Our Lady of Charity of Havana, venerated in the Hermitage of Charity

Marian Advocation of Havana (Havana)

La advocación de Our Lady of Charity in Cuba dates back to the tradition of the apparition of the image in the Nipe Bay, 1612, when, according to the story transmitted by Cuban devotion, the image was found floating over the waters on a tablet with the inscription "I am the Virgin of Charity." That's the Foundational tradition of Cuban devotion; there is no contemporary documentation of the finding in the sources provided, so it must be distinguished from the strictly verifiable history.

Main data

Origin and history

La advocación de Our Lady of Charity in Cuba dates back to the tradition of the apparition of the image in the Nipe Bay, 1612, when, according to the story transmitted by Cuban devotion, the image was found floating over the waters on a tablet with the inscription "I am the Virgin of Charity." That's the Foundational tradition of Cuban devotion; there is no contemporary documentation of the finding in the sources provided, so it must be distinguished from the strictly verifiable history.

La documented history of devotion in Cuba is linked to the sanctuary of Copper, near Santiago de Cuba: 1655 the hermitage was definitively consecrated to Our Lady of Charity of the Copper, and in 1679 The construction of a larger temple was completed. Later, devotion received universal ecclesial recognition when Benedict XV proclaimed the Virgin of Charity Patron Saint of Cuba en 1916.

In case of La Habanathe presence of this advocation must be understood as an urban extension of the great national devotion of Cuba: it is not found in the verified sources that there is a specific tradition of origin other than that of the Cobre, but a veneration associated with the dissemination of the patron image in the capital.

The image and the sanctuary

The image of the Virgin of Charity of the Copper is a size smallof strong symbolic content: the Virgin bears the Child Jesus on the left arm, and the Child holds a Earth balloon; iconography highlights the royalty and universality of Christ and the spiritual motherhood of Mary. In the Cuban popular tradition it also receives the affectionate name of “Cachita”.

The original image is venerated in the Basilica National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Charity of the Copper, en Santiago de Cuba. In the sources provided it is not found that the reference temple in La Habana has the rank of a minor basilica or the name of a national sanctuary; therefore, for the document habanera should be indicated with caution that it is a devotion linked to the Cuban patronwithout giving it a specific undocumented canonical status.

Sponsorship and coronation

Our Lady of Charity of the Copper is the Patron Saint of Cuba por proclamación de Benedict XV en 1916. The sources consulted do not document a specific patronage of the city of La Habanaof the municipality of the same name or of a "habanera" diocese for this advocation; therefore, for a local document, it must be stated: National patronage of Cuba; no particular patronage of Havana in verified sources.

The image was canonically crowned el 30 December 1936, with the authorisation of Pío XI; the coronation was performed by the then bishop of Santiago de Cuba, Mons. Valentín Zubizarreta. The sources also mention a later solemn liturgical coronation in the visit of Juan Pablo II a Cuba en 1998but that does not replace the canonical coronation of 1936.

Party and devotion

La main party se celebra el September 8in the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. The sources agree that it is a day of great devotional relevance in Cuba, with procedure, liturgical celebrations and wide popular participation.

The devotion to the Virgin of Charity of the Copper is deeply rooted in Cuban religiosity and is expressed on pilgrimages to the sanctuary, offerings and exvotes in thanks for the favors received. In the capital, veneration is integrated into the religious life of Cubans living in Havana, but the sources provided do not provide reliable flow figures or specific details of an official Habanera hermitage; therefore, these data no constan.

Link to the Rosary

In the verified sources there is no unique historical link of this advocation with a rosarian practice of its own or exclusive. However, like any Marian advocation, the Virgin of Charity of the Copper is naturally seen on the horizon of Rosarywhich leads to meditating with Mary the mysteries of Christ and to living faith with filial trust.

In a form of devotion, it can be expressed with sobriety that the Rosario accompanies this veneration by placing the Virgin in her own place: Mother who guides the believer to Jesus, in tune with the Cuban Marian spirituality and the popular piety surrounding the patron of the island.