Around a thousand faithful participated this Tuesday in the traditional floral offering to Our Lady of Africa, patroness of Ceuta, in an act of piety that took place despite the serious crisis the city is facing following the mass entry of illegal immigrants from Morocco and the suspension of the traditional Fair. The celebration, held at the Sanctuary of Santa María de África under a reinforced security operation, brought together families, brotherhoods and associations who renewed their devotion to the Virgin on the eve of her solemnity.
The Brotherhood of Our Lady of Africa decided to maintain this act, as well as the procession and liturgical rites on August 5, after the authorities agreed to suspend the festive celebrations due to the exceptional situation the city is experiencing. In this way, the religious acts have continued to bring Ceutans together around their patroness, even on days marked by uncertainty and concern.
A manifestation of faith around the patroness
The offering began at the doors of the Sanctuary of Santa María de África, where the image was placed on its float to receive the bouquets of flowers from the faithful. For several hours, a long line of Ceutans deposited their offerings, in a celebration in which people of all ages participated and which was accompanied, as is tradition, by performances from local flamenco dance academies.
Before the start of the event, the apostolic administrator of the diocese of Cádiz and Ceuta, Monsignor Ramón Darío Valdivia, and the vicar general of Ceuta spoke. Representatives of the civil institutions also attended, in keeping with the tradition of this celebration.
The event concluded with one of the most significant moments of the evening, when attendees sang the Salve Regina in Latin before the image of Our Lady of Africa. This is a tradition that, according to local devotion, has been maintained for nearly six centuries, honoring the patroness and protector of Ceuta.
More than six centuries of devotion
The history of this devotion dates back to 1421, when the Portuguese infante Don Enrique the Navigator sent Ceuta a Marian image accompanied by a message that has remained alive for centuries: «I send you an image of the Virgin, very devoted to me.» The infante asked that she be venerated under the title of Santa María de África and that a mass be celebrated every Saturday for his soul. As a sign of his trust in the Virgin’s protection, he also placed his command staff before her, a gesture that over the centuries has been continued by the commanders general of Ceuta upon assuming command of the plaza.
The image, a 15th-century Gothic carving made of wood, represents the Virgin seated holding the body of the dead Christ in her arms, following the iconography of the Pietà. Canonically crowned in 1946 and officially declared patroness of Ceuta by Pope Pius XII in 1949, she also holds the titles of Perpetual Mayor, Captain General of the Plaza, and Governor of the City.
Tradition attributes to Our Lady of Africa special protection over Ceuta. Among the most remembered episodes is the rogation made during a plague epidemic, when the image was carried to the walls facing the Strait. According to tradition, the city was preserved from contagion, which is why every February 9 a vote of thanksgiving is maintained.
Today, solemnity of the patroness
The day of this August 5, the feast of Our Lady of Africa, will culminate with the solemn pontifical mass and the traditional procession of the patroness through the streets of downtown Ceuta. As every year, the image will be turned toward the Strait of Gibraltar in remembrance of the miracle that tradition attributes to her intercession, while the faithful sing the Salve.
In a year especially difficult for the city, marked by an unprecedented crisis on Spain’s southern border, the continuity of the religious acts has allowed Ceutans to once again entrust to their patroness the present and future of Ceuta.