Zaragoza

Tradition holds that there was an early chapel, preserved during the Muslim rule. After the conquest of Zaragoza by Alfonso I (1118), it was replaced by a Romanesque church. In 1434, a fire so damaged the complex that the construction of a new church was necessary. The construction of a new Gothic-Mudejar church to replace the Romanesque church then began. The construction was completed in 1515.  The Gothic church was of a certain size and consisted of the church itself, with only one wide nave, and a small, ornate cloister where the Chapel of the Pillar was located. This church continued to be dedicated to the Assumption, but was commonly called Santa María la Mayor.

The Church of Santa María occupied a much smaller space than the current one.  This church was enriched with very important pieces of Mudejar carpentry (of which the set of shutters preserved in the Main Sacristy is an example); and at the foot of the nave were the monumental choir stalls that can still be admired in the current church. But the most significant part of that complex was the monumental alabaster altarpiece, commissioned in 1434, but finally contracted in 1509.

As devotion to the Sacred Image was increasing, before 1638, the Zaragozan native Juan de Marca proposed the need for a more substantial construction that would be appropriate for the intensity of this growing devotion.  The new monumental construction began in 1681. It was built in the style of Baroque architecture of the time, giving strength to the pillars and their ornamentation and a continuity of vaults that must have been quite heavy.  The main part of the Baroque building, including the domes, was completed by 1754. Meanwhile, in 1725, it was decided to transform the appearance of the Holy Chapel with the work was completed in 1765.

Work on the temple continued for nearly two centuries. The roofing work was completed with the great central dome and the first tower in 1872. Followed by the subsequent ones erected in 1907 and 1961, thus completing the entire immense structure.  On October 10, 1872, the Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela consecrated the new church in a solemn ceremony attended by more than one hundred thousand pilgrims.

.The current Temple of Our Lady of the Pillar received the title and honor of Cathedral in 1675, became a National Monument since 1904. It has been a Minor Basilica since 1948.  The Basilica is also a symbol of Spanish Catholicism and devotion drawing millions of pilgrims each year. 

The apparition (or since she was still alive, really a bi-locution) is said to have occurred on the night of January 2, 40 A.D. This is the very first Marian apparition or bi-locution. 

The Apostle James the Greater, in obedience to Jesus’ command to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth, embarked on a mission to convert across the Roman Empire . While in Zaragoza of Aragon, what is now northern Spain, St. James faced much discouragement as his efforts seemed to bear little fruit, and he struggled to find support.  During his time of prayer, St. James experienced a miraculous event. The Virgin Mary, still living in Jerusalem, appeared to him accompanied by angels. She stood on a six-foot-tall pillar of jasper, holding the Infant Jesus in her arms. The Virgin Mary comforted St. James, assuring him that his work would eventually succeed. As a sign of her presence, she gave him a wooden statue of herself and instructed him to build a church at the site. She spoke to St. James, saying, “This place is to be my house, this image shall be my title, and this column the altar of the temple that you shall build.”  

In obedience to her command, St. James constructed a small chapel to enshrine the jasper column and the statue of Mary. This chapel became the very first church ever dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  

It holds special cultural and spiritual significance, particularly in Spain and throughout Latin America. It coincides with the national day of Spain, known as Fiesta Nacional de España, highlighting the deep connection between the Spanish people and their beloved patroness. The devotion has also spread to Latin American countries, such as Mexico and Argentina, where the faithful regard Our Lady of the Pilar as a symbol of unity, protection, and maternal care.

The message of Our Lady of the Pillar is as enduring as the jasper column upon which she appeared: faith must be steadfast, unwavering, and firmly rooted. The Virgin Mary’s apparition serves as a reminder that even in times of doubt and hardship, God’s grace remains with us, and Mary, our loving mother, is always ready to guide and strengthen us in our journey of faith.

 

 

The jasper column, now encased in precious metals, remains an object of profound veneration. Pilgrims often kiss or touch the exposed portion of the column, expressing their devotion and faith. The original wooden statue of Mary was replaced due to wear with a replica which sits atop the jasper column. This tradition of touching the column signifies the unshakable connection between the faithful and the Mother of God.

Many people still turn to her for help in their difficulties, seeking her intercession for healing, support in faith, and the strength to persevere in the face of challenges. Countless prayers have been answered, and miracles attributed to her intercession continue to be reported.  Her message of unwavering faith is one that still speaks to us today, reminding us to stand firm in our beliefs, even when the world seems indifferent.