Pierina Guilli was born on August 3, 1911, at Montichiari and worked as a nurse in the hospital there. Our Lady appeared to her, seven times beginning on the spring of 1947. On the First apparition, Our Lady appeared to her in a room of that hospital. Our Lady wore a violet dress with a white veil around her head. She was very sad, her eyes were filled with tears, which fell to the floor. Her breast was pierced by three big swords. Our Lady said to her: "Prayer Penitence Expiation" and then disappeared. On one occasion, she said: "I wanted to bring my heart into Christian families in Bonate: (near Bergamo, Italy) and after a brief pause She added: Here, in Montichiari, I wish to be venerated as the ROSA MYSTICA as already indicated so often, together with the devotion to my heart which must be specially practiced in religious institutes so that they may obtain more graces through my motherly heart." The original purpose of these appearances of Our Blessed Mother was the reform of the clergy and religious houses. The apparitions here in Montichiari was also the continuation of the Apparitions of Our Lady in Fatima. She once again urged us to pray the Rosary and do penance. Msgr. Abato Francesco Rossi who was a vicar in Montichiari between 1949 and 1971 is absolutely convinced about the authenticity of the visions. Pope Pius XII granted Pierina a personal audience and blessed her. He parted from her saying: "Please, pray for us, too." Before opening the Vatican Council II, Pope John XXIII urged the whole world by means of his Apostle letter to pray for the success of the council, to venerate the Mother of God as a Mystical Rose and to pray the rosary for this purpose. Likewise, the believers were urged also by Pope Paul VI in his address of May 5, 1969 to invoke Our Lady primarily as a Mystical Rose in May.
