* August 14 – Madonna del Sasso (Locarno, Switzerland, 1480) - Saint Maximilian Kolbe  * On that "Rock" the Virgin appeared to him   --- An initiative of the Association Mary of Nazareth  August 14 – Madonna del Sasso (Locarno, Switzerland, 1480) - Saint Maximilian Kolbe  On that "Rock" the Virgin appeared to him   The Madonna del Sasso (Virgin of the Rock) is a Catholic shrine located in Orselina near Locarno, Switzerland. The wooded crag upon which the shrine is built is known as the Sacred Hill. The Madonna del Sasso is one of the most important religious and historical sites in southern Switzerland. Tradition says that Fra Bartolomeo, a Franciscan monk from the convent of Locarno, wanted to build a place of worship on the "Rock" of Orselina, close to Locarno, following an apparition of the Virgin Mary. It is to this "Rock" that in 1480, the Capuchin had gone to pray at night, when the Virgin Mary appeared to him and filled him with joy. The monk later built an oratory. With the influx of pilgrims and the many miraculous healings, the place was transformed into a shrine. In 1600 a Way of the Cross (Via Crucis) was added. Today, with its church of the Annunciation at the foot of the hill, the Via Crucis and the Shrine of the Madonna del Sasso, the Sacro Monte (Sacred Hill) is an artistic, historical and spiritual attraction. Its annual feast is celebrated on the first Sunday of September. The Mary of Nazareth Team Let’s pray together  Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death. Amen.   .  Share A Moment with Mary and give your loved ones the opportunity to discover a new aspect of the mystery of the Mother of God each day.