Our Lady of the Pilar is the name given to the Virgin Mary in connection with an apparition that, according to tradition, took place in the year 40 AD in Zaragoza, Spain.
The apparition to the Apostle James
According to Catholic tradition, while the Apostle James the Greater was evangelizing the Iberian Peninsula, he received a visit from the Virgin Mary, who was still alive at that time, through a phenomenon of bilocation. She appeared to him standing on a pillar (in Spanish, "pilar") and encouraged him in his mission, asking him to build a church in her honor on that site.
The Basilica of Our Lady of the Pilar
In response to this apparition, a first chapel was erected, replaced over the centuries by increasingly imposing buildings. The current Basilica of Our Lady of the Pilar, located in Zaragoza, is a masterpiece of Baroque architecture and is one of the main pilgrimage centers in Spain.
Meaning and celebrations
Our Lady of the Pilar is especially venerated in Spain, where she is considered the patroness of Hispanicity and the Civil Guard. Her feast is celebrated on October 12, a day that coincides with the Spanish national holiday, marking the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus.
