After two years of forced stop due to the pandemic, the “Perdono del Gargano” returns on 30 June, the penitential journey from Monte Sant’Angelo to San Giovanni Rotondo. This is the main theme of the June 4 episode of “Il Sabato del Convento”. Guests in the studio between Pasquale Cianci responsible for youth and vocation ministry of the Capuchin Province of Sant’Angelo and Padre Pio.
«The Pardon of the Gargano is a great bet – Fra Pasquale began – there is a great desire to leave again and to start over, but above all to meet young people who love these experiences, even extreme ones like walking in the sun and in the middle of nature could be”.
“The word forgiveness already says it all. In 2002, our church of Santa Maria delle Grazie received the great gift of a plenary indulgence from John Paul II and therefore we would like to value the great gift we have received. We do this by organizing a path that connects these two sanctuaries which have always been a pilgrimage destination.
Many devotees who go to these places to experience the forgiveness and mercy of the Lord. San Michele Arcangelo has always been a pilgrimage destination. Francis of Assisi himself was a pilgrim to the cave of the Archangel and then our dear Padre Pio too made his pilgrimage to Monte together with the boys, “the friars” who were gaining experience in the convent. It is beautiful to connect these two beacons of holiness”.
«This year the Pardon will be divided into two moments: on 30 June in the morning there will be moments of reflection with witnesses and in the afternoon, after the delivery of the small sword of San Michele, the march towards San Giovanni Rotondo will begin.
Once there, there will be the rite of opening the door of the church and the welcoming of pilgrims. On July 1st, in the morning, the penitential liturgy will take place, followed by Holy Mass and a big party for the young people»
Guest of the second part of the program Luisa Horns, singer, actress and television presenter. She participated in the Sanremo Festival in 2002 paired with Fausto Leali, she conducted Domenica in her and starred in the fiction I married a cop with Flavio Insinna. She started singing at the age of 18 and in 1991 she took part in the Castrocaro Festival for young talents, coming second with the song “Dovevano amori gli amori”.
«I confess that the spark of passion for music struck at the oratory with Father Lino. A very good priest who loved to sing and play the guitar. A passion has never left me since then” Corna said.
“There is a place for everyone, even for you. A flower is sometimes born in concrete. A heart will open for you too” this is the refrain of one of the many songs written by Luisa Corna and titled “There is a place”. A song that has the flavor of hope?
«Life sometimes puts us to the test, it can be painful and beautiful at the same time. We must never lose hope. This is also why I wanted the children, our future and hope for a better world, to be in the song’s video».
In 2019 Luisa Corna published “Tofu and the Magic of the Rainbow” enriched by the collaboration of her great friend Annalisa Minetti.
«It is a book for the little ones in which important themes are addressed: bullying, diversity, disability. And it tells the story of this little Tofu alien who befriends a sweet, visually impaired girl named Lucy.”
And before saying goodbye, Luisa Corna spoke of her devotion to the holy friar with the stigmata.
«I am very devoted to Padre Pio, whom I met “spiritually” between San Giovanni Rotondo and Pietrelcina. It was a dear friend of mine Cesare Cadeo who gave me a picture depicting Padre Pio and told me: he protects you every day. You will see that he will protect you too.’
