Dongo, Como, Italy (1553)

1500

Since 1500, on the corner wall that encloses an old vineyard, there is a modest chapel on which is painted in fresco the Image of Mary who holds the Child Jesus to the fact of being close to the river is called the Madonna of the Albano river. In a flooding of the river waters invade everything around him, the wall around the vineyard collapses, but it remains intact the Lady Chapel. This fact is considered miraculous by the faithful.

September 6, 1553

In the evening, the image is seen oozing a tear from her right eye. A tear that is followed by others, noticed by some passersby who, filled with wonder, acclaim a miracle. The first to realizing it and to promulgate the news is a certain Maria de 'Matti, and she runs to notify the parish priest, Fr Bernardo Bonizio who placed a cup under the picture to collect the tears. The prodigious event is subject to regular review and canonical process established by the Bishop of Como Msgr. Philip Archinti, who calls eyewitnesses who testify under oath the truth of their statements. The devotion to Our Lady crying propagates in an extraordinary way. On the side of the lake the faithful flock to implore graces and protection. From the day of tearing the Virgin River is called Our Lady of the Miracle, and later Our Lady of Tears.

Soon, the little chapel with the image of the Madonna proves to be too small to accomodate all of the devotees, who were becoming more numerous. That same year of the miracle, the chapel is enclosed in a larger church in semicircular shape, dedicated to the Nativity of Mary, with the time it takes on the size of the current Sanctuary.

1630

There are numerous graces, examined and recognized by the authorities, that Our Lady of Tears has granted over the years. Special protection have experienced the inhabitants of Dongo during the terrible plague that has caused so many victims around 1630.

1904

The statue of Mary is crowned the first time in 1904.

During the Second World War, the bishop of Como, Msgr. Alessandro Macchi, turns to Our Lady of Tears: begs and gets its people to be spared from the massacres.

October 21, 1945

The statue was crowned a second time by Blessed Cardinal Alfredo Ildefonso Schuster