the curia informs - Passio Christi

CENTENARY
OF THE BEATIFICATION
OF ST. GABRIEL
It was 31 May 1908 when Pope Pius IX
proclaimed Gabriel of the Sorrowful
Virgin “Blessed”. He was declared
“Venerable” in 1896, shortly after his death on
27 February 1862, and he was canonized in
1920 by Pope Bendedict XV, who also declared
him to be co-patron of Catholic Youth and
Patron of the Abruzzi region of Italy.
The celebrations of the centenary were inaugurated
on Saturday, 31 May 2008 with a large
pilgrimage to the Shrine, with the bishop of
Teramo-Atri, Michele Seccia presiding. In the
evening there was the world premier of the first
musical about the Saint that is entitled: “San
Gabriele dell’Addolorata”, un silenzioso
The poster for the Musical dedicated to St. Gabriel
NEWS FROM THE CONFERENCES
The Logo
for the
Centenary
of St. Gabriel
sospiro d’amore” (“St. Gabriel of the
Sorrowful Virgin: a silent sigh of love”). The
work was written and directed by Carlo
Tedeschi and performed by his professional
theater company of Rimini. The following day,
Sunday, a solemn liturgy was celebrated with
the Passionist community at which bishop
Luciano Suriani, the apostolic nunzio to
Bolivia, presided. At the end of the Mass
a new altar panel, sculpted by the artist
Nino De Simonè, depicting the
Resurrection was dedicated in the
Basilica.
During the remainder of the Centenary
year there are various events that are
scheduled. Among these are the following:
on 12-13 November, a gathering of
young people with a presentation entitled,
“St. Gabriel and his times: 100 years of
holiness”, and on 13 November, a pilgrimage
of all those parishes dedicated to
St. Gabriel, etc. A special event will take
place in honor of St. Gabriel at the Shine
on 19-20 July – during the World Youth
Day celebrations taking place in Sydney,
Australia, and will be broadcast live to
the Passionist youth who will be gathered
in Sydney.
The centenary will conclude with the
solemn inauguration of the new Shrine of
St. Gabriel on 20 September 2009. ●
July 2008 - PIB n. 17
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