Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre
Queen and Patron Saint of Cuba
Brief Historical Review
1606. Juan y Rodrigo de Hoyos and Juan Moreno (two Indians
and a black slave) find in the Bay of Nipe, floating in the sea on a chart,
the Virgin's image, with an inscription that it says: "I am the Virgin
of the Charity."
1611. It is brought to the Pueblo del Cobre the image
of Our Mrs., being built the first sanctuary in 1684.
19-March-1801. It is read in the Sanctuary the Freedom
Identification Card of the slaves, of the mines of the Pueblo del Cobre
it is good to stand out the intervention of the Father Alejandro Escanio,
Chaplain of the Sanctuary, in the slaves' favor.
1868. Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, Father of the Homeland,
visits the Sanctuary and he prays for the freedom of Cuba in front of
the Virgin's image.
12-August-1898. A Thanksgiving Mass for the freedom
of Cuba is done, attending in representation of the Army Liberator, the
General Agustín Cebreco with their officials, sent by the General
Calixto García.
1915. The Veteran of the War of Independence, headed
by Jesus Rabi", request the Pope Benedicto the XV that proclaim the
Virgen de la Caridad as Cuban Patron Saint, manifesting the devotion of
the People that always discovered the constant aids of the Virgin.
8-September-1927. The current Sanctuary of "El
Cobre" is inaugurated.
20-December-1936. Your Excellency Monsignor Valentine
Zubizarreta, o.c.d., Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba, crowns (for delegation)
the Virgin's image as Mother and Patron Saint of Cuba, in the old Michelson
Boulevard (today Ave. Jesus Menéndez).
1952. The image of the Virgen de la Caridad of the Santo
Tomas church, travels the Island like a message of faith and of hope.
1959. The Virgin's image presides over the National
Catholic Congress, and the Mass that takes place in the Square of the
Revolution, with the participation of a great multitude of Cuban, and
of the main leaders of the recently triumphed Revolution.
30-December-1977. Your Sanctity John Paul the II confers
the title of Minor Basilica to the Sanctuary of The Copper. In representation
of the Pope, it was present the African Cardinal Mons. Bernardin Gantin.
24-January-1998. Your Sanctity John
Paul the II, crowns the Virgin's image, and the Boy, like Queen and
Patron Saint of the Republic of Cuba, in the Antonio Maceo Square, in
the city of Santiago de Cuba. He puts, also, in his right hand, a rosary
of gold like personal gift to the Mother.
|
