Marian devotion
Our Lady of the Unprotected
La Geperudeta, patrona de Valencia
The Virgin of the Innocent, Martyrs and Unprotected - popularly known as la Geperudeta o la Mareta- is one of the most beloved Marian asvocations in Valencia, of which she is a patron in the entire Valencian Community. Born from care to the poorest and most forgotten in the city, it is the Mother who loves those who do not love.
Main data
Central message: Mary becomes the Mother of the innocent, the sick, the poor and the homeless; her devotion is born from charity with the weakest.
Origin of veneration
The cult of the Virgin of the Unprotected was born in the 15th century Valencia, together with the care of the most vulnerable in the city.
Father Jaffre and the homeless
El 24 February 1409Father Jofre was going to the cathedral to preach during Lent when he witnessed, in a street near Santa Catalina, how a group of young people beat and mocked a mental patient to the cry of "the madman, the madman!" Father Jofre got in the way, protected the man and took him to the merchant residence, where he was given shelter and his wounds were cured. The following Sunday, in the cathedral, he devoted part of his sermon to denouncing that cruelty and to asking for a hospital to welcome the innocent and the destitute:
The first hospital and the fraternity
The sermon was heard by Lorenzo Salomwho, along with other traders and craftsmen, provided the funds to make it a reality. With the approval of the Council of the City, the permissions of King Martin I the Human and the bull of Pope Benedict XIII (16 May 1410), 1 June 1410 the hospital was opened under the protection of the Virgin, with the name Hospital d’Innocents, Follcs i Orats. The brotherhood was formed under the title of "Our Lady Santa Maria of the Locos, Innocent and Unprotected," and the hospice was extended to also collect the children who were homeless, exiled and abandoned.
The legend of the image made by angels
In 1414, four young men dressed as pilgrims came to the fellowship and offered to make in two days an image of the Virgin if they were given a place and food. They were taken to a place known as La Ermita. After four days, without hearing any noise, they forced the door and found the image of the Virgin Mary finished; the pilgrims had disappeared. Soon after, he healed the blind and paralytic wife of a member of the brotherhood.
The tradition de que «la feren els àngels» (the angels made it). It is a venerable account of popular piety; the historically documented is the foundation of the hospital, the fellowship and the veneration of the Virgin as the protection of the homeless. The image is characterized by a slight inclination forward, from where the loving name of la Geperudeta (the Jorobadite); he carries a sugar in one hand and the Child Jesus in his arms.
Patron saint of Valencia
El 21 April 1885, el Pope Leo XIII He gave a pontifical bull by which he named the Virgin of the Unprotected. patrona de Valencia. She is also the patron of the Valencian Community - next to the Virgin of the Puig - and of many localities. The original image is preserved in his shrimp of the Basilica; for the processions was made in 1947 a "pilgrim" image, the work of the sculptor Carmelo Vicent, so that the headline did not have to leave except for extreme need.
Spiritual message from the Unprotected
The devotion to the Geperudetta continues to speak with simplicity today:
🤲 Mary loves whoever no one loves. His veneration was born by defending the sick, the crazy and the innocent that no one wanted.
❤️ Faith becomes charity. The love of the Mother was translated into a hospital, a brotherhood and the care of the poorest.
🌸 Mary welcomes the little ones. He carries in his arms the innocent, a sign that for the weakest also there is room in the heart of God.
✝️ Mary always leads her Son. With the sugar of his purity and the Child in his arms, he leads Valencia and the world to Christ.
Prayer to Our Lady of the Unprotected
Holy Mary of the Unprotected,
Mother of the innocent, the poor and the forgotten:
You who were born of love to the weakest,
receive under your mantle all those who feel alone,
comfort the sick and those who suffer,
and take us all by the hand to your Son Jesus.
Amen.
The Marian prayers and prepare his party for the second Sunday of May by sending you to his protection.
A flower for the Virgin
It offers a simple prayer to the Virgin of the Unprotected. Pray a Hail Mary for Valencia and for the homeless.
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