Our Lady of the Pillar
Our Lady of the Pillar
https://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/our-lady-of-the-pillar.html
January 2
In Zaragossa, Spain, the feast of Our Lady of the Pillar is a day of special rejoicing.
Our Lady of the Pillar is patroness of policemen & postmen; & day is commemorated with processions, conventions, & other festivities.
The image of Our Lady of the Pillar is a wooden statue decorated with gold; it is about 15 inches high. The crown adorning head of statue is very intricate.
It was made in 44 days by 33 workmen; in it there are 2,836 diamonds cut triangularly, 2725 roses, 145 pearls, 74 emeralds, 62 rubies & 46 sapphires.
The crown of Infant is identical with that of the Virgin, except in size.
The history of this particular statue of Our Lady is unique & interesting. It is said that in year 40 A.D. the Virgin visited Apostle Saint James while he was at prayer one night on shore of Ebro River in Zaragossa. Mary was standing on a column of marble, & she gave St. James her effigy, requesting that he build a chapel in her honor. Saint James complied.
To the small chapel has been added a large temple which has been called Our Lady of the Pillar. Throughout the years the kisses of the pilgrims have made a hole in pedestal, so large that a man’s head can rest therein.
Many miracles have been performed at shrine of Our Lady of the Pillar: one in 1640 when the limb of a man, Juan, native of Colanda, was cured. In remembrance of the apparition of Our Lady, people of Zaragossa made a vow in 1642 to honor always Mary, as patroness of Zaragossa.
More than a hundred years ago, Zaragossa was besieged by a large French army.
A few men & women with 16 cannon & some shotguns, defended the town for 2 months.
The French sacked the famous town, & took everything; but they didn't dare touch treasures of Our Lady of the Pillar.
One of generals boldly took one of the jewels to carry home to his wife, offering the Virgin in exchange a valuable gift.
In first battle, a cannon ball took off his leg.
It was during this terrible siege that people began to recite verse so well known to Spanish, “The Virgin of the Pillar says she doesn't want to be French.
She desires to be leader of Aragon troops.”
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Our Lady of the Pillar
https://www.catholiccompany.com/getfed/first-marian-apparition-our-lady-pillar
Tradition has it that Blessed Virgin Mary, sometime before her bodily Assumption into heaven, appeared to Apostle St. James the Elder while he was living & preaching in Spain.
St. James was discouraged that pagans of that land weren't responding to Gospel & converting to Christianity.
He had only a handful of converts to show for his labors.
In face of what he thought was failure in his mission, he prayed with his disciples by Ebro river in modern day Zaragoza.
To bring him consolation, while she was still alive & living in Jerusalem,
Our Lady appeared to him & his disciples atop a pillar of jasper
stone carried by angels, while holding a smaller wooden statue of
herself holding the Christ Child.
The date was October 12 in year 40 AD.
According to one account, Our Lady had previously promised St. James that she'd come to his aid when he needed it the most.
In fact, it was she who sent James into that region of Roman Empire to tell people of Hispania about her Son, Jesus.
And then, in his most desolate hour, when he was considering leaving his mission field, she comes to his rescue.
The Mother of God told St. James not to worry, that people to whom he preached wouldn't only be converted, but they'd one day have faith as strong as the pillar on which she stood.
She gave the pillar & statue to St. James & asked that a church be built on spot in her honor, using the 2 items for the altar.
After asking for her church to be built, she gave another promise that,
St. James built a small chapel as Our Lady requested, by the Ebro river in Zaragoza, Spain, the first known Marian shrine in history.
It became known as Our Lady of the Pillar, or Nuestra Senora del Pilar.
The chapel was replaced by larger churches over centuries, the present stunning basilica being erected in 17th century.
In same vision Our Lady also recalled St. James to Jerusalem,
where he met his martyrdom in 44 AD.
His remains were taken by his followers back to Compostela, Spain, where a chapel was built in his honor. The chapel was later replaced by famous Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, the most visited Catholic pilgrimage destination outside of Rome & the Holy Land.
Interestingly, the flagship of Christopher Columbus, the Santa Maria, had a full name of Santa Maria de la Inmaculada Concepcion (Holy Mary of the Immaculate Conception).
The U.S. bishops declared Mary under her title of the Immaculate Conception as patroness of America in 1846.
After going a long time without seeing land, Columbus promised his anxious crewman that if they didn't have landfall in their sight by October 12th feast of Our Lady of the Pillar, so dear to the Spanish people, they'd turn course & sail back to Spain.
On October 12th they sighted land, & claimed New World first for Jesus Christ, & next for Spanish crown. Read The Catholic Venture of Christopher Columbus.
es, America belongs to Our Lady!
https://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/our-lady-of-the-pillar.html
January 2
In Zaragossa, Spain, the feast of Our Lady of the Pillar is a day of special rejoicing.
Our Lady of the Pillar is patroness of policemen & postmen; & day is commemorated with processions, conventions, & other festivities.
The image of Our Lady of the Pillar is a wooden statue decorated with gold; it is about 15 inches high. The crown adorning head of statue is very intricate.
It was made in 44 days by 33 workmen; in it there are 2,836 diamonds cut triangularly, 2725 roses, 145 pearls, 74 emeralds, 62 rubies & 46 sapphires.
The crown of Infant is identical with that of the Virgin, except in size.
The history of this particular statue of Our Lady is unique & interesting. It is said that in year 40 A.D. the Virgin visited Apostle Saint James while he was at prayer one night on shore of Ebro River in Zaragossa. Mary was standing on a column of marble, & she gave St. James her effigy, requesting that he build a chapel in her honor. Saint James complied.
