santuario, diocesano, Santuario Diocesano Beato Domenico Lentini

The Church of San Nicola di Bari, in the upper quarter of Lauria, is a Renaissance-era building whose founding date is unknown, though it appears in early documents. Its significance today, however, derives from a more recent spiritual history. It holds the mortal remains of the Blessed Domenico Lentini (1770-1828), a diocesan priest whose life of penitence and love earned him the title ‘penitent inclito and apostle of love’. He is the patron saint of Lauria, and his tomb has long drawn pilgrims from across Basilicata and beyond.

Recognising the pastoral role of this pilgrimage, the Bishop of Tursi-Lagonegro elevated the parish church to a Diocesan Sanctuary on 12 October 2022, the twenty-fifth anniversary of Lentini’s beatification. The sanctuary serves not merely as a repository for relics, but as a place where pilgrims may more abundantly access the means of salvation: the diligent preaching of God’s word, the sacraments of Eucharist and Penance, and healthy forms of popular piety. The saint’s liturgical feast is celebrated as a solemnity in Lauria on 25 February.

Description via source. Coordinates and heritage data from the Atika atlas.