Spiritual and religiousEuropeChristian
Our Lady of the Hens
In its own language: Madonna delle Galline
A Catholic devotion in Pagani, Italy, honoring a wooden panel found by hens and linked to reported miracles.
This Roman Catholic title for the Virgin Mary is kept in Pagani, Campania. It stems from stories about a wooden image discovered by chickens in the early seventeenth century. Devotees visit the local shrine to honor the figure and remember the healings associated with it.
When is Our Lady of the Hens kept?
Our Lady of the Hens is kept on the Second Sunday of Easter.
Devotees in Pagani, Italy, honor a specific title of the Virgin Mary known as Our Lady of the Hens. This tradition began after a wooden panel was uncovered by chickens and became linked to reports of miraculous healings. The community maintains a strong connection to this figure through annual feasts and visits to the dedicated shrine.
Origins of the image
Local stories say a wooden picture of the Virgin of Carmel once sat in a mountain church near Tramonti. A dream led a sacristan to warn his priest about repairs. When the priest ignored the warning, a storm washed the painting downstream into Pagani. Years later, workers digging in a coop found the small panel scratched out by hens.
Miracles and healing
Believers claim the image performed eight miracles starting in 1609. A man who used crutches reportedly slept near the panel and woke up healed. News of this event spread quickly through the region. Other healings followed within a year, drawing crowds to the small oratory where the wood rested.
Building the shrine
The growing number of visitors required a larger space. Bishop Simone Lunadoro approved construction in 1610 using donations from locals. By 1615, a new church stood ready to house the faithful. As the original wood deteriorated, artists copied the scene onto canvas for the main altar.
Official recognition
Church leaders formally recognized the devotion over time. In 1610, the local bishop acknowledged the events. Later, Pope Pius VI granted permission for a solemn coronation. Bishop Benedetto dei Monti Sanfelice issued the decree in 1786, and the ceremony took place the following year at the Vatican chapter.
How Our Lady of the Hens is kept
People gather at the shrine in Pagani to pray before the canvas copy of the wooden panel. They attend mass on the Second Sunday of Easter to celebrate the feast day. Pilgrims travel from nearby towns to touch the image or leave offerings. The community preserves the memory of the early healings through these regular visits and prayers.
When and where
The devotion centers on the Second Sunday of Easter each year. The original events are said to have happened between 1609 and 1610. The formal coronation occurred in 1787.
The main site is Pagani in the Campania region of Italy. The story traces back to a mountain church in Tramonti. The painting traveled downriver to settle in Pagani, where the shrine stands today.
What Our Lady of the Hens means
The hens represent humble discovery and divine intervention. Finding the sacred art in a chicken coop suggests that holiness can appear in unexpected places. The healings symbolize physical restoration and faith. The community sees the figure as a protector who responds to sincere prayer.
Questions people ask about Our Lady of the Hens
When is Our Lady of the Hens kept?
Our Lady of the Hens is kept on the Second Sunday of Easter.
What is the name of this devotion?
It is called Our Lady of the Hens, or Madonna delle Galline in Italian. It is a Roman Catholic title for the Virgin Mary venerated in Pagani, Italy.
Why is it called Our Lady of the Hens?
According to tradition, a wooden panel depicting the Virgin was found by hens scratching in a coop. This discovery in Pagani gave the title its unique name.
Where is the shrine located?
The shrine is in Pagani, a town in the Campania region of southern Italy. It sits near Naples and Benevento, serving as a local pilgrimage site.
See also
Holy WeekThe solemn seven days leading to Easter, recalling the final week and Passion of Jesus
Stations of the CrossA Christian prayer journey following fourteen moments of the Passion of Jesus
ConclaveCardinals sealed in the Sistine Chapel, voting until two thirds agree on a new pope
Camino de SantiagoA Christian walking pilgrimage across Europe to the shrine of Saint James in SpainGood reading and sources
- Our Lady of the Hens on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Our Lady of the Hens", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryParampara rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-13.
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