1897 miracle to NOVELLA

NOVELLA, small village of the Ostriconi piève, seem to be vowed to the oblivion in this end of 19° century. The construction of the railroad way makes it hardly know. A big news makes the village all of a sudden famous "the Virgin erected a throne of mercy in the church of Novella".
The present parochial church is dedicated to Santa Croce. In 1880, the Lanzalavi vicar decides her construction to the center of the village in the same site of the existing campanile since 1740.
Her measurements are imposing. One notes an altar in marble dedicated to Saint Leonard and several paintings. According to the abbot Filippini who is interested himself to the construction of the church, these paintings belonged to the old church of Cruscani, placed under the vocable Saint Côme and Saint Damien. The twin brothers, Côme the doctor and Damien the apothicaire lived to Egée to the III° century. An old tradition relates that they took care of with the same devotion souls and bodies. They were tortured and were executed under Dioclétien. They were the object of a cult in all the Europe.
In the chapel of right, one remarks the virgin's picture. The Jesus child whom she holds on his left arm "springs to consecrate in an impossible stance". This picture measures lm75 on lm20. It doesn't carry any name and doesn't belong to any school. The fact that it is painted on canvas, let presume that it is recent realization. To the first plan, two personages are represented: on the left, Saint Roch accompanied by her dog, show her wound. Saint Roch is invoked in cases of pestilence, and also for the infectious illnesses.
The personage of right makes a polemic's object, in 1897, between the abbot Salducci of Arègno and the abbot Marietti of Muro. The first believes to recognize Saint Raymond of Pennafort. This saint participated in the foundation of the order of Notre Dame de la Merci. One relates that among other miracles, he spread his coat one day on the sea and browsed the distance between the Balearic Islands and Barcelona.
"All it is false" affirms the abbot Marietti and, with him, all the population of Novella. This picture has always been called " U Quadru di San Léonardo di Cruscani ".The residents invoke this saint for the small child recovery and the pregnant woman deliverance. Mothers give this forename gladly to their new born, in recognition of their happy deliverance. This venerated picture possesses the particularity to cover itself regularly all 5 to 6 days of numerous drops of sweat. The picture "perspires " not only during the strong heats, but as the night in full winter.
Which is therefore the reason of this phenomenon?
Is this one chemical phenomenon! No " it is a miracle " affirms population to Novella " Sta confidenza e ste grazie continuanu sempre. E ava si parla chi a guaritu un cattivu male nantu a nasu di una donna dopu sette anni, chi era addulurata malgradu cure di vinti duttori, di un sordu mutu clsente e parla, di dui o tre ciechi che bedenu e di un'infinita di grazie attenute...."
The sieur ORABONA Joseph Antoine of Novella " deaf of the two ears ", not hearing anymore nor the train, nor bells are today completely healed.
Soon the idea to organize pilgrimages, parochial is given out and achieved. Muro of which the signal, the abbot Marietti who makes party of it becomes the historiographer. only one day doesn't happen without that the village receives pilgrims arriving of all parts:
- 140 people of Monticello
- 120 people of Corbara
- 70 people of Aregno
- 30 people of Bastia
The nicest welcome was made to pilgrims of the Cap Corsica that tiredness of it long journey doesn't prevent to come on foot. After two days of march, 16 people of Barretali, kneel in front of the picture. All these pilgrims carry on the chest a distinctive sign, the some a small medal, others a blue ribbon or a red cross.
September 29, 1898 to the morning, more of 2 pilgrims of parishes of Muro, Zilia, Nes, Félicito, Poggiola give themselves appointment in the train station of Regino. From there, they are going to venerate the miraculous picture of Notre Dame of Novella that attracts to her feet so much crowd since more than one year, and grant so many graces to those that are going to invoke him with confidence and love. Bells chime and greet to their manner the devout pilgrims... Several girls of Novella, dressed of white and wearing bouquets of flowers takes Notre Dame statue, while damsels of the pilgrimage, carry the attached cords around the blessed picture.
Of their side, boys carry a picture of the crucifix of miracles of Muro devoutly. The crowd already important to train stations of Belgodère and Palasca, increase again with people coming from cantons of Olmi Capella, Lama and Murato.
All the parish of Novella gives back himself in cortege to Notre Dame, and to the entrance of the village the crowd reaches 500 people.
To this instant, the spectacle is really, imposing. After a short and fervid prayer to the Saint-sacrament, pilgrims turn all toward the blessed picture. At 11 o'clock, the Mass is celebrated by the vicar of Muro, attended by vicars of Urtaca and Brustico; organs are held by the vicar of Zilia.
New meeting to Notre Dame altar according to the program of the festivity, at that moment, one had to distribute souvenirs to every pilgrim, but objects not having arrived in time, Mr. the vicar, archpriest of Calvi was content with to put back one, to the name of all, to the devout and zealous vicar of Novella " Orsini " (to see photo of the medal of Novella). The church of Novella, by her measurements, her decoration, her history, testify the mind builder and the sublime faith of our aîeuxes. In a medallion, all in top of the arch, appear this inscription: " the house of prayer, my house " " Orationis domus, domus mea ".

Anne-Marie ORABONA