The Grotto of Tre Fontanne, the site of the apparition where the Virgin spoke to Bruno, was used for sinful purposes. This place the Virgin sanctified and granted very special graces of both physical health and spiritual conversion.
The Virgin of Revelation said:
“With this soil of sin I shall work powerful miracles for the conversion of unbelievers”
(Paragraph 3 Heavenly Message; The Virgin of Revelation; Msgr.Fausto Rossi F.M.)
A little Lourdes? Don Giuseppe Tomaselli, when discussing the cures that have occurred at Tre Fontanne, calls it “a little Lourdes”. He writes: “The Grotto of the Three Fountains is like a small Lourdes, but with some differences. Our Lady of Lourdes pointed out the water to Bernadette, at the Three Fountains, she pointed out the soil to Cornacchiola saying: “With this soil of sin I shall perform great miracles” But why use of soil and in particularly the soil of the Grotto of the Three Fountains where depraved people committed acts?
This too has a meaning. The Grotto, with its rough surface, its shade and its unhealthy air, is the sad image of today’s humanity, immersed in the mire of immorality…inside the Grotto of the Three Fountains the Virgin appeared and brought celestial light to the darkness and the sweet mysterious odour to the dark air and the smell of garbage.
The Grotto is also a symbol of the human heart, every human heart. To each heart Our lady wants to bring the light of revelation; she wants the perfume of virtue in each soul; she is ready to give her help to whoever prays to Her with trust and love.
A sinful soul that puts itself under mantle of Our Lady, refuge of sinners, may be renewed and reach perfection just as the grotto of the spiritual oasis, where one prays, makes holy resolutions and is renewed.
Miracles of the Soil
To relate all the prodigious events attributed to this soil would take too long. It is, however, worthwhile to present a few cases which physicians have followed with much interest.
BULLSBROOK AND THE SOIL
When in 1980, the Shrine to the Virgin of the Revelation in Bullsbrook was dedicated, soil from Tre Fontane was placed under the statue, in the little original grotto of the Virgin. This was so that all who sought Her intercession would be able to participate in the promises She made to Bruno Cornacchiola in 1947. There are many who attest to the graces they have received through their trust in the Virgin of the Revelation.
A book entitled “The Grotto of the Three Fountains” describes the most significant cures which were submitted to scientific scrutiny. Its author is Dr. Albert Alliney, with a preface by Prof. Nicola Pende. At the beginning of the book, the author asserts: “I have been asked by many people either in person or by letter, if cures really took place at the Grotto of the Three Fountains. After years of objective investigation under strict controls, I can affirm that many prodigious cures have taken place. These cures amazed physicians for they transcend current scientific knowledge.”
CARLO MANCUSO
Sickness abounds everywhere. One usually tries to cure the body rather than the soul. When medicine fails, one grasps at any other means. Those who have some faith invest their hope in supernatural powers. Immediately after the apparition, rumours of spectacular healings spread throughout the country. Then a group of physicians founded an association in order to observe these healings. The physicians met every fifteen days. The examinations were perhaps even stricter than those at the International Medical Centre in Lourdes.
The first healing that particularly stirred the enthusiasm of the Romans was that of Carlo Mancuso. He was a municipal janitor, 36 years old, and lived at 18 Bucimazza St. His healing was confirmed by Dr. Giuseppe Del Duca on June 21, 1947, following a detailed medical examination.
On May 12, Mancuso had fallen into an elevator shaft, from a height of 4 meters. He suffered a serious fracture of the pelvic bone and also a severe fracture, or crushing, of he right forearm. He was put in a cast and after two weeks in the hospital he was taken home. On June 6, the cast had to be removed, because the patient could no longer stand the pain. The following day, the pain increased terribly. The “Giuseppine” Sisters heard of him and sent him a pinch of the soil from the Grotto of the Three Fountains. His relatives put it on the ailing limbs. The patient was not a practicing Catholic, and did not take it seriously; but he let them do it just the same.
The pain left him immediately. Mancuso realized he was cured, he got up, tore off the bandage, dressed quickly, and ran out into the street. Those who few minutes earlier had seen him suffering, and had heard his cries of pain, were stupefied. But most amazing was the result of the x-ray. It showed that Mancuso’s pelvic bone and forearm were still separated.
Yet from that moment on, Mancuso felt no pain whatsoever and could move freely. Although the fractures remain, it is as if they were knitted. Similar cases are those of Onofrio Galati’ (Alcamo) who could see well although he had complete atrophy of the optical nerves, and of Emma di Giorgi (Ribera), still living, who was born without pupils, and could see perfectly after a visit to Padre Pio.
MICHELE CONFORTI
A case that at the time caused much excitement in Rome is that of Michel Conforti who had been wearing an orthopaedic cast for a long time and with much pain.
He himself made the following statement: “To the Honor and glory of the Holy Virgin of Revelation, I feel compelled to write the following. Since April 1945 I had been suffering from a serious ailment of the backbone and I was under the care of several physicians of the Italian Health Service.
I was obliged to wear an orthopaedic cast which covered my entire chest; the slightest movement caused me great pain. I thought of going to the Grotto. On January 15, 1948, I prayed for many hours in front of the image of Our Lady of the Revelation.
A case that at the time caused much excitement in Rome is that of Michel Conforti who had been wearing an orthopaedic cast for a long time and with much pain.
All of a sudden, I felt revitalized. All the pain had disappeared. As soon as I arrived home, I took off the cast. I was completely cured, and this was confirmed by the diagnosis of the famous Prof. Milani, Director of the Radiology Institute of the University of Rome.
As a sign of gratitude, on June 18th I brought my cast to the Grotto, as proof of my complete recovery. Signed: Michele Conforti.
