The convent of Saint Bernardino and
the bernardinian tradition
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| In Monzano you
can find the Convent of S. Bernardino, erected in memory of
its passage on an old oratory dedicated to S. Primiano.
It has elegant frescoes attributed to Orlando Merlini, student
of Benozzo Gozzoli. The convent of the Minorites Observants
was joined to the church of S. Primiano, constructed for will
of S. Bernardino, after the authorization of Pope Niccolò
V.
The saint was passed from Montefranco the day 11 May 1444
in its travel towards L' Aquila, where it was died alone 9
days after. It was sick and in the short pause to Montefranco
it operated great miracles: in the house of a poor widow a
basket became full of eggs, bread and wine; the cliff, where
it seated along the way for Monzano, modeled itself upon its
body; fresh water gushed out in the point indicated from the
Saint for the construction of the Convent.
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Such passage, reported from one
report of the Porziuncola di Assisi and from another signed
by Friar Augustin from Stroncone, annually is remembered in
the historical rievocation that the 20th of May of every year
is represented with great mysticism. They come recalled, through
scenes and figuring, the arrival of the Saint to Montefranco
and the miracle of the bread and the wine operated in the house
of the ancient woman that accommodated it. The scenografy is
prepared inside the village, where they recall the life of XV
the century through the rappresentazione of arts and trades
in the typical workkshops. Ways are animated from numerous personages.
The rievocation finishes with the Saint, surrounded from people
and personages, that, going away from the country, foretells
near the historical Free Door, asking for peace between people.
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The last Sunday of May they celebrates
the Festivity of the Patron S. Bernardino with a traditional
procession, with dresses of the XV sec., that comes down from
the hill, along the way covered from the Saint, towards the
Convent of Monzano. It precedes the historical cortege, composed
from the Captain of the People, the Podestà, checkerses
and knights, population and the glorious corporation of the
"Gunners" that shoots continuously for greeting and
celebrating the Saint, with old carabine to muzzle-loader, pistons
and mortars of various dimensions.
The traditional "Ride of the horses", from the first
of the 19th century, ends the manifestation. |
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