Former Italian Residents Return En Masse to Beloved Shrine of Their Ancestors
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Members of the Holy Name Society of Our Lady Of Mount Carmel Pontifical Shrine with the newly restored miraculous image of Our Lady Of Mount Carmel in East Harlem. Photos courtesy of Bobby Maida
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The Pontifical Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, located 448 East 116th Street Manhattan has restored the historic image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The statue, housed in the church, has been undergoing an eight month physical and artistic restoration. It was presented to the public on Saturday, October 17, 2015 at 1PM during a special Mass and celebration. Our Lady, under the title of Mount Carmel, has been the center of Southern Italian devotion since around 1880, when the Italian immigrant community sought the comfort of their benevolent Mother. In 1881, a traditional Italian Festa was organized by the Mount Carmel Society. By 1883, the statue inspired by the one venerated in Polla, Italy was ordered. By 1884 the number of Italians warranted a church geared to their needs. Perhaps the first miracle was the building of the church during 1884, with Italian men and women working throughout the night to complete a home for their beloved Madonna.
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| The restored statue |
The Festa grew in popularity, attracting 1,000’s of Italians. Word of the Madonna ability to answer prayers and favors spread rapidly. Finally an investigation was held by the Vatican. Pope Leo XIII, decreed that the Madonna be adorned with golden crowns, and that the church be designated a Sanctuary to Our Lady, and a national Shrine for all the Italians in America. Pius X published the decrees under his name following the death of Leo. To show his particular support, he sent two emeralds from the Vatican for the crowns. Our Lady of Mount Carmel is one of the five Papally crowned (incoronated) Madonnas outside of Europe. Till this day, 1,000’s attend the annual Feast on July 16th.
However, after 132 years, the statue and its garments were showing the effects of age. A group of specially selected artists, designers, wig makers and hairdressers began the painstaking restoration. Their efforts were presented to the public on Saturday, October 17th.
The Italians have remained remarkably loyal to their Madonna returning to the community for Christmas, the annual Mount Carmel Festa, and lastly this year the “Dancing of the Giglio” in August. The public exhibition of the Madonna has brought them back again. It was a reunion of Italian Americans of East Harlem presenting their petitions and giving thanks again to the Our Lady, as their parents, grandparents and great grand parents did before them.
