Gruppo ANDRETTA

The Shrine of Stella Mattutina, also known as the “Vergine Stella del Mattino”, is one of the oldest buildings of which historical memory and testimony are preserved. The existence of the religious structure is documented since the second half of the 15th century, when the Sanctuary was enlarged by order of the bishop of Canosa and Rapolla, Monsignor Malizia Gesualdo (appointed by Innocent VIII in 1482), with the construction of the nearby convent. The text of a plaque, no longer existing, reported by Angelo Acocella in the volume "The buildings and the works of worship in Andretta", describes this significant event: “D. O. M. ET SANCTAE EIUS GENITRICI HOC OPUS FIERI FECIT FR. ROBERTUS NEIANUS UNA CUM D. BARTHOLOMEO ET ROBERTINO DE ANDRECTA PROCURATORES HUIUS ECCLESIAE S. MARIAE DE LA MATINA SUB. REV. PATRE ED DOM. MALITIA DE GESUALDO EPISCOPO RAPOLLIANO ED CANOSIA PER MANUS MAGISTRI ANGELI DE MURO HABITATORIS VENUSI IN HOC ANNO DOMINI 1487 HAEC CUNCTA PRO ELEMOSINIS”. It is said that the statue of the Madonna, venerated in ancient times in Vallata, was found in the vicinity of Andretta. The citizens of the valley, believing it was a theft, bring it back to its original place. Despite the various precautionary measures, the statue was found one morning on an elderberry tree. The episode, interpreted as the Virgin's desire to stay in that place, led to the construction of a small church named after the morning star. Massive is the turnout not only of Andrettesi, but also of Vallatesi, on the last Saturday and the last Sunday of May, the days when the Feast of the Mattinella is held. The statue is carried in procession to the top of a chariot, originally pulled by oxen, to which, at its feet, young girls in white dresses, the "virginelle" and others with "mezzetti", decorated artifacts to be donated. as an ex voto to the Madonna When the Andretta procession meets the procession coming from Vallata, the priests exchange liturgical vestments, and the Mayors exchange the tricolor bands, testifying to the sharing of the cult of the Virgin of the Stella del Mattino.

The large churchyard is scenographically characterized by the main facade of the church of the “Madonna del Mattino”, defined at the bottom by the limestone entrance portal, surmounted by a niche in which the statue of the Virgin and Child is placed, and in the upper part by the band horizontal of the cornice and the regular empty rhythm full of the masonry and openings. The structure is in stone masonry and occupies an area of about 464 square meters and a volume of 3700 cubic meters. The Church, with a single nave with a simple interior and without side chapels, is surmounted by a barrel vault with lunettes with side windows, partly plastered and partly facing brick. The lateral perimeter of the nave is defined by three large arches marked by the entablature band and by lateral pilasters. The presbytery area, raised above the level of the nave, is framed by a large triumphal arch and covered by a dome finely decorated with stucco. The main altar in local stone with marble inlays is surmounted by a 17th century niche with a 16th century stone statue, representing the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus on her knees with a pomegranate in her right hand, a symbol of passion and infinite graces that he is ready to bestow on the faithful.

Unknown

15th century

Architectural asset of the Church Ecclesiastical Region: Diocese of Sant’Angelo dei Lombardi, Conza, Nusco, Bisaccia Sanctuary Church dependent on the Parish of Santa Maria Assunta

After the prodigious discovery of the statue, in the place chosen by the Virgin, the small church entitled Stella del Mattino was erected. The Cistercian monks founded a small convent called "laura" which, enlarged thanks to the acquisition of adjacent land, becomes the "grancia" of the Abbey of S. Lorenzo in Tufara di Pescopagano. In 1482, with the election as bishop of Mons. Malizia Gesualdo of Canosa and Rapolla, the new church was built and the original convent was enlarged. The management of the Convent, after a short stay of the Conventual Fathers, from 1576 to 1581, returns to the order of the Cistercenzi. During the cholera of 1656, as a plaque of 1664 recalls, the Virgin of the Stella Mattutina protected the people of Andretta from the terrible epidemic. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, thanks to the donations of the people and with the contribution of the Municipality, work began on the construction of a structure intended to house a Congregation of Missionaries. On February 4, 1827, the missionaries of the Holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary take possession of the Casa Di S. Maria del Mattino. In order not to nullify the huge expenses for the construction and occupation of the building, a boarding school was set up for the education of young people from Andrettesi, providing the convent with land and capital. The Antonian Monks take possession of the structure, but soon, due to bureaucratic problems and lack of personnel, they leave the Convent. In 1833, after a series of misunderstandings, the Reforming Friars of S. Francesco di S. Andrea di Conza succeeded you. With the suppression of the religious, the convent was abandoned and on 8 September 1923 the Sanctuary was elevated to a parish. In 1924, in order to raise the necessary funds to partially finance the construction of the elementary school, the structure was put up for sale. On 7 June 1962, the City Council approved the establishment of a retirement home for the needy elderly at the Convent. Following the earthquake of November 23, 1980, the religious building suffered considerable damage. On 29 December 1994, with a municipal resolution, the convent and the former nursery school were ceded to the Friars Minor of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Shrine of the Stella Mattutina today, after a careful restoration, is the destination of continuous pilgrimages.