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marian
anniversaries october
 Monday after the first Saturday in October
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, San Sebastián de la Gomera, Santa Cruz de
Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
In the 1500s, a ship bound for America passed near the
island of La Gomera, where the crew observed brilliant lights coming from
a cave on land. Attracted, they disembarked and found in the cave a small
image of the Virgin Mary holding her child. They took it aboard, but
then couldn't sail no matter how they tried. After returning the
image to the cave, they ship was able to proceed into port on the island,
near San Sebastián. When the crew told the authorities about what had
happened, everyone went to the cave on Punta Llana (Level Point). The
islanders named the 9" brown sculpture Our Lady of Guadalupe, after
the famous dark Virgin of Guadalupe in central Spain (much as the Mexican
miracle image was named around the same time). The statue of Our Lady of
Guadalupe, patron of La Gomera, was canonically crowned October 12, 1973.
Her Bajada, or Descent among the people, is the island's biggest
festival, held every five years (2018, 2023). Over a period of weeks, the
miraculous statue processes down decorated streets to every community on
the island. The Monday after the first Saturday in October is the biggest
day. Accompanied by singing and dancing, the statue processes from the
Puntallana sanctuary to the church in San Sebastián, where the bishop
says mass. There are concerts and dances into the night. "Virgen de
Guadalupe, / morenita agraciada, / todo tu pueblo te aclama / Gomera de
Punta Llana" (little dark beauty, / your people salute you).
Source: www.corazones.org/maria/guadalupe_gomera.htm
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