To the small chapel has been added a large temple which has been called Our Lady of the Pillar. Throughout the years the kisses of the pilgrims have made a hole in pedestal, so large that a man’s head can rest therein.
Many miracles have been performed at shrine of Our Lady of the Pillar: one in 1640 when the limb of a man, Juan, native of Colanda, was cured. In remembrance of the apparition of Our Lady, people of Zaragossa made a vow in 1642 to honor always Mary, as patroness of Zaragossa.
More than a hundred years ago, Zaragossa was besieged by a large French army.
A few men & women with 16 cannon & some shotguns, defended the town for 2 months.
The French sacked the famous town, & took everything; but they didn't dare touch treasures of Our Lady of the Pillar.
One of generals boldly took one of the jewels to carry home to his wife, offering the Virgin in exchange a valuable gift.
In first battle, a cannon ball took off his leg.
It was during this terrible siege that people began to recite verse so well known to Spanish, “The Virgin of the Pillar says she doesn't want to be French.
She desires to be leader of Aragon troops.”
--------------------------------------------------
Our Lady of the Pillar
https://www.catholiccompany.com/getfed/first-marian-apparition-our-lady-pillar
The First Marian Apparition in Church History:
Our Lady of the Pillar
Tradition has it that Blessed Virgin Mary, sometime before her bodily Assumption into heaven, appeared to Apostle St. James the Elder while he was living & preaching in Spain.
The Story of Our Lady of the Pillar
After Pentecost, 12 Apostles dispersed to preach Gospel all over world. St. James the Greater, on one of his apostolic journeys, preached in Iberian Peninsula in modern-day Spain.St. James was discouraged that pagans of that land weren't responding to Gospel & converting to Christianity.
He had only a handful of converts to show for his labors.
In face of what he thought was failure in his mission, he prayed with his disciples by Ebro river in modern day Zaragoza.
The date was October 12 in year 40 AD.
According to one account, Our Lady had previously promised St. James that she'd come to his aid when he needed it the most.
In fact, it was she who sent James into that region of Roman Empire to tell people of Hispania about her Son, Jesus.
And then, in his most desolate hour, when he was considering leaving his mission field, she comes to his rescue.
The Mother of God told St. James not to worry, that people to whom he preached wouldn't only be converted, but they'd one day have faith as strong as the pillar on which she stood.
She gave the pillar & statue to St. James & asked that a church be built on spot in her honor, using the 2 items for the altar.
“This place is to be my house, &
this image & column shall be the title & altar of the temple that
you shall build… & the people of this land will honor greatly my Son
Jesus.”
After asking for her church to be built, she gave another promise that,
“It will stand from that moment until
the end of time in order that God may work miracles & wonders through
my intercession for all those who place themselves under my patronage.”
St. James built a small chapel as Our Lady requested, by the Ebro river in Zaragoza, Spain, the first known Marian shrine in history.
It became known as Our Lady of the Pillar, or Nuestra Senora del Pilar.
The chapel was replaced by larger churches over centuries, the present stunning basilica being erected in 17th century.
The statue & pillar have been preserved
in basilica just as they were given to St. James almost 2000 years
ago (see below photo). Amazing!
The pillar is now covered in an embossed metal covering, but behind altar a portion of pillar is exposed for veneration.
The pillar is now covered in an embossed metal covering, but behind altar a portion of pillar is exposed for veneration.
The original pillar & statue miraculously given by Virgin Mary to St. James for first shrine built in her honor.
His remains were taken by his followers back to Compostela, Spain, where a chapel was built in his honor. The chapel was later replaced by famous Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, the most visited Catholic pilgrimage destination outside of Rome & the Holy Land.
Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Spain, burial place of St. James the Greater.
Connection to Columbus Day
Christopher Columbus, the Italian Catholic explorer, sailed Atlantic under banner of the Catholic King & Queen of Spain on his 3 ships, the Nina (“Little Girl”), the Pinta (“Painted One”), & Santa Maria (“Holy Mary”), which in hindsight can be seen as a foreshadowing of Our Lady of Guadalupe.Interestingly, the flagship of Christopher Columbus, the Santa Maria, had a full name of Santa Maria de la Inmaculada Concepcion (Holy Mary of the Immaculate Conception).
The U.S. bishops declared Mary under her title of the Immaculate Conception as patroness of America in 1846.
After going a long time without seeing land, Columbus promised his anxious crewman that if they didn't have landfall in their sight by October 12th feast of Our Lady of the Pillar, so dear to the Spanish people, they'd turn course & sail back to Spain.
On October 12th they sighted land, & claimed New World first for Jesus Christ, & next for Spanish crown. Read The Catholic Venture of Christopher Columbus.
es, America belongs to Our Lady!
Our Lady of the Pillar - Facts
- Our Lay of the Pillar is first known apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- It is also the only known apparition of Our Lady prior to her Assumption into heaven.
- The Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragosa, Spain, is first church dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
- Our Lady of the Pillar is patroness of Spain & all Hispanic People.
- The first known apparition of Our Lady, & her first church, were entrusted to Spanish people.
- The church has remained in same location after fires, wars, & disasters over centuries.
- Three bombs were dropped on basilica during Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939; miraculously, none of them exploded.
- A 9-day festival, Fiestas del Pilar, is celebrated in Zaragoza every year in her honor. It is a national holiday in Spain that coincides with commemoration of arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492, i.e. Columbus Day.
- Christopher Columbus found & claimed New World for Spain on October 12, 1492, the feast of Our Lady of the Pillar.
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