Feast of Our Lady of Graces

A Marian devotion spanning centuries

The Feast of Our Lady of Graces is one of the most deeply rooted events in the spiritual life of Monteprandone, a hilltop village in the Province of Ascoli Piceno, in the southern Marche region. The celebration takes place every year around Ferragosto at the Sanctuary of San Giacomo della Marca, the Franciscan convent complex linked to the saint born in Monteprandone in 1394.

The revered image and its history

The heart of the feast is the precious polychrome terracotta image of Our Lady of Graces, depicting the Virgin with Child. According to tradition, the sculpture was donated to San Giacomo della Marca by Cardinal Francesco della Rovere from Savona, who later became Pope Sixtus IV. The transmitted story tells that, while the saint was defending the doctrine of the Incarnation of Christ through Mary, the cardinal saw the image bow as a sign of confirmation: hence the decision to gift it. Since then, the Virgin has been invoked as a source of help, comfort, and hope, and the title 'of Graces' refers to the numerous graces and miracles attributed to her intercession.

The Sanctuary of San Giacomo della Marca

The convent and the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie were authorized on August 22, 1449, by Pope Nicholas V, at the request of San Giacomo della Marca himself. Today, the sanctuary, located on Via Madonna delle Grazie, houses the remains of the saint, a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Graces, the cloister, and a museum, and is a destination for Marian pilgrimages from all over the Piceno area and beyond.

How the feast unfolds

The days are marked by religious and community activities:

• Novena of prayer in preparation for the feast, with daily celebrations in the sanctuary
• Solemn Holy Mass presided over by Franciscan friars and local priests
• Procession with the statue of Our Lady of Graces, the most anticipated and attended moment
• Presence of local confraternities and civil authorities of the Municipality of Monteprandone
• Moments of gathering and conviviality for the community and pilgrims

An event at the heart of Piceno

More than just a liturgical recurrence, the Feast of Our Lady of Graces is a piece of Monteprandone's identity, intertwining faith, history, and popular tradition. For those visiting the Marche in summer, it is an opportunity to discover an authentic village, its Franciscan sanctuary, and a devotion that has united the inhabitants of the area for centuries.