Fortuna Agrelli — St. Bartolo Longo
Pompeii, Italy · 19th Century
What Was Truly Miraculous
In 1884, Fortuna Agrelli, a 12-year-old girl from Naples, suffered from three separate incurable diseases. Doctors had abandoned hope. Her family prayed the Rosary at the Pompeii shrine founded by Bartolo Longo. Fortuna experienced a vision of the Virgin Mary with Saint Dominic and Saint Catherine of Siena, who instructed her to pray three novenas in petition and three in thanksgiving (54 days total). Following these instructions, Fortuna was completely cured on May 8, 1884. This miraculous healing became the origin of the 54-day Rosary novena still practiced today. The Fortuna Agrelli case is documented in shrine history. Longo was canonized October 19, 2025. The Church granted a special dispensation regarding formal miracle recognition, citing continuity of devotion and worldwide testimonies of graces.
Why It Can't Be Dismissed
The Fortuna Agrelli case is documented in shrine history and has been venerated for over 140 years. The 54-day novena spread worldwide—one of the most widely practiced Catholic devotions—originating from this cure. The Church recognized Longo's cause with a special dispensation, acknowledging the historical weight of the documentation. Sources: Order of the Holy Sepulchre (oessh.va), New Daily Compass, Wikipedia. The longevity of the devotion and the consistency of the tradition add credibility.