THE MIRACULOUS ORIGIN AND TRANSLATION OF THE CHURCH OF OUR B. LADY OF LORETO. illustration THE church of Loreto was a chamber of the house of the B. Virgin nigh Jerusalem in the city of Nazareth, in which she ws borne and bred, and saluted by the Angel, and therein conceived and brought up her son JESUS to the age of xii years. This chamber, after the Ascension of our B. Saviour, was by the Apostles consecrated into a church in honour of our B. Lady; and S. Luke made a picture to her likeness, extant therein to be seen at this very day. It was frequented with great devotion by the people of the country where it stood, whilst they were Catholics; but when, leaving the faith of Christ, they followed the sect of Mathomet, the Angels took it, and carrying it into Sclavonia; placed it by a town called Flumen; where not being had in due reverence, they again transported it over sea to a wood in the territory of Recanati, belonging to a noble woman: called Loreta, from whom it first took the name of our B. Lady of Loreto; and thence again they carried it, by reason of the many robberies committed, to a mountain of two brothers in the said territory; and from thence finally, in respect of their disagreement about the gifts and offerings, to the common highway not far distant, where it now remains, without foundation, famous for many signs, graces, and miracles; whereat the inhabitants of Recanati, who often came to see it, much wondering, environed it with a strong and thick brickwall; yet could no mantle, whence it came originally, till in the year M. CC.XC.VI. the B. Virgin appeared in sleep to a holy devout man, to whom she revealed it, and he diwlged it to others of authority in this Province, who determining forthwith to try the truth of the vision, resolved to choose XVI. men of credit, who to that effect should go all together to the city of Nazareth, as they did, carrying with them the measure of this church; and comparing it there with the foundation yet remnant, they found them wholly agreeable, and in a brickwall thereby engraven, that it had stood there, and had left the place; which done, they presently returning back, published the premises to be true; and from that time forward, it hath been certainly Known, that this church was the chamber of the B. V to which Christians begun then, and have ever since had great devotion, for that in it daily she hath done and doth many and many miracles. One Friar Paul de Silua, an Ermit of great sanctity who lived in a cottage nigh unto this church, whither daily he went to Matins, said, that for ten year's space, on the VIII. of September; two hours before day, he saw a light descend from heaven upon it, which he said was the B. Virgin, who there shown herself on the feast of her Nativity. In confirmation of all which, two virtuous men of the said city of Recanati diverse times declared unto me Perfect of Terreman and Governor of the foresaid church, as followeth: The one called Paul Renalduci, avouched, that his grandfathers grandfather, saw when the Angels brought it over sea, and placed it in the forementioned wood, and had often visited it there; The other, called Francis Prior, in like sort affirmed, that his grandfather being C.XX years old, had also much frequented it in the same place; And for a further proof that it had been there, he reported, that his grandfather's grandfather had house nigh unto it, wherein he dwelled, and that in his time it was carried by the Angels from thence to the mountain of the two brothers, where they placed it as abovesaid. To the honour of the ever-glorious Virgin. IN LORETO Per Francisco Serafini. M.DC.XXXV. Con licenza de Superiori.