Legend about origins of Madonna del Balzo Sanctuary
According to tradition, the construction of the Madonna del Balzo Sanctuary in Bisaquino took place following a miraculous event.
Legend has it that in the seventeenth century a young man named Vincenzo Adorno, who was grazing on the mountain, had noticed for several days a bright light coming out of some boulders. The young man together with a friend saw the image of Mary in the hollow of the cliff. But being young and carefree they gave little weight to that discovery and started playing. One of them, having lost in the game, in a fit of rage threw his knife at the stone on which the image of the Madonna was depicted. The young man was instantly electrocuted.
The young man's mother faithfully invoked the forgiveness of the Madonna, crying over the same stone and over the lifeless body of her son. The whole town was moved and unanimously invoked the grace of the Heavenly Mother. It so happened that the young man came back to life and the population, as a sign of great devotion, built the current Sanctuary of the Madonna del Balzo.
It is also said that, before erecting the Sanctuary, an attempt was made three times to bring the effigy of the Madonna in the village and that every time it was the icon disappeared only to be found on the rock. Following these episodes, the place where the Sanctuary was to be built was revealed.
Finally, it is said that, during the construction of the sanctuary, the Madonna renewed her wonders. The laborer Giovanni Rosato fell from a very high scaffolding and was picked up lifeless by his fellow workers. He was then placed in a basket in front of the image of the Madonna and after a few moments he awoke as if he had fallen asleep without any fractures and full of life.
