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Lisa and Sree's Web |
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San Sisto Legend and History Credit In the year 1132, Rainolfo, bishop of Alife, decided to request of the ambassadors to Rome in order to obtain from Pope Anacleto II° the relic of some saint with the scope to free their own city from the stench. (ha) The urn of the relic of San Sisto to the Alifani granted Anacleto that it be loaded on the trusting back of one mule in order to make return to Alife. Probably near Fumone, the mule did not want to continue to Alife and it set off for a path that lead to Alatri. No attempt succeeded to make to mule change to the correct road and it continued on to visit the church of San Matteo in a locality dictated by the Colubro, where it was received from the Bishop, the clergy and the people in Alatrino. The mule continued its way heading without hesitation towards the Acropoli and in front of the cathedral, it knelt down waiting for the Crescenzio Bishop to free it from its precious cargo. From that Alatri moment, the mule was freed from the relic and the citizens made gift to the inhabitants of alifani (sic) the finger of the Saint San Sisto had chosen its dwelling: it was 11 January 1132. The relic of San Sisto is conserved in the Concattedrale di San Paolo within an ancient urn of lead, on whose cover is recorded: "EAST HIC RECONDITUM CORPUS XYSTI PP. FIRST ET MARTIRIS " (sic and I have no translation of that indicator.) The recurrence of the Saint is celebrated in Alatri on 11 January with a solemn religious function, while, the Wednesday after Passover, the imposing statue is carried in processione (sic) on the roads of the city. The reason of the "double festeggiamento" (festival) is from searching itself in an historical event. In the year 1186, Alatri is besieged from the troops of Arrigo VI°, son of Federico Barbarossa. After nine days of resistance, the provisions and the forces begin to suffer and the town's people of alatrini went to prostrarsi innanzi (to pray in front) of their Patron Saint Sisto for invocare aid and protection. After fervent prayers, they felt animated from the great force of mind. Re-united, the forces are hurled like lions against the enemy, and they are given to vergognosa (shameful) escape towards their Guarcino neighbor, not resisting to the attack. All (of the village attributed the victory) to Saint Sisto in honor of the Victoria, and being that the fact happened on the Wednesday after the Passover (Easter) Saint, they decreed that then and there, that that day, it had to be consecrated their Protettore (protector) Saint and to be thought of more important of the year. (Meaning that this day after Easter was more important to the towns people than the annual celebration of the day it arrived in the village, 11 Jan.) San Sisto therefore "very enjoys" two festivities, both perceived deeply from the people of alatrense (Alatri). The statue of the Saint is covered with gold over wood, (the head, the arm and the palm is of silver). Its weight is of approximately 7 quintals (1500 lbs) and it is capacity processionalmente (sic) in shoulder for the ways of the city from 20/25 incollatori pertaining to the Confraternita. (Meaning to be carried on the shoulders like the ways of many years before). One curiosity: every qualvolta (no translation), the change of the Bishop of Alatri happens, its first income in the city is to the back of one white female mule, in memory of the episode of the coming of San Sisto. The cities of Alatri and Alife, moreover, are joined in the faith to the Saint through this gemellaggio (intertwining).
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