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During his life-time Antonio Mari is not known to have worked man miracles but that gift of working miracles which he had not on earth God granted him and in a very high degree after his death. Very numerous are the prodigies worked through his intercession. In olden times clear testimony of this is given by many writers. Giuseppe Bresciani in his “Crown of Cremonese saints” speaking of Zaccaria says expressly “that after his death the Lord worked many miracles and favors.” Agostino Barbosa the celebrated jurist consult, in his work on Ecclesiastical Rights finished in 1628, writes of Zaccaria “ that as he was holy in life so he was illustrious after death by the glory of his miracles.” And the same is confirmed by other writes amongst whom may be mentioned Angelica Gonzaga.          

Of the miracles worked in the past we shall mention only the one which the more interesting being connected with the miraculous picture that is preserved and placed for veneration over the altar where the body of the saint lays.

The first took place at Castagnolo Minore near Bologna in 1876. A certain Vincenzo Zanotti a peasant 20 years of age, in consequence of a muscular sprain developed varicose veins in the left leg. Ulcers soon formed and in this state he continued for 45 years when his suffer­ings increased to such a degree as to become unbearable. Having lost all hope of regaining his health, Vincenzo Zanotti by the advice of one of his friends turned to St. Antonio Maria Zaccaria and with all the fervor of a soul full of faith, made first a novena and then a triduum keeping a pannolino (a small piece of linen that has touched the bones of the Saint) applied to the part affected. God rewarded his faith for at the end of the Triduum he found the leg perfectly cured. He and all present including the doctor cried out: “A miracle.”  Vincenzo being completely restored to health took up his usual work and when six years after, an investigation was made at Bologna on this truly miraculous cure he deposed on oath: “I, from that day have always been perfectly well.”

Much more striking is the following cure which took place in Cremona on the 21^st of May 1873. Paola Aloni 42 years of age was suffering from an incurable organic spinal complaint which had obliged her to keep her bed for seven years. Her sufferings increased to such an extent as to allow her no rest night or day and for four months she had been unable to take any nourishment except a little broth. On the 15^th of May 1873 the Last Sacraments were administered to her, but she continued to recommend herself to St. Antonio Maria, to whom she had for six months, been making novena after novena feeling convinced all the time that the saint would cure her. “I have never been as ill as I now am” she said to her confessor, “and this shows the favor is about to be granted, ‘you will see a great miracle’;” and as a matter of fact the miracle was not delayed. On the morning of May 21^st she felt an irresistible power urging her to rise from her bed. Fearing that she would not be able to stand on account of her great weakness she asked to be touched with the Relic of the saint and wonderful to relate, in a moment she regained her strength and without help rose from her bed, her malady had disappeared—she was perfectly cured and people came and went all day, desirous of seeing for themselves the great miracle that had been worked.

The Third miracle

The third miracle was wrought favor of Francesco Aloni, a blacksmith brother of the person whose cure we have just related.

Francesco Aloni 52 years of age had suffered for three years from ulcers and sores in his leg caused by varicose veins. The corruption that issued from these sores was frightful and the sufferings of the poor man daily increased. In the summer of 1876 his state became so serious as to oblige him to keep his bed. After having been kept in two hospitals for several months he was dismissed, his case having been pronounced chronic and incurable. The poor man left the hospital crawling rather than walking, and unable to get home he dragged himself to his sister's house which was near. She, seeing him in such a sad state said to him, as if inspired from on high: “Francesco, have you never recom­mended yourself to the Blessed Zaccaria?”  To this he never answered but burst in to tears; the sister too wept but full of confidence, taking the Relic of the saint she touched the leg with it saying: “Through the intercession of Blessed Zaccaria may God restore you!” For a while both remained silent, then Paola added “Francesco, promise me to make a novena to the Saint.”  The brother promised and left the house in better spirits. Francesco and Paola prayed fervently for the nine days. On the ninth day, the 23^rd of October 1876 the leg was straightened. What a moment that was! The leg was perfectly healed. He ran to his sister's house anxious to relate the miracle. “My Paola—he cried—I am cured, tomorrow I return to my work” and so he did. So complete was his cur that from that day he has enjoyed perfect health.

Space will permit of our giving only four out of the' hundreds of favors and miracles of recent date.