[MIRACULOUS PROTECTION AGAINST BARBARY CORSAIRS – FROM THE LIBRARY OF A CARDINAL AND PAPAL SECRETARY] Notizie della Miracolosa Statua di N. S. del Suffragio che si venera nel borgo de Recco e descrizione delle feste per la solenne incoronazione della stessa nel giorno 8 settembre 1824 [News of the miraculous statue of Our Lady of Suffrage, venerated in the village of Recco and description of the festivities for her solemn coronation on September 8, 1824].
Genoa: Presso A. Frugoni Stampatore-librajo, 1824. Octavo (16.6 × 11.7 cm). Contemporary polished calf with gilt-tooling and super-exlibris of Cardinal Luigi Lambruschini; marbled endpapers; 46 pp. Good or better; boards lightly scuffed to corners and spine extremities; a few small worm holes to binding, affecting base of spine to gutter of pastedown, but not the text block; private inventory number to ffep. Item #54546
Anonymously authored work on a carved statue of the Virgin Mary and Child, venerated since the sixteenth century at the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Suffragio in Recco, near Genua. According to local tradition, the town "firmly associated the Madonna del Suffragio with the protection of Recco against the depredations of North African pirates, from the days of the infamous corsair Dragut, who had raided the town in 1557" (see Garnett and Rosser, Spectacular Miracles: Transforming Images in Italy from the Renaissance to the Present, p. 131; the statue itself is here depicted on a reproduction on p. 132). The book praises the towns and villages of the Ligurian coast, noting its many miraculous images and sanctuaries, before describing additional more recent miracles, such as the miraculous survival of a church painter who fell from a great height.
Described in great detail are the planned celebrations around its canonical crowning in 1824, an honor bestowed on sacred images or statues after formal application to and approval by the Apostolic See. To this day, a large celebration and procession involving lavish illuminations and fireworks honors the town's patron saint every September 8th; 2024 saw the two hundred year anniversary of the coronation festivities described at length in this volume. In addition to the detailed program for the day, the book relays the description on the festive arch as well as various poems and songs in praise of the Madonna. It was published by the Brethren of the Oratory in Recco to commemorate this important day.
Binding with super-exlibris of Luigi Lambruschini CRSP (1776–1854), an Italian Cardinal and State Secretary of Pope Gregory XVI, who was originally from near Genua and served as Bishop of Genua during the 1823 examination of miracles attributed to the statue. In his function as Archbishop of Genua, Lambruschini played a central role in the events of September 8, 1824, installing the Vatican-approved crown above the sacred image and leading the festive liturgy (his name is mentioned in the account itself). This copy was perhaps presented to him in gratitude by the Oratorians. In 1826, Lambruschini became Nuncio to the Kingdom of France; in 1831 he was created Cardinal. He also served as librarian of the Vatican Library for nearly two decades.
As of August 2026, not in KVK, OCLC.
Price: €950.00