A PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF
THE PILLAR
Our
Lady of Pillar, Queen of the Missions,
You
offered your only Son for our salvation
and
you wish with a Mother’s heart that all men may be saved.
You
are the strength and help of the Apostles and Missionaries
that
they may go and spread the light of Faith
and
show the way of Salvation to the ends of the earth.
So,
loving Mother with great faith we pray to thee,
that
the gift of Faith that we have received persevere and deepen in us
and
all peoples may embrace the Kingdom of God
in
which is our peace and salvation.
So
too, preserve us always in God’s grace and His loving fellowship.
Come
to our assistance in all our needs
and
in a special way grant me this favor (pause and silently mention your
petition)
if
it serves for the greater glory of God and for my sanctification.
O
merciful Father, we offer you this novena in honor of the Mother of your
beloved Son.
May
it be to the greater glory of your Name and may it bring us abundant blessings.
We
make this prayer through Jesus Christ Your Son. Amen.
HISTORY
In
Zaragossa, Spain, the feast of Our Lady of the Pillar is a day of special
rejoicing. Our Lady of the Pillar is the patroness of policemen and postmen;
and the day is commemorated with processions, conventions, and other
festivities.
The
image of Our Lady of the Pillar is a wooden statue decorated with gold; it is
about fifteen inches high. The crown adorning the head of the statue is very
intricate. It was made in forty-four days by thirty-three workmen; in it there
are 2,836 diamonds cut triangularly, 2725 roses, 145 pearls, 74 emeralds, 62
rubies and 46 sapphires. The crown of the Infant is identical with that of the
Virgin, except in size.
The history of this particular statue of Our Lady is unique and interesting. It is said that in the year 40 A.D. the Virgin visited the Apostle Saint James while he was at prayer one night on the shore of the Ebro River in Zaragossa. Mary was standing on a column of marble, and 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 the pedestal, so large that a man’s head can rest therein.
The history of this particular statue of Our Lady is unique and interesting. It is said that in the year 40 A.D. the Virgin visited the Apostle Saint James while he was at prayer one night on the shore of the Ebro River in Zaragossa. Mary was standing on a column of marble, and 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 the pedestal, so large that a man’s head can rest therein.
MIRACLES
Many
miracles have been performed at the 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, the people of Zaragossa made a vow in 1642 to
honor always Mary, as the patroness of Zaragossa.
More
than a hundred years ago, Zaragossa was besieged by a large French army. A few men
and women with sixteen cannon and some shotguns, defended the town for two
months. The French sacked the famous town, and took everything; but they did
not dare touch the treasures of Our Lady of the Pillar. One of the generals
boldly took one of the jewels to carry home to his wife, offering the Virgin in
exchange a valuable gift. In the first battle, a cannon ball took off his leg.
It was during this terrible siege that the people began to recite the verse so
well known to the Spanish, “The Virgin of the Pillar says she does not want to
be French. She desires to be the leader of the Aragon troops” (Excerpts from
the book, "The Woman in Orbit").
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