Monthly Torchlight Rosary — Sanctuary of Caravaggio

A Monthly Marian Tradition

Among the devotions that mark the life of the Sanctuary of Caravaggio, in the province of Bergamo, the Torchlight Rosary holds a special place. Every 26th of the month, at 9:00 PM, the faithful gather for the procession with torches that crosses the arcades of the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fonte.

The Meaning of the 26th

The choice of the day is no coincidence: on May 26, 1432, the Virgin appeared to the young peasant girl Giannetta de' Vacchi, giving rise to the sanctuary. Repeating the procession on the 26th of each month means keeping alive the memory of that foundational event, keeping the Marian devotion that characterizes this place lit—literally, with torches.

The Torchlight Procession

The rite follows the tradition of great Marian sanctuaries: the faithful, with torches in hand, recite the Rosary while walking under the sanctuary's arcades, in an atmosphere of recollection and beauty. In case of bad weather, the Rosary is recited inside the Basilica, so that the monthly prayer is never missed.

An Event for Everyone

The Torchlight Rosary is open to anyone who wishes to participate and is sometimes enriched with special intentions related to the liturgical calendar or the themes of the month. For the faithful of Caravaggio and for pilgrims, it is an intimate and evocative way to experience the spirituality of the sanctuary away from the large crowds of the May Solemnity.