Our Lady of the Pillar (Nuestra Señora del Pilar)
First Marian Shrine
Patroness of Spain
Feast Day: October 12
Our Lady of the Pillar is the title given to
the Blessed Virgin Mary from her appearance to the Apostle James
the Greater in 40 AD, as he was praying by the banks of the Ebro River in Spain.
He was disheartened with the lack of converts to Christianity. Mary miraculously appeared before him
atop a pillar accompanied by angels. She assured St. James that the
people would eventually be converted and their faith would be as strong as the
pillar she was standing on. She gave him the pillar as a symbol and a wooden
image of herself and instructed him to build a chapel on the spot. The wooden
image is enshrined at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza.
Several years ago, Anne shared a beautiful pillar cake, made from a swiss roll cake which is in the archived posts. It is lovely. I also had an idea for a simpler, no baking involved pillar for her feast day. These rice cake sticks or rolls, make nice pillars - either on their own or as a place to set an image of Mary (as is included in the above photo). It is a snack idea that provides a fun way to open a conversation about our lady under this title and the symbolism of the pillar.
Our Lady of the Pillar, pray for us!
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As an added note: In the United States the feast is also tied to Christopher
Columbus and our Columbus Day holiday. When Columbus embarked from Spain on his journey, to
find a sailing route to India, he placed the three ships under Mary's patronage.
As the weeks dragged on with no land in sight, the sailors grew restless.
Columbus' journal indicates he invoked Our Lady under this title, declared that
if they did not see land by her feast day they would turn back. On October 12,
1492 the navigators spotted indications of approaching land - one of the
islands of the Bahamas.
I love this! Thanks much.
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