On March 24, 1920, Pope Benedict XV granted the wish of many Italian pilots during WW1 by proclaiming Our Lady of Loreto as the ‘Patroness of the Airmen’. From then on, every December 10 in Italy, the Festa della Venuta is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin of Loreto. Depending on location and tradition, the celebration has taken on different variations over the years.
For the uninitiated, Our Lady of Loreto is considered the patron saint of aviators due to a legend linked to the transport of the House of Nazareth. The legend says that in the 13th century, the Holy House of Nazareth, where the Virgin Mary lived with her family, was miraculously transported from the Holy Land to Loreto by angels. According to tradition, this flying transfer took place on the night of December 9-10, 1294.
It is said that during the journey, angels flew over the sky carrying the holy house to safety from the first Turkish invasion in 1291, and the raids that followed. This event was interpreted as a sign of divine protection for aviators, and it is for this reason that Our Lady of Loreto became the ‘Patroness of Aeronautics’, the protector not only of military aviators, but of all air travellers and those responsible for their safety and security.
Somehow, thanks to desire to reconnect with one’s origins that still moves many around the world, traditions such as these manage to cross national borders, finding in the communities of Italians abroad a fertile ground in which to continue flourishing. So, on Sunday December 10, 2023, the board of directors of the Associazione Arma Aeronautica section of Melbourne organised the annual celebration in honour of Our Lady of Loreto, which was attended by members and friends of the various Combatant Associations.
The day began with a morning Mass in Italian at St. Margaret Mary’s Church, where representatives of the association paraded the military corps’ banner and another depicting the Blessed Virgin of Loreto to the altar. At the end of the Mass there was time for a rich lunch that more than satisfied the 100 or so people present, thanks just as much to the music played by ‘The Revivors’ as to the food.
Such events always prove to be excellent occasions for renewing friendships between members who enjoy catching up on the latest news and sharing a sense of spirituality. The festivities, which took place in the municipal hall on Victoria Street, Brunswick, were also attended by some special guests, such as the patroness of the flag of the Melbourne section of the association, Antonietta Zeta. Giuseppina Tarascio and her husband Giovanni were also present. Giovanni was a pilot who served Italy and to whom a plaque of recognition was also presented last year on the occasion of his 100th birthday.
During the afternoon, members had the opportunity to renew their memberships for 2024 and secure themselves another year of initiatives, gatherings and other events designed for entertainment and remembrance.
At the conclusion of the event, president Giuseppe Anfuso thanked all those present for their heartfelt participation, and wished them a happy and prosperous New Year.
