The third stop in the Places of the Spirit series, ahead of May 1, takes you to Sicily and the Basilica Sanctuary of Our Lady of Tears.
Before heading out for a lovely day in the countryside with your loved ones, visit this sanctuary: you will be amazed by its beauty and the intense spirituality that fills the air!
The Weeping
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Tears of Syracuse was strongly desired following the miraculous weeping that took place in Syracuse from August 29 to September 1, 1953, at 11 Via degli Orti di San Giorgio, in the home of Angelo Iannuso and Antonina Lucia Giusto.
Antonina, expecting her first child, was undergoing a difficult pregnancy, with recurring loss of vision: at around three in the morning on August 29, her sight disappeared completely, returning to normal at 8:30 a.m., when Antonina saw tears running down the face of the little plaster Madonna at the head of the bed.
The enameled plaster bust, depicting the Madonna showing her Immaculate Heart, was a wedding gift. The weeping was repeated at least 58 times; the news spread rapidly, making the house a destination for a constant stream of pilgrims.
Numerous healings followed, and those deemed extraordinary by the medical commission established for that exceptional event numbered approximately 300 (they occurred through mid-November 1953). Antonina herself completed her pregnancy without experiencing any further problems.
The Basilica
The Basilica, which today houses the little plaster Madonna and the reliquary containing the tears of the Virgin Mary, was begun in 1988 and inaugurated by Saint John Paul II on November 6, 1994.
The Sanctuary is majestic, and its architectural form can evoke several meanings: a lighthouse, identified with Mary, who leads toward the harbor that is Jesus; a tent in which the Mother welcomes her children to lead them to the Father; a tear descending from heaven.
The Miraculous Picture
As soon as you enter the Basilica, your gaze is drawn to a single point: the painting of Our Lady of Tears behind the main altar. The circular assembly hall finds its unity in that small plaster bust, which has served as a link between heaven and earth.
The Basilica altar
The altar is square and consists of two parts. The base, made of bronze, consists of four panels depicting scenes from the Book of Revelation. The large mensa is made of Modica stone. An inscription in Greek is engraved on the edge of the mensa: «Christ loved the Church and gave himself for her» (Eph 5:25). A precious 1700s crucifix is placed above the altar.
The chapels
The Sanctuary is enriched by sixteen chapels. Facing the altar, on the left is the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, where Mass is celebrated every morning; next to it is a chapel dedicated to the Holy Shroud. On the left is a chapel dedicated to Saint Joseph, followed by the chapel of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, whose handkerchief, given to Mrs. Antonina Iannuso, is preserved there, along with copies of the holy cards of Our Lady of Tears bearing prayers written by Saint Pio.
The Reliquary
The Reliquary containing Mary's tears is displayed in a case placed on the High Altar of the Crypt.
The Museum of the Miracle of the Tears
The Museum of the Miracle of the Tears houses unique items connected to the weeping: the pipette and microscope slide used in the laboratory by the medical commission to carry out chemical analyses; the wooden cross that led the first pilgrimage in history to the feet of Our Lady of Tears; and the desk on which the official documents attesting to the miracle of the weeping were signed. A special area is dedicated to Saint John Paul II, who visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Tears on the occasion of the dedication of the Sanctuary on November 6, 1994.
Discover the Sanctuary
Contacts and addresses
Via del Santuario, 33
96100 Syracuse
Tel. 0931 21 446
Holy Mass times
Sundays and Solemnities: 8; 10; 12; 17; 19; 20
Monday to Saturday: 8; 10; 19
Confessions every day: from 10 to 12; from 17 to 19
How to get there the Sanctuary
