Records dating from the reign of Paul II (1464-71) relate that
the picture of Our Lady, at first called "La Madonna del
Paradiso" and now better known as "Madonna del Buon Consiglio",
appeared at Genazzano, a town about twenty-five miles southeast
of Rome, on St. Mark's Day, 25 April, 1467, in the old church of
Santa Maria, which had been under the care of Augustinians since
1356. The venerated icon itself, which is drawn on a thin scale
of wall-plaster little thicker than a visiting-card, was
observed to hang suspended in the air without the slightest
apparent support; thus early tradition, which furthermore tells
how one might have passed a thread around the image without
touching it. At once devotion to Our Lady in Santa Maria sprang
up; pilgrim-bands began to resort thither; while miracles in
ever-increasing numbers, of which a register was opened two days
after the event, were wrought, as they still continue to be, at
the shrine. In July following, Pope Paul deputed two bishops to
investigate the alleged