborated passionately to get the bell in, but Carina ed Baciura would have preferred to adorn the little church with a Crucifix, also useful for opening the procession. Meanwhile, the day was approaching when the “Pilgrim Mother” would pass by.

Carina to Baciura

Carina da Baciura, devotee to the Little Church would have liked to ring the bell of the little church to greet the passage of the Pilgrim Mother, but Luigen ed Baciciot objected, deeming it unsuitable. Carina threatened to resort to strong relatives to carry the bell on their shoulders to the main road and thus have it tolled at the passage of the “Pilgrim Mother.” Needless to say, she won the dispute! Finally, Carina herself purchased the Crucifix to be carried in the opening procession.

Luigen to Baciciot

One remembers well of Luigen the devotion and passion with which he recited the Holy Rosary, interrupting the prayers from time to time because of the occasional sneeze caused by taking snuff.

At the end of the Rosary he would then recite a prayer that he composed himself, in dialect, and it seems fitting to transcribe it here as it came to us:

Canta canta rose e fiù / l’è nasciü nostre Signù / l’è nasciü in Betelem / n’ha ni fascia e nì mantel / da fascè quel Gesciü bel. / Gescü bel e Gescü pia / con ra Vergine Maria / an ter pro di Seremia / ui nan passa quenzemia. / Oh che bela gexa / oh che bell’otò / oh che bella messa ben cantò / ra cantò nostre Signù / clè di peu n’sü la crux / quela crux l’è tantu bela / splendurix in cielo e in terra / in cielo e in terra spendurirà / er sue piaghe ui muxtrerà / dirà: “O figlio mio / sti poveri peccatori / levie da per murire / er porte de l’inferno / faie ben scürire / er porte der paradis / faie ben drübire. / Da mez a quel du porte / i son du careie d’or / dande us setta Iddio / e ra Vergine Maria.” / Vi prego o vui signu /d’aviseme trei dì avanti ra morte mia / ca poscia dì: “mea culpa, mea culpa, mea culpa”

(Free translation) Sing sing roses and flowers / Our Lord was born / He was born in Bethelem / He has neither sash nor cloak / to swaddle that beautiful Jesus / beautiful Jesus and pious Jesus / with the Virgin Mary / in Semeria’s meadow / fifteen thousand of them pass / Oh what a beautiful church / oh what a beautiful altar / oh what a beautiful Mass well sung / Our Lord sang it / who is (hanging? ) on the Cross / that Cross so beautiful / it shines in heaven and on earth / in heaven and on earth it will shine / his wounds will show him / he’ll say, “Oh my son / these poor sinners / take them away from the nearness of death / the gates of hell / make them close firmly / the gates of heaven / make them open for good. / Between those two doors / there are two golden chairs / where God sits / and the Virgin Mary .”/ I beg you O You Lord to warn me three days before my death / that I may say: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea culpa.”)

The Pilgrim Mother:

On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII solemnly proclaimed the Dogma of the Assumption of Mary. The act marks the beginning of the Holy Year of the Pilgrim Madonna. The participation of the masses takes on impressive aspects throughout Italy.