The Church celebrates today, October 12, the solemnity of Our Lady of the Pillar, patroness of Spain and the first Marian devotion directly linked to the apostolic mission. According to tradition, the Virgin appeared in mortal flesh to the apostle James the Greater in Zaragoza, around the year 40 A.D., when the disciple of Christ was preaching in the Iberian Peninsula and going through a moment of discouragement due to the harshness of evangelization.
Mary, still alive in Jerusalem, appeared on a pillar of jasper on the banks of the Ebro to comfort the Apostle and confirm to him that his mission would bear fruit. Since then, that pillar remained as a sign of the maternal presence of the Virgin, becoming a center of devotion and a testimony of faith in Spain.
Patroness of Spain and of the Hispanidad
Our Lady of the Pillar was proclaimed patroness of Spain by Pope Clement XII in 1730 and later also of the Hispanidad, extending her patronage to all Spanish-speaking nations. On October 12, in addition to the liturgical feast, the Day of the Hispanidad is celebrated, which recalls the common heritage that unites the peoples on both sides of the Atlantic around the Catholic faith and the evangelizing work that originated from Spain.
In the Basilica of the Pillar in Zaragoza, one of the great Marian shrines in the world, solemn Masses, processions, and the traditional floral offering take place throughout the day, gathering thousands of faithful and pilgrims. The small stone column on which, according to tradition, the Virgin appeared, remains as the center of worship and is venerated by devotees as a sign of firmness in the faith.
Spiritual Meaning of the Pillar
The symbol of the pillar has a particular strength in Christian spirituality. It represents the solidity of faith and the maternal support of Mary for her children, who find in her refuge and strength. It is no coincidence that Saint John Paul II, during his visit to Zaragoza in 1982, said: “The Pillar is a sign of Mary's presence in the midst of her people, sustaining them in faith so that they do not falter”.
For the Spanish Catholic tradition, Our Lady of the Pillar reminds us that the evangelizing mission, although difficult and demanding, always counts on the assistance of the Mother of God. She strengthens the apostles and all the faithful in the task of announcing Christ, just as she did with James on the banks of the Ebro.
A Feast for Spain and the Hispanic World
Today, October 12, the solemnity of Our Lady of the Pillar resonates not only in Zaragoza, but throughout Spain and in the countries of the Hispanidad. From Mexico to the Philippines, Catholic communities celebrate the Virgin under this invocation, keeping alive the awareness that Christianity has been the essential bond of the common identity of Hispanic peoples.
In a time marked by secularization and the attempt to dilute the Christian roots of nations, Our Lady of the Pillar continues to remind us that faith is the true foundation of unity and hope. Her column does not collapse, because it is founded on Christ.