THE MIRACLE OF THE VIRGIN OF PILLAR

The Pillar sanctuary at night

    The past Sunday, June 26, during a visit to the Square of the Pillar of Zaragoza, I had the chance to see an embarrassing performance by one of these residual groups of the movement known as “15M”, that, for the incomprehensible acquiescence of the authorities and with the displeasure and disapproval of a majority of citizens, remain entrenched in the main squares of our cities and towns. Without trying to make an initial assessment the reasons that promoted and stimulated this curious move, if it can be said that, since all things have their limits, when it exceeds the maximum level of tolerance you lose all reason, even though she was quite justified in origin. The loss of forms leads, inexorably, to the loss of the background.

The Pillar sanctuary at midday 

    On the day and place aforesaid, about 12:00 in the morning, came from the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar the Corpus Christi procession, accompanied by a good number of communicants and a large group of faithful, all with great devotion and respect. To this religious celebration, to the astonishment of friends and strangers, the small group of campers in the square went out to meet the procession displaying banners alluding to secularism, with epithets for all tastes, in a clear protest against such acts. If this movement of citizens of the 15M are requesting, among other things, a real democracy, and this is a form of social interaction in which members are free and equal, is not understood very well that few people want to impose a majority what to do, assuming that the latter do so with respect for others and within the rules that our legal system allows.

The Virgin of Pillar  

    I do not know if the so-called “Miracle of Calanda” and other significant events attributed to the intervention of the Virgin of the Pillar are true or not. It is a matter of faith. What is unquestionable, and it is well established, is the authentic miracle of to have created and maintained thousands of jobs, both direct and indirect, depending on the operation of this sanctuary. For my humble opinion, this is the real, tangible and authentic contribution of the Virgin, which is still present through the ages. If, for some reason, the Basilica of Pillar would be closed, I am sure that many aragonese would come to its knees request to reopen, possibly some of the circumstantial and angry protestants of the “15M” among them.

C. Díaz Fdez.

July 5, 2011