A century after the coronation of Our Lady of Pilar the patron of Spain popularly called “La Pilarica”- 52 Spanish bishops went to the national Sanctuary of Zaragoza (Saragozza) on 21-22 May to celebrate this event together with the 150th anniversary of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception. The president of the Spanish Bishops’ conference, Archbishop Ricardo Blázquez, renewed the Consecration of Spain to the Immaculate heart of Mary, in a liturgy transmitted live by TVE, the Spanish public broadcaster. The pilgrimage began with an offer of flowers to Our Lady. The ceremony of the crystal Rosary was held in the evening: the Rosary was recited by all the citizens as they processed through the streets of Zaragoza. This Rosary has been held on 13 October each year ever since 1890, and consists of a nocturnal procession with large lights that represents the Mysteries of the Rosary and small lanterns that represent the Ave Maria and the Pater Nosters. Illuminated wagons represent religious scenes or monuments of Christian symbolism. On the following morning the “Children’s Mass” was celebrated, again in the Basilica of Pilar. Only a dozen or so Spanish bishops did not take part in the pilgrimage, which was also joined by the new Apostolic Nuncio, Msgr. Manuel Monteiro de Castro. The pilgrims, convened by the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, spoke during the liturgy and explained what Mary meant for their everyday lives. The singer-songwriter Migueli, Sister Glenda, Elena Rubio and Javier Sánchez, musicians, will be the protagonists of the concert being laid on for the young.
