By Jacqueline Kelly –
The Church celebrates with great solemnity the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose birth heralded “the dawn of hope and salvation to the whole world”.
There is a long history behind the sacred image of the Infant Mary. The Abbess of the Franciscans at Todi, Sr. Isabella Fornari, had made a waxen image of the Holy Infant Mary and offered it as a gift to Alberico Simonetta, a nobleman of Milan, Governor of the city of Camerino and then Bishop of Como in 1735. When sick, Simonetta retired to Milan, his native city. At his death in 1739, the Capuchins, at their request, obtained the gift of this statue which soon became an object of devotion both, to the Religious and to the people.
When the Capuchins’ convent was suppressed and their church destroyed, the religious were obliged to disperse. The sacred image was confided to Sr. Barbara Viazzoli who lived privately in the Monastery of the Lateran Canonesses. When that little community too was suppressed, the sacred treasure was entrusted to Don Luigi Bosisio, Parish Priest of St. Mark’s in Milan. It was he, who in 1842, offered it to Sr. Teresa Bosio, the then Superior of the Ciceri Hospital.
Sr. Teresa Bosio belonged to the Institute of the Sisters of Charity founded by St. Bartholomea Capitanio in November, 1832 along with St. Catherine Gerosa, with Mother House in Lovere. When the Mother House was transferred to Santa Sofia in Milan, the image of the Infant Mary was taken there and it soon became an object of special devotion in the Novitiate. But, as it’s face had become quite discoloured, it was deposited in a little cupboard and taken out only once a year on the 8th of September when it was placed on the altar of the Novitiate to be honored by the Novices.
When Sr. Teresa Bosio, later Mother Bosio, died in 1882, she was succeeded by Mother Teodolinda Nazari and, therefore, the custodian of the image of the Holy Infant Mary too. On the 9th of September, 1884, this holy Mother General took from her silent custody the old wax statue of Infant Mary and placed it with all confidence on the bed of a postulant, Guilia Macario of Lovere. She [Guilia Macario] who had been suffering from a bruise in the head and knee was instantly cured and restored to perfect health. This fact filled the whole community with great joy. Bishops and Cardinals held her in great honour and even the Holy Father, Pope Pius X himself asked for a similar image to be kept on the altar of his private chapel.
The miracle of 9th September 1884 was like a spark that created a fire of heavenly charity that enveloped the whole institute and even the Catholic Church. From that day, the Blessed Virgin Mary was declared the Protectress of the Institute and the Institute changed it’s name to that of “The Sisters of Maria Bambina” which means “The Sisters of Infant Mary”.
On 7th September 1828, Bartholomea Capitanio had prayed: “From thy cradle, O Mary, raise Thy tiny hand and impart to all Thy blessing.”