The village of El Rocío, in Almonte (Huelva), will host new pilgrimages of filial brotherhoods of Our Lady of El Rocío on October 11 and 12, coming from various parts of Spain. The celebrations will coincide with the long weekend of the Virgin of the Pillar and will bring together the Rocío brotherhoods in veneration of the Blessed Virgin, within the annual pilgrimage calendar organized by the Hermandad Matriz of Almonte.
According to the official agenda of the Hermandad Matriz, on Sunday, October 11, the brotherhoods of Palma de Mallorca, Tomares, Marbella, and Osuna will make their pilgrimage. On Monday the 12th, the brotherhoods of Santa Fe, Cádiz, Seville, and La Línea de la Concepción are scheduled to arrive, along with a pilgrimage of the Civil Guard on the occasion of the feast of its patroness, Our Lady of the Pillar.
The celebrations are part of the annual pilgrimages that the brotherhoods make to the sanctuary of the Blanca Paloma outside of the Pentecost pilgrimage. These gatherings allow the religious life and the connection of the brotherhoods with the Virgin of El Rocío to be maintained throughout the year.
Brotherhoods from Andalusia and the Balearic Islands will come on Sunday
The program on Sunday, October 11, will begin at 7:30 a.m. with the Aurora Rosary, which will be prayed through the streets of Almonte. Afterwards, the pilgrimages of the filial brotherhoods assigned to this day will take place.
At 10:00 a.m., the celebration of the Rocío Brotherhood of Palma de Mallorca is scheduled. One hour later, that of Tomares will take place, followed by Marbella at 12:00 p.m. and Osuna at 1:00 p.m.
The presence of brotherhoods from such different localities shows the extent that Rocío devotion has reached, especially in Andalusia, but also in other Spanish regions. The annual pilgrimages provide an opportunity for the brothers to participate together in the Mass, present their intentions before the Virgin, and renew the bonds of their communities.
These celebrations take place during the months that separate one Pentecost pilgrimage from the next, so that the sanctuary maintains a constant activity of welcoming pilgrims and brotherhoods.
The Civil Guard will make its pilgrimage on the day of its patroness
On Monday, October 12, the solemnity of Our Lady of the Pillar, the agenda of the Hermandad Matriz includes a pilgrimage of the Civil Guard at 10:00 a.m. The celebration will coincide with the feast of the patroness of the corps, one of the most important dates on its institutional and religious calendar.
The day will begin at 9:00 a.m. with the pilgrimage of the Rocío Brotherhood of Santa Fe, in Granada. After the Civil Guard celebration, the brotherhoods of Cádiz will arrive at 11:00 a.m.; Seville, at 12:00 p.m.; and La Línea de la Concepción, at 1:00 p.m.
The coincidence of the Rocío celebrations with the feast of Our Lady of the Pillar brings together two Marian devotions deeply rooted in Spanish Catholic tradition on the same day. Both have an extensive history of veneration and are part of the religious life of numerous families, associations, and communities.
El Rocío, a pilgrimage sanctuary throughout the year
The devotion to Our Lady of El Rocío is centered in the sanctuary located in the village of Almonte, where the image of the Virgin, popularly known as the Blanca Paloma, is venerated. Although its most crowded celebration is the Pentecost pilgrimage, the religious activity of the sanctuary continues throughout the year through the pilgrimages of the filial brotherhoods.
These corporations, distributed across different Spanish regions and also present abroad, maintain a stable connection with the Hermandad Matriz of Almonte. Their pilgrimages are an expression of popular religiosity that combines participation in the liturgy, the praying of the Rosary, and the veneration of the Blessed Virgin.
The Church has on numerous occasions highlighted the value of expressions of popular piety when they lead the faithful to a deeper Christian life and participation in the sacraments. In the case of El Rocío, the pilgrimage retains a particularly visible communal character, as the brotherhoods are organized around the same Marian devotion and maintain their worship throughout the year.
The celebrations of the Pillar long weekend will allow the participating brotherhoods to come once again before Our Lady of El Rocío, in days that will unite prayer, sacramental life, and the religious traditions passed down from generation to generation.