Manfredonia - On the 8th September the Feast of Our Lady of Grace of Pulsano . The manfredoniani as ancient tradition, up to the 60s and 70s, have always walked over to the abbey of Pulsano starting " sunsets and sunrises n'ji "before dawn, provided bivouac bag to spend the 'all day in Pulsano.

Along the old cattle track that led from Manfredonia in the valley of Pulsano (some years comfortably asphalt, to the junction of "sotta Pulezène" formerly called "u Massarotte") families and friends gathered in groups, came close to the first hermitage on the facade it is painted on the rock of God the Mother and Child, clambering along a mountain path leading to the Abbey of Pulsano. On the same day from Monte S. Angelo, they came the mountaineers, some in traditional costume, with mules and donkeys harnessed to party.

Always on the day of the Feast, as well as Monte S. Angelo, came walking "the mundagnule" resident's Montagna fractions "Tomaiuolo", "San Salvatore", "Ruggiano", "Pastini" and "Chiancatella", these always starting up early and going along the old path, which starts from "Tomaiuolo" reached after two kilometers the Abbey of Pulsano. Then, they joined to Siponto and mountaineers and together celebrating the Virgin of Pulsano, participating in religious rites in the church and the procession with the holy picture of the Madonna carried on the shoulder near the Abbey, usually by pious women. Then in groups they ate a lot, near the Abbey. The Siponto arriving by car or a bus, used to take "Furnacelle" and "carevune" to roast mullet "trègghie" and shooting "sbarrune".

The atmosphere that lived at that time was very nice, because in addition to the religious festival in honor of the Mother of God, you spent a carefree day in the open air even in the name of music playing, singing and dancing with traditional musical instruments, such as accordion, guitar, castanets, harmonica etc.

In the last century, after the Second World War, again on September 8, the day of the Feast, the Siponto resumed the ritual to walk to the Abbey; many gathered in spontaneous groups, the other belonging to the action of the Catholic parishes of Carmine led by the eclectic Don Antonio Di Lauro; Stella Maris, the days of the late Don Antonio Ricucci; and finally up to the 70s the number of young people of Catholic Church of St. Michael, led at that time by Don Michael Ciccone.

I remember that with Don Michele Ciccone were organized walking tours not only in Pulsano, with moments of relaxation and prayer along the way, but also in Monte S. Angelo at the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, with return on foot along the ancient paths. In those years, I remember that with Don Michele, always in the front row with his ever-present stick, for two years running, hiked the Abbey of Monte Sacro Mattinata. For a stretch by bus, and then walk through inaccessible paths, with brambles and plants full of black snakes not poisonous. Escorted by two or three local shepherds, who with axes, sticks and a sort of scimitar cut shrubs and bushes to open a small hole in the impenetrable bush, we reached the ancient Abbey, abandoned for centuries.

Also on 8 September, Feast of Santa Maria di Pulsano, the Siponto who could not make the climb on foot to reach the Abbey, they went by bus to Pulsano "to pustele de Ezzilde Women (Palombo & Fusilli), or with the cars of local taxi drivers, among whom I include Cosimo Marasco aka "pesciatille", or pickup trucks with "the Lupette" prepared for the occasion for the transport of persons, or "socinde fameliere" (six hundred fiat family) along the road from Monte S. Angelo wore Abbey.

Since 1990, thanks to his friend Alberto Cavallini promoter of the "Movement for Pulsano Christians", Catholic voluntary Manfredonia and Monte Sant'Angelo, the Abbey has been freed from its isolation and neglect. In 1995, always at the initiative of Cavallini, historian and photographer (and not only) of the Abbey of Pulsano, together with the priest Don Giovanni D'Arienzo and the Christian Movement pro Pulsano, made "transcribe" (paint) the new icon of the Mother of God Pulsano from grand master and scholar of ancient Byzantine icons Matthew Mangano. In the same year, preceded by a pilgrimage, the new icon of the Virgin of Pulsano, was placed in the ancient church of the Abbey.

Since 1997 it is certainly not forgotten, that the Abbey has reopened for worship, thanks to the sensitivity of the Archbishop Domenico D'Ambrosio . It 'was at the same time founded the monastic community of Pulsano, which sees the presence of a group of learned monks Pulsanesi, who with their commitment have given a new impetus to the spiritual Abbey with Byzantine and Latin rites.

Since the late 70s, the Feast of the Virgin of Pulsano, the tradition of manfredoniani to go walk on September 8 mass Abbey of Pulsano is greatly diminished, because the way you want even ruined by bad weather and floods, in particular that of March 2011, which have seriously damaged the cattle track in the valley of Pulsano and the path of the climb up the mountain that leads to the abbey.

To tell the truth, in recent years, thanks to a group of walkers (Mimmo Sticker, Mimmo d'Ascanio, Pasquale Barbato Nicola Ciuffreda and others) led dall'inossidabile marathon runner Michael and Spanish, are many Siponto that day the Feast of St. Mary of Pulsano (and not only on this occasion) go on foot to the ancient Abbey.

After the flood occurred in March 2011, although the path made accidental, September 8, many Siponto resumed the old rite to go walk on the day of the Virgin of Pulsano at the ancient Abbey. Many families and groups of friends traveling by car (via Monte S. Angelo), or always with the car will lead to Tomaiuolo, where they leave the vehicle to walk up to Pulsano along the ancient cattle track.

It should also be pointed out that the Association "Eco Walkers Gargano" led by Michele Spagnuolo (nee and Frizzi Lazzi) with the help of other friends walkers, also organized in 2014 a series of pilgrimages on foot, which is worth remember: May 11 - 2nd Pilgrimage - The Apparition of St. Michael (Manfredonia-Scannamugghiera-Monte S. Angelo-Pulsano); 7/8 June - 36th Pilgrimage Macerata Loreto; 7/8 September - 2nd Night vigil Our Lady of Grace in Pulsano (Pulsano Manfredonia-, starting on 7 September at 20 from the Cathedral); 27/28 September - 2nd Pilgrimage Night - Via Sancti Michaelis (Manfredonia-Scannamugghiera-Monte S. Angelo, starting at 21 from the Cathedral of Manfredonia, returning by bus from Monte S. Angelo behind adhesion); December 8 - 7th Pilgrimage - Tota Pulchra - (Manfredonia-Pulsano leaving at 7 from the Cathedral of Manfredonia).

Among the fathers Pulsanesi , which alternate in a wonderful way in the conduct of the Abbey of Pulsano, I want to remember: Faithful Father, Father Maximus, Father Peter, Father Efrem, Father James, and finally the novice Pierino. Between employees and patrons of the Abbey lay more frequent in recent years, the friend Franco Fortunato, my brother Leonardo Rinaldi and other friends.

It should be remembered that the monks Pulsanesi are subject to ecclesiastical authority of the Archbishop of Manfredonia- Vieste and San Giovanni Rotondo Msgr. Michele Castoro.

* On 8 September, the day the Church Cattalica and Orthodox celebrate the birth of Our Lady.

** I want to warn walkers of Manfredonia friends and everyone that Monday, September 8 they are going to walk in Pulsano that the torrential rains of recent days have caused serious damage to the location in the Valley of Pulsano .

 

Source: http://www.statoquotidiano.it/06/09/2014/festa-madonna-delle-grazie-pulsano-tradizioni-folclore/243579/