Sanctuary Virgen de Las Flores.
A 54 kms of Montevideo, in the department of Canelones, north of Balneario La Floresta, is the imposing shrine dedicated to Our Lady of the Flowers, the Orione Movement in Uruguay. Struck by the size and quality of the sanctuary, worthy of a great city, because it is located in a small town of no more than 500 inhabitants.
In the Sanctuary of the Virgen de las Flores was living the founder of the Movement, San Luis Orione, better known as Don Orione. The resort operates a zoned school and a little Cottolengo for disabled twenty men, who perform various farm activities, crafts, music therapy, etc, and a convent of the Congregation of Sisters.
Don Luis Orione.
The green environment and peace that radiates the shrine have become an important pilgrimage site for both Christians and ordinary tourists especially during summer.
A beautiful phrase of Don Orione chairs the temple: „I want to devote to the „Virgen de las Flores everything I cried to honor her, to comfort the poor and to Christ lead to good Uruguayan people“.
The 29th of December 2015 will meet 679 years
of the appearance of The Virgin of Flowers.
Wild Plum in full flower.
Everything happens during the siege of the city of Bra in northern Italy on 29 December 1336. Egidia Mathis, who was pregnant, escaped soldiers who wanted to abuse her. Desperate she ran to the shrine of the Virgin to take refuge among the wild plum („prunus spinosa“) that grew there; but as it was winter everything was covered in snow and was leafless.
Two drawings of Egidia Mathis in Bra Italy. Left appearance of the Virgin and right Egidia with her child.
To implore the protection of the Virgin plums Egidia flourished so she could hide among the flowers and snow and right there gave birth to her son. The most interesting is, that these plums continue to flourish in every winter and do it again in the spring to bear fruit.
Bra Italy.
Bra center and the yearly cheese festival with thousands of cheeses and more then 150000 spectators.
Situated midway between Cuneo and Turin, Bra lies at the edge of the Langhe hills, near the Tanaro river, and is the third most populous commune in the province, one of the main centers of the Piemontese Baroque style with its many churches and palaces of the 17th and 18th century, and also in the heart of the so-called food valley, and the seat of a University of Gastronomic Science.
The Culinary University in “ agencia di Pollenzo“, with Albergo de Pollentia, an outside and inside view.
In Roman times the main center of the area was Pollentia, founded in the 2nd century BC, a strategic town connecting Piemont to Liguria. 5 km from Bra in 402 AD general Stilicho, the son of a Vandal who had married the daughter of Emperor Theodosius, led the Romans to victory against the Goths. In later centuries the population moved from the plain, where Pollentia was located, to higher ground and founded Bra on the plateau, naming it at first Brayda (probably derived from Praedium).
Plaza Emanuel II, Pollentia-Bra, Italy.
In the 12th century it was a diocese of Asti, and shared its history. In 1552 Emanuele Filiberto Savoy sieged and destroyed the castle, and in 1559 Bra became part of the Savoy Duchy, which started a flourishing period for trade, art, culture.
Sequentially.
The image of the Virgen de Las Flores was brought from Bra (Italy) by Antonio Bersanino (1838-1892), who arrived in America in 1874, to settle in Uruguay in 1876. It is a carving of wood, covered in plaster, 1.60 meters high.
The Virgin de las Flores in La Floresta. Notice the wall painting behind the statue.
The occurrence from 1336. Egidia is hiding behind the plum flowers and the soldiers disappear.
Bersanino devoted his last years of life to the project of building a shrine for the worship of the „Virgin of Bra“ in Uruguay. It was so left for Italy to obtain an image of the Virgin. In 1891, a holy fair was held in honor of the image in the Metropolitan Church.
Park and Uruguayan flag post infront the church.
In 1892 Bersanino died, unable to realize his dream of a shrine to the Virgin. The image remained in the custody of the widow of Bersanino and then went to guardianship of the Capuchin Sisters, where the couple’s daughter had entered.
The Virgin de Las Flores on Top of the Clock Tower.
In 1915, the widow communicates the desire of the residents of La Floresta to erect a shrine to the Virgin. Finally. In 1916 she was transferred to the resort by its founder, Dr. Miguel Pereira, amid a large pilgrimage. Since then began a fervent Marian movement and pilgrimages.
Interesting view, church roof seen from the clock tower.
Dr. Pereira, lawyer, inspired by forestry companies in Punta Ballena, had acquired land in this area, promoting intensive afforestation of pines and eucalyptus, founding the corporation agriculture, spa and promotion territorial „La Floresta“ in 1911.
Inside the church, very warm atmosphere, even if you are just by yourself.
For years the image was on a temporary sanctuary, on the beach, while the worship and adoration of the Virgin earned more relevance in the spa. In 1930 Dr. Pereira travels to Italy and contacted Don Orione who signed an agreement to found the house of La Floresta, in the La Floresta station.
I SEE A GREAT LIGHT.
The VIRGEN DE LAS FLORES wanted to stay in the garden of La Floresta. His miraculous image is among us! On December 29, 1935 San Luis Orione saw a great light out of the throne of the Virgen de las Flores who lit the whole Uruguay and neighboring countries.
San Luis Orione preaching at the altar of the Virgin of Las Flores.
In 1960, the Sons of Don Orione and locals built this shrine, which opened on October 12 of that year. To realize the project Initiatives‘ Union, founded in 1928 to achieve the construction of the sanctuary, sought donations, among other activities, organized the raffle of a villa in the resort.
A wonderful green park around the church.
The temple is a construction of sober and simple style, its architectural lines are thin and neat. The access ramp to the temple rises above the ground, up to the entrance door, giving the feeling of a promotion. The indoor environment, naturally lit by yellow glasses, conveys a sense of peace and serenity.
Active church life. Notice the walls of the church are decorated with holy stories.
Procession of the Virgin de las Flores. Would adidas give some donation for such an advertizing ?
In the environment of the sanctuary are the installations by Don Orione, including gardens, orchards and trees. They founded a home for young people, a trade school, a primary school, a meeting room and exercise, a dairy farm, a vegetable farm and more .
Colegio de Virgin de las Flores Don Orione. The colegio buildings across the church.
In 1988, with the assumption of Mons. Orestes S. Nuti, Bishop of Canelones, the temple and the altar were consecrated as a diocesan shrine.
Massive ,wonderful handcarved oak, confessionals, imported from Italy. The Virgen de Las Flores.
Can you visit the shrine ?
Yes, it is open for public all day long. If you drive from La Floresta north on ruta 35 to Soca, you will see in La Floresta Station the church on your right. Turn off this ruta in the center of La Floresta Station, in front the bakery. It’s worth to visit this unusual shrine.
