Monsignor Francesco Oliva.
Monsignor Francesco Oliva, bishop of the diocese of Locri Gerace, invites all young people to participate in the Day of Prayer at the Sanctuary of Nostra Signora dello Scoglio on September 7, 2024. In an open letter, the bishop urges us to discover the beauty of faith and the power of prayer in this place of grace, officially recognized by the Church. An appointment to rediscover the relationship with God through the intercession of Mary and the testimony of Brother Cosimo Fragomeni.
by Monsignor Francesco Oliva
Like every year, on the first Saturday of September, at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Scoglio we live a day of prayer with the young people. And it is precisely to you young people that I intend to address a thought as a friend and father. I trust in your attention and search for a more beautiful and fuller life. This year I have some good news to give you: the Church has officially recognized the Marian experience of the Scoglio as a spiritual reality, rich in grace and many wonders that the Lord wanted to accomplish through Mary. In the intense spiritual activity of prayer and listening in this blessed place, many faithful, of every age and origin, have received abundant graces and fruits of Christian life. I think of the increase in many of you of the spirit of piety and charity and of a healthy Marian devotion, of the gift of vocation, of the conversions that have occurred here. So many reasons to say to those who already know the reality of the Scoglio or who wish to know it: come to this blessed place, reserve for yourselves a few moments of inner peace and prayer under the gaze of Mary! The pilgrimage will lead you to rediscover the beauty of faith, forgiveness and reconciliation. This place speaks to you first of all of the spiritual experience of Brother Cosimo, who, through his encounter with Mary, became an obedient and faithful servant listening to a humanity in search of hope. “In this place – as he confesses – the Lord wanted to open a window to heaven, entrusting me with the task of reaffirming faith in the God of the Bible, who is God the creator, God the love, God of mercy, God the judge, God who heals.” On the large gray limestone stone (“the rock”), Brother Cosimo met the face of Mary, as he says: “I felt shocked, deeply troubled, assailed by doubt as to whether it was truly the Madonna or not. When suddenly I saw myself dazzled by a blinding light…”. It all began on May 11, 1968, when Cosimo Fragomeni discovered the benevolence of the Father in the face of Mary. Since then he has dedicated his life to the service of listening to human frailties and sufferings, living a simple and true faith. Still young, searching for his vocation and above all for the will of God, turning to Mary, he asked her: “Holy Virgin, tell me what do you want me to do?”. From then on he lived his life entirely dedicated to others, allowing himself to be guided by faith.
With his life testimony, he demonstrated that “faith is not the theory of beautiful words. Faith comes from the heart. God is relationship, he lets himself be touched, he lets himself be felt. The God who cannot be touched is not the God of Jesus”. In fact, as he observes, “too often even in our celebrations, in parish meetings, we do not consider that the God of the Gospels is a God in relationship, who shows his face, who welcomes us and gives us food. We can talk to Jesus and he listens to us. He passes through our lives as he passed through the streets of Palestine. He calls us, waits for us, smiles at us. This is the God who changes us, who takes us out of individualism. Not the empty, distant, ideological God of so many books, of so many celebrations”. We are shown a faith that is lived in a deep bond with God: “It passes through feelings, through a relationship of love, which are things that belong to everyone, not just to those who are educated… it is a reality that changes life radically” and “really makes you capable of doing the things that Jesus promised”. For Brother Cosimo “faith heals, it chases evil from the hearts of men, it brings with it happiness, the full realization of human beings”. It is a possible faith, which is embodied in daily relationships and transforms them. A possible faith that at Scoglio continues to be shown to those who seek answers to their questions and essential needs, which have to do with work, love, forgiveness, healing from evil addictions and wickedness. To these needs and human requests Brother Cosimo responds by indicating the path of prayer and trust in God: “What can I do? I ask to have faith, I invite you to turn to the Madonna to reach Jesus, I open paths of hope, I guarantee my prayers, I pray with them. It is true, there are many healings here, but it is only a drop in the ocean. It is the whole Church that must return to believing in the total Jesus, who heals and forgives, who connects, who makes people happy by filling life with meaning, making them capable of bringing love as he did”. Mary helped Brother Cosimo discover the meaning of life by entrusting him with a great mission: “I ask you to please transform this valley; here I desire a great center of spirituality, where souls will find peace and rest. In this place God wants to open a window to heaven; here through my mediation he wants to manifest his mercy”.
It is the dream of a Marian work, which deeply moves the desires of her heart: “If men convert, repent of their sins, confess, draw near to God and love him with all their heart, God will draw near to them and welcome them into his home…. Here is my rosary, let it be your daily prayer, offer it to my immaculate heart for the conversion of the world, the triumph of the kingdom of God, the peace of nations and the salvation of humanity.” At Scoglio, the Immaculate Virgin asks us to return to God, to recite the holy Rosary for peace in the world, to be men and women who are peacemakers, to actively participate in God’s dream, which is the realization of his kingdom. It is the dream of a new world supported by faith and hope, directed towards the search for peace and happiness. A dream that asks every young person to go beyond every rock, not to be carried away by the current and the sea of problems, not to be shattered by daily obstacles, not to be overwhelmed by distrust and discouragement. This mission is entrusted to you too, young person. Let yourself be fascinated by this dream too? Your ailments and discouragements can be overcome by an act of trust in God and in Mary, mother of his Son. Coming to the Scoglio, let yourself be conquered by this love and look to Mary who is the mother who has great dreams for you. Discover and live this dream, so as to be happy. Don’t hold back! Don’t forget that with faith everything is possible. Make way for God, for whom “nothing is impossible” (Lk 1:37). The meeting with young people on the first Saturday of September at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Scoglio has in the past been a beautiful moment of meeting and prayer. This year too we will experience it on September 7. I recommend: don’t miss it! In the meantime, I cordially greet everyone and ask for the kindness of a prayer.
