Nuestra Señora del Pilar

Nhar it-12 ta´Ottubru tahbat il-festa tal-Madonna ta-Pilar. Festa nazzjonali ta´Spanja li flimkien ma´San Gakbu, hija wkoll l-Patruna ta´Spanja. Il-festa t-tajba lil kulhadd.

Tradition says that in the early day of the Church, Saint James the Greater was spreading the Gospel in Spain, but making very little progress. He was dejected and questioning his mission. About 44 AD, the Virgin Mary, who was still living in Jerusalem at the time, bi-located and appeared to him in a vision to boost his morale. In it, she was atop a column or pillar, which was being carried by angels. That pillar is believed to be the same one venerated in Zaragoza, Spain, today.

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La tradición dice que en los primeros años de la iglesia, Santiago el mayor predicaba el evangelio en España, pero haciendo muy poco progreso. Estaba desanimado y se preguntaba su misión. Cerca del año 44, la Virgen Maria, que todavía vivía en Jerusalén en ese entonces, bilocalizó y se le apareció en una visión levantando su moral. En la visión ella estaba encima de una columna o de un pilar, que era llevada por los ángeles. Se cree que el pilar es el mismo venerado en Zaragoza, España, hoy.

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