At the beginning of the 18th century, the church was rebuilt and enlarged at the behest of Marquis Filippo Rangoni, based on a design by Silvestro Campiotti. Baroque church. The interior features a single nave decorated with stuccoes; the vault is adorned with early 20th-century frescoes.
The bell tower was erected in 1976.
**Description:**
A paper reproduction, from a wooden matrix, of the Madonna of Montserrat. The reproduction appears to date back to the late 16th century. The work is by an unknown artist, likely a craftsman of German origin. Along the edges, there are needle holes from ex-votos attached to the image when it was hung on the tree. The image depicts the Madonna seated on a rock, holding the Child, who is holding a saw with which he is cutting a boulder. Both wear embossed gold crowns on their heads. In the background, there are churches and monasteries with corresponding captions.
The image was originally hung on an oak trunk in the property of a certain Diamante Carandini, on Via del Disperato, also known as Via del Miserabile. Today, it is preserved in a polychrome scagliola shrine. In 1623, likely on April 15, the parish priest of Stuffione, Don Vincenzo Muzzarelli, moved the image inside the parish church. However, following a miraculous event (see the foundation legend sheet), the decision was made to build the sanctuary.
**Date of use:** Between 1550 and 1623
**Image:** Painting
**Types of ex-votos:** Painted tablets, Goldsmithing objects
**Current preservation:** On the left side of the chapel of the high altar.
**Degni, Scelta d’ alcune delle principali grazie fatte dalla B.V. di Monserrato, posta nella Chiesa Parrocchiale di Stuffione, Modena 1680.**
On April 15, 1623, the image of the Madonna of Montserrat was moved inside the parish church dedicated to St. Peter in Chains, built in 1509 at the behest of Count Guido Rangoni. On May 6, the count requested and obtained from Cardinal Giuliano Cesarini the title of parish church, along with two benefices from the Abbey of Nonantola: one in San Bartolomeo di Calanco in Stuffione and the other in San Claudio in Nonantola.
Following the transfer of the image, the church was granted the title of Sanctuary of Maria Santissima delle Grazie in the early 18th century. The proclamation as a sanctuary dates back to November 1969, with the decree recognizing its elevation to sanctuary status issued in 1993.
The image of the Madonna of Montserrat, believed to date back to the late 16th century, was originally hung on an oak trunk in the property of Diamante Carandini on Via del Disperato, also known as Via del Miserabile. In 1623, the parish priest of Stuffione, Don Vincenzo Muzzarelli, moved the image inside the parish church, but after a miraculous event, the decision was made to build the sanctuary.
According to tradition, when the image was removed from the oak tree where it had been hung to be transferred to the parish church, the ants that had built their nest on the tree followed the path of the transfer in seven lines, all the way to the altar where the image was placed. Meanwhile, the tree, which had been withered until then, continued to sprout for several years, increasing devotion to the sacred image.
At the time of the image’s transfer to the parish church, the oak tree on which it had been hung was cut down, and in its place, a small pillar with a niche and a cross was erected. From then on, the property began to be referred to as Fondo Colonna. In 1889, the pillar was demolished, and a small oratory was built in its place at the behest of Giovanni Pedretti.
The foundation legend of the sanctuary is tied to the **Miracle of the Ants (1623)**. According to tradition, when the image was removed from the oak tree to be moved to the parish church, the ants that had built their nest on the tree followed the transfer path in seven lines, all the way to the altar where the image was placed. Meanwhile, the previously withered tree continued to sprout for several years, deepening devotion to the sacred image.
**BIBLIOGRAPHY**
The following texts, already included in the bibliographic repertoire linked to the sanctuaries of the Diocese of Modena, contain references and useful bibliography for this research:
– **BOOK** – BALDELLI FRANCA, *Gli archivi parrocchiali della provincia di Modena*, 1994. (The work examines all the parishes of the Diocese of Modena-Nonantola, briefly reconstructing their history and documentary heritage. Specifically: Sanctuary of Madonna delle Grazie: p. 152).
– **BOOK** – SILINGARDI GIANCARLO, *Santuari Mariani Modenesi*, Modena 1979 (Sanctuary of Madonna delle Grazie: pp. 73-87).
– **BOOK** – MONTANARI GIANCARLO, *Itinerari mariani*, Modena 1991. (The author examines some of the main oratories and sanctuaries dedicated to the Virgin in the Diocese of Modena-Nonantola, providing historical, artistic, and devotional information: Sanctuary of Madonna delle Grazie: I, 128-135).
– **ARTICLE IN MISCELLANY** – PEZZOLI S., *Repertorio generale dei santuari in Emilia Romagna*, in *Arte e santuari in Emilia Romagna*, Cinisello Balsamo 1987 (Diocese of Modena: Sanctuary of Madonna delle Grazie: p. 203).
– **BOOK** – LONGAGNI, MANICARDI, SCHIFANI CORFINI, *Le Case le Pietre le Storie. Itinerari nei comuni della provincia di Modena*, Modena 1980. (Brief description: a guide by the Province of Modena reviewing all places to visit in individual municipalities. At the beginning, thematic itineraries are proposed, one of which is dedicated to sanctuaries. Sanctuary of Madonna delle Grazie: pp. 55 and 282).
– **BOOK** – GARUTI, GOLINELLI, *Modena. Le chiese della provincia. Storia e immagini. La Bassa.*, Modena 1993 (Sanctuary of Madonna delle Grazie: pp. 64-68).
First, Count Guido Rangoni, and later the Bentivoglio family, held the right of patronage and presentation of the parish priest until 1880, when it passed to the Municipality.
41017 Stuffione MO, Italy
