Festivities in Honor of Our Lady of Sorrows

The Patronal Feast of Castelforte

The Festivities in Honor of Our Lady of Sorrows are the most anticipated event of the year in Castelforte, a village in the southern Pontine area overlooking the Garigliano Valley, in the province of Latina, Lazio. Every September, the entire town gathers around its co-patron, blending the deep religious dimension of the novena and procession with the liveliness of public celebrations in the square. As the parish community notes, the feast involves the entire population of Castelforte and its civil and military institutions, with the participation of numerous faithful from neighboring municipalities.

Devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows and the Memory of the Miracle

Devotion to the Most Holy Mary of Sorrows is rooted in an episode passed down through generations. According to tradition, the population raised the necessary funds, with the decisive support of a benefactor, to commission a statue of the Madonna of Sorrows from Naples. Having arrived by sea and traveled up the Garigliano River, the sacred image entered the town just as an epidemic began to recede, eventually disappearing within a few weeks: an event that the people of Castelforte welcomed as a miraculous sign and the origin of an undying devotion. The liturgy sets the memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Sorrows on September 15th, the day that remains the heart of the town's feast.

The Religious Program

The festivities begin in the first days of September with the rite of exposition of the sacred image and the blessing of the town, followed by the evening novena in the Church of San Giovanni Battista. The culmination is the day of September 15th, with the solemn procession through the streets of the town center and the Eucharistic celebration, which over the years has seen the presence of the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Gaeta. Prayer vigils, sacred chants, and choirs accompany the evenings, giving the feast its character of authentic faith and community belonging.

Public Celebrations in the Square

Alongside the devotional aspect, the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows offers a rich civil calendar that enlivens Piazza Muraglia and the spaces of the historic center. Over the years, the event has featured concerts by Italian pop artists, cabaret shows and comedy nights, orchestras, and cover bands, all with free admission. Closing the most important evenings are the traditional firework displays, highly anticipated and managed by renowned companies in the sector, which illuminate the sky over the Garigliano and attract visitors from all over the southern Pontine area.

A Community Appointment

Organized by the Maria SS. Addolorata Feast Committee of Castelforte in close collaboration with the parish, the feast represents a moment of collective identity for the town of Castelforte, where emigrants and families return to the village to reunite. Between the sacred and the profane, the festivities of Our Lady of Sorrows remain one of the most deeply rooted popular traditions in lower Lazio and a precious opportunity to discover the hospitality and warmth of this village on the border between Lazio and Campania.