Virgen del Pilar

Since her appearance in Zaragoza—traditionally said to have occurred atop a jasper pillar—the Virgin of the Pillar has served as a beacon, a refuge, and a spiritual standard for generations of believers. This work explores, with depth and sensitivity, the origins, history, and universal reach of one of the oldest and most cherished Marian devotions in the Catholic world. With an approach that is both rigorous and accessible, the author guides us through the realms of legend and history, liturgy and art, tradition and popular fervor. From the theological significance of the "pillar" to the pilgrimages, miracles, offerings, and the Virgin’s presence in the daily lives of millions of the faithful, this book opens a door to the mystery and beauty of devotion to the Virgin of the Pillar. It is a book for believers, the curious, scholars, and pilgrims of the soul. For even today, in the twenty-first century, there are those who pray, sing, and live proclaiming: —Long live the Virgin of the Pillar!