The adventure of Andrea Anfossi

 

 

 

At that time (1561) the Turkish pirates (or Saracen) infested virtually undisturbed around the Mediterranean. Each year became more daring enough to get away from secure bases in the Middle East and North Africa to attack the coast of the Ligurian Sea plundering villages, towns, towns and even the fortified city of the immediate hinterland hills. "They had their infamous shelter (= receptacle, hiding) in the Bay of Olivula now Villafranca, and Frassinello now Freyus, whence departed for then pour on cities and villages along the coast. Boldly and insolent, attacked at night the lands of the banks of Liguria, the burned, he stole the riches, they were leading the miserable inhabitants slaves ... The municipalities joined in alliance to defend themselves and erected in the most strategic of the "castles" (= castle protection against invaders) " . (1) It is said that on the night of August 6, 1534 the citadel of Sanremo was attacked by twelve galleys Saracen but the attackers were repulsed. They returned with more success the following year and, Sanremo robbed, assaulted Stephen whose inhabitants fled, leaving the houses into the hands of robbers. Some inhabitants were captured and taken captives on pirate ships. A Castellaro was a man "of simple costumes and ardent faith" (1), who had been given the nickname Gagliardo for robust stature and courage. During the invasion of the pirate night of June 25, 1561 was captured by enemies as he sailed along the coast to their hunt. Two inscriptions, one in Latin outside the church of Our Lady of Lampedusa and the other in Italian (translation of the first), are evidence of his capture: "Piraticam in Turcas exercens ..." and "against the Turks corseggiando day ... " . In fact, the civil authorities and private citizens willingly joined the Christian militias and formed small flotillas of their fishing boats with the task of monitoring and, if necessary, to battle the pirates in defense of coastal lands and villages. It was during one of these battles that Andrea Anfossi said "Gagliardo," fell prisoner. It will be a prison convict that will last 40 years, borne with resignation, sustained by faith in God, that no physical abuse have managed to break the strong fiber of the body. The constant thought was to return one day to his farm called Costaventosa. The pirate ship, sailing to the southern sea, had need for a stop to the small inner harbor of the island of Lampedusa to procure timber that was plentiful and good fiber throughout the island. Andrea Anfossi, equipped with an ax, it was sent to earth to cut firewood. Inoltratosi inward where the vegetation was thicker, his mind devised to take advantage of the occasion favorable to flee. But soon he became discouraged. The island, uninhabited, was small and in a single day of the raid could be explored in every corner. However it was near the Tunisian mainland, the closest, 100 to 125 miles; and this was still the land of pirates. From the Italian mainland closest (Porto Empedocle on the southern coast of Sicily) was near 110 miles; too many in both cases to be covered swimming or on a small boat. He did not ask for help and advice that remained to Heaven. He knelt to pray and soon after saw rise from bush bright light. He approached and in a cavity of the rock appeared in a large canvas painted, the sweet image of the Madonna holding the infant Jesus in her arms with her hands full of roses. Next to the Madonna on the right in place of reverence and with the head crowned, is the image of the virgin and martyr St. Catherine, noble young girl of Alexandria, of rare beauty and with exceptional talent. As she had enamored Emperor Gaius Galerius Valerius Maximinus Daia, infamous for the cruelty of the persecution of Christians. He had claimed to induce the young Catherine to give up Christian worship, which he had dedicated with intense love, and to force her to offer sacrifice to Jupiter barbarians. Having failed in the perverse design condemned the beautiful and wise Catherine martyrdom. The body was tied to a wheel equipped with a long and cruel iron hooks that have torn meat. But the wheel miraculously shattered into a thousand pieces before unnecessary torment the victim. Then the emperor sentenced to immediate cut of the head. As soon as the executioner had severed the head with the sword, from the wound gushed abundant milk in testimony of his innocence. The still warm body was immediately taken by the angels who carried him on Mount Sinai where he was buried. The tomb was erected, later, a grand monastery in memory of the virgin martyr. This had happened in the first decade of the century. IV AD The image appeared to the sailor fugitive showed Santa Caterina with her right hand clutching the wheel with hooks. On the sides of the entire appearance two angels sitting on the clouds were holding forth his canvas. Andrea Anfossi loudly implored the help of Our Lady and the virgin martyr and promised, in return, the gift of his only Costaventosa farm, owned in Castellaro, so there was built a temple for the worship of the Mother of Jesus and St. Catherine . With all the vigor of his powerful body slammed furiously a large tree centenary, with the ax he dug the trunk turning it into rudimentary rugged hull, and dragged him to a remote beach and lonely. He made the launching and before embarking on the flight from the island back to the site of the apparition to take with him the painted canvas to place in the future temple of Castellaro. That canvas helped the long and difficult navigation of the improvised boat. The sailor used it, holding it with his arms raised, including sailing to direct it to the far north when the wind allowed it. Just vanished away from Lampedusa was chased by fast galleys of pirates but the rough boat Andrea Anfossi was miraculously faster. Any attempt to capture it was negated by the force of the wind-of-faith and the Pirates had to resign themselves to the loss of strong Ligurian slave. One day in 1602 the courageous fugitive landed in a deserted beach of its Ligurian Sea, probably between today's Weapon taggia and Santo Stefano al Mare. He had gone unscathed not less than 1,500 miles on the hard sea that has always been the Mediterranean. Reached the native village Andrea Anfossi told a trembling voice every detail of the incredible but true enterprise and confirmed its commitment to donate all the land of his farm Costaventosa. But the citizens regarded it unsuitable for the construction of the new church and he chose a less steep, at about 500 meters and called Chapel for the presence of a small church, at present remain few ruins. At the end of the meeting there was placed the painting of the appearance despite the animated protests dell'Anfossi but unnecessary. After a few days the painting disappeared and was found in the middle of the farm Costaventosa. Madonna wanted him in the property of the man who had given to his temple the only wealth he possessed in return received divine. It was part of the agreement between the slave miracle and the Queen of Heaven. But the stubbornness of castellaresi did not give up: the painting was recovered and placed back in the church built in the village chapel. As Andrea Anfossi had been suspected of clandestine transfer, guards were placed to protect the painting, day and night. But the next day he was gone again and found still in the farm Costaventosa dell'Anfossi. Evidently the Virgin confirmed his disappointment at the violation of the covenant made with the slave miracle that had kept his promise. The inhabitants of Castellaro not remained no alternative but to comply with the divine will. Were immediately work began improvements and leveling the ground Costaventosa and there was erected a shrine to commemorate the benevolent protection of the Mother of Jesus and to house the valuable painting that was its sacred instrument. At the shrine was named, that still has, of Our Lady of Lampedusa on which port is reproduced in an ancient fresco, the scene of Andrea Anfossi boarded the small vessel which raises the painting of the Apparition to be pushed and driven by the wind. The prodigious painting, original, is placed at the center of the central and is carried in a procession on Sunday after the 8th September each year, the feast of the Nativity of Our Lady. In vain would they look for in Lampedusa island one willing to doubt the truth of the story that happened to the "strong" Ligurian escaped slave, after forty years, imprisonment of pirates.

Source: http://www.mariadinazareth.it/www2005/Apparizioni/Apparizione%20Lampedusa.htm