The 10 most important apparitions in the world: Our Lady of Pilar, Our Lady of Lourdes in France and Our Lady of Altotting
In this article we continue to tell you about 3 more appearances and the places where Our Lady has manifested herself over the centuries: Our Lady of Pilar, Our Lady of Lourdes in France and Our Lady of Altotting.
La Our Lady of Pilar is one of the most important Christian deities in Spain and the most representative of Aragon. The name Pilar means "column” in Spanish and refers to the legend that Our Lady appeared on the banks of the river ebro, on a marble column, pointing people to the place where the first church in the city should have been built.
The legend dates back to 40 AD when, according to the Spanish tradition, St. James the Greater was spreading Christianity in the Iberian Peninsula. Legend has it that Maria, the mother of Jesus, appeared to St. James on a marble pillar and begged him to build a church in that sacred place. Following its appearance, the column became a true sacred icon, and has been venerated by the Spanish faithful since the beginning of Christianity.
The church built following the request of Mary, became the place of veneration most important in northern Spain and over time it became a pilgrimage destination for the Christian faithful. The basilica of Our Lady of the Pilar, as the church is called, stands on the bank of the Ebro River and is one of the most visited places in all of Spain.
Our Lady of Lourdes in France
La Our Lady of Lourdes in France it is one of the most famous Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world. Since its appearance in 1858, the site has attracted millions of visitors every year.
The story of Our Lady of Lourdes begins with theappearance of the Virgin Mary to a 14-year-old shepherdess, Bernadette Soubirous, in a cave near the Gave de Pau river. The young shepherdess claimed to have seen the Madonna for 18 times higher, and that he would promise to show himself to her every day for two weeks. After the first apparitions, the site quickly became a place of pilgrimage for worshipers from all over the world.
Today, the Grotto of Lourdes it is a sacred place and respected by all Catholic Christians. There basilica of Notre-Dame de Lourdes, built in 1876, is located right next to the grotto and attracts millions of worshipers from all over the world every year. Here, visitors can enter the grotto and pray to the statue of the Virgin Mary, perform religious ceremonies, or take part in the many rituals and celebrations that take place throughout the year.
Our Lady of Altotting
Lto Our Lady of Altotting it is one of the most important and ancient pilgrimage destinations in the Germany. According to tradition, the statue of the Madonna, which dates back to Thirteenth century, was found by a shepherd in a field. From that moment, the belief that the Madonna had manifested herself in that place spread.
This Madonna has been revered by many saints and religious leaders over the centuries. Among them, they remember St. John Paul II, who visited the place in 1980, St. Francis de Sales, who converted to Catholicism after visiting Altotting and Stan Carlo Borromeo, who visited the shrine during a plague in the XNUMXth century.
The sanctuary of Our Lady of Altotting is characterized by a beautiful baroque basilica. Inside the church you can admire the famous statue of Black Madonna, which is considered miraculous. Our Lady is said to have performed numerous miracles over the centuries, including healing the sick and injured.