One Italian priest keen to help parishioners keep the faith has coined a novel idea to encourage them to pray: granting parking spaces in exchange, not for cash, but Hail Marys.

The ‘price’ runs from 10 Hail Marys for one hour of parking, right up to a whole novena for five hours.

The parish priest of the Madonna Del Passo in Avezzano, Vincenzo De Mario, said he introduced the parking rate to encourage church-goers to pray, and “for those who do not attend, [this] may be an opportunity to reflect.”

Eccolo... così potete cambiare foto... è quello originale 😎 PS. Sono di Avezzano 😂 pic.twitter.com/n2DlhBDbdq — Antonella Montanari (@MoAntonella) September 20, 2019

Asked how he ensures the ‘fee’ is actually paid by drivers, he told local media that “the Lord and the Madonna will be in control” of that part of the operation.

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