Our Lady of Providence and the Golden Book of Palermo

This has less to do with food and recipes and more to do with faith, folklore and tradition.

In the city of Palermo, inside the church of San Giuseppe dei Teatini (Saint Joseph of the Theatines) located in the heart of the old city centre, at the famous Quattro Canti (the main ancient crossroads) we have a miraculous painting of Our Lady of Providence holding Baby Jesus that its dated back to the beginning of the 17th century.

The legend tells that a Theatine priest named Father Vincenzo Scarpato was looking for an artist that could portray the Virgin Mary, but was very unhappy with the results. No one came close to the image he had in his mind. 

One day Father Vincenzo was stopped by an old man in the middle of the street. He gave him a package and suddenly disappeared. By the time the father unwrapped it, there it was: the exact painting that he wanted to have for the church: Our Lady with Baby Jesus in her arms.

Later on, it was revealed by Father Vincenzo, that the donor of the painting, that old man was none other than Saint Joseph himself!

But the story does not end here.

The painting started to be venerated privately first, then was moved in the crypt of Saint Joseph for devotion. There in that very crypt, in 1668, another priest of the same order, Father Francesco Maggio, noticed some water coming out from under the altar.

It began to be source of miracles, favors and graces, and now you can access the water through a small fountain situated in the courtyard of the church.

It was after finding the spring of water that Father Francesco called the image Our Lady of Providence!

To this devotion it is also linked a “GOLDEN BOOK”. 

Every end of the year (from roughly November until the second Sunday after the Epiphany in January) all devotees of this Madonna can write their names and the names of their dear ones (both dead and alive) in this Book assuring themselves the protection of the Blessed Mary of Providence for the entire new year.

The second Sunday is the actual festivity of Our Lady of Providence and since that day on, every Wednesday morning for the whole year, the Mass at 10 am is dedicated to all the names entered in the book to grant protection, grace and fruits to the devotees.

Thank you Mother Mary for being so generous to us!

Our Lady of Providence please pray and intercede for us!