A Lesson from Madrid

Centuries ago, when the Moors were driven out of Spain, the Christians in Madrid set to work restoring the church of Santa Maria. But the ancient statue of Mary and Jesus that once decorated the church could not be found. The citizens organized a procession around the city to ask God to help them find the statue. And help them He did. 

At one point as the crowd passed a wall, it began to crumble. Lo and behold, behind it was hidden the statue that they sought. Not only was it intact, but two lamps, installed in the cavity by those who walled in the statue, were still burning. 

Prof. Plinio Correa de Oliveira writes of this miracle:

Notice how they put lighted lamps near the statue before walling her up. This gesture is very beautiful since it shows they did not want to wall up the statue without a tribute. Those lamps represented their hopes that the statue would be venerated once again. Thus, the walled-up place was like a little chapel.

A miracle confirmed their hopes. This most beautiful miracle of confidence consisted of the lamps that burned for 300 years. They continued to burn when the statue was found in the wall. It is a miracle as great as the multiplication of loaves in the Gospel. Its marvelous message is that one can expect such things from Our Lady. Although things may appear defeated and crushed, something irreversibly victorious remains in them.

These are encouraging words for the difficult days we find ourselves in. Trust Mary. She will not be defeated.

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From "The Miracle of Our Lady of Almudena Teaches Us Confidence," at the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family, and Property.