As the storm subsided, they spotted a strange object floating on the waves. Initially mistaking it for a bird, they approached and discovered a 16-inch wooden statue of the Virgin Mary holding the Child Jesus in her left arm and a gold cross in her right hand. The statue was fastened to a board inscribed with the words, “Yo soy la Virgen de la Caridad” (“I am the Virgin of Charity”). Miraculously, the statue’s white garments were completely dry, despite being found in the sea. The three Juans brought the statue to Barajagua, where it was venerated in a small chapel, and later to the copper-mining village of El Cobre, about 12 miles west of Santiago de Cuba.
This event, recorded in written testimony preserved in the General Archive of the Indies in Seville, is considered a divine apparition, marking the beginning of devotion to Our Lady of Charity. The statue’s miraculous preservation and dry garments are seen as signs of God’s favor, and the story of the three Juans—representing diverse ethnic groups (indigenous and African)—underscores the devotion’s universal appeal in Cuba’s multicultural society.
The statue, believed to have been brought by Spanish colonists from Illescas, Toledo, Spain, where a similar image of the Virgin of Charity was venerated, was enshrined in a small chapel in El Cobre. The village, known for its copper mines, was a hub of economic activity and home to a diverse population, including enslaved Africans and indigenous workers. The devotion to Our Lady of Charity quickly spread among these communities, who saw her as a protector and intercessor.
In 1687, the statue was moved to a larger sanctuary, and by the 19th century, devotion had grown significantly. The Basilica of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, built in 1926, became the permanent home of the statue, located in the village of El Cobre, now part of Santiago de Cuba’s province. On May 10, 1916, Pope Benedict XV officially declared Our Lady of Charity the Patroness of Cuba, at the request of Cuban war veterans, formalizing her role as a national symbol. In 1936, Pope Pius XI granted the statue a Canonical Coronation, affirming its spiritual significance.
The devotion transcended Cuba’s borders, particularly among Cuban exiles in the United States. In 1961, a replica of the statue was brought to Miami, where it is venerated at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity (La Ermita de la Caridad). This shrine, located in Coconut Grove, serves as a spiritual home for Cuban Americans, hosting annual Masses and processions on September 8.
Images of Our Lady of Charity depict Mary standing on a crescent moon, surrounded by angels, holding the Child Jesus, who carries a globe and raises a hand in blessing. The statue’s serene expression and the inscription “Yo soy la Virgen de la Caridad” emphasize her maternal care and divine mission. The three Juans are often included in devotional art, depicted in their boat, symbolizing unity across racial and social divides.
The statue’s association with the sea connects her to YemayΓ‘, a deity in the Afro-Cuban SanterΓa religion, leading to syncretic veneration among some Cubans who honor her as both a Catholic Virgin and a symbol of Afro-Cuban spirituality. Her blue and white robes, evoking the sea and purity, reinforce this connection. The gold cross she holds signifies Christ’s triumph, while the copper mines of El Cobre link her to the region’s identity.
The feast day of Our Lady of Charity, September 8, coincides with the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Catholic Church, though in Cuba, it is primarily dedicