There is something profoundly beautiful about the silence of a long wait. As we celebrate Easter Monday and step out of the quiet of Lent, we also have an opportunity this week (on April 7th) to honor Our Lady of Puig (pronounced somewhere between "pooch" and "poojh") on her feast day!
Mary's Image
Just a short distance outside of Valencia, a monastery was built on a hill in Puig, Spain. That same hill was once home to a temple of Venus, but became a place of prayer and peace as Christianity spread. Notably, a beautiful marble bas-relief image of the Virgin Mary (Our Lady of Puig) was housed there.
Some traditions says that the marble slab may have even been part of Mary’s tomb, brought to Spain by the hands of angels.
Buried for Centuries
In the year 712, during the Moorish conquest, the monks at Puig faced a heartbreaking choice. To protect their most sacred items, they buried the marble plaque and the heavy church bell deep beneath the monastery floor. They fled for their lives, leaving their treasure behind.
Amazing Signs in the Sky!
Fast forward to the 13th century. King James I was working to liberate Valencia, and a holy man named St. Peter Nolasco was stationed at the fortress of Puig. During the heat of battle, soldiers began reporting something strange.
Night watchmen claimed they saw mysterious lights hovering over the ruined church. They said the stars seemed to descend from the sky, circling the hill, especially on Saturday nights.
St. Peter Nolasco sensed that Heaven was trying to speak. He encouraged the soldiers to receive the Sacraments and pray for guidance. Soon after, he led them to the very spot where the lights appeared and told them to dig. There, half a millennium later, they found the marble plaque and the bell!
The Song of the Angels
The people were so moved by this discovery that they built a new church on the mountain, eventually known as the "Angelic Chamber" because locals often reported hearing angels singing there at night. The ancient bell, originally cast in the year 660, was hung in the tower once more. For generations, it was rung to ward off literal storms and the metaphorical "storms" of war and trouble.
St. Peter Nolasco, pray for us!
Our Lady of Puig, pray for us!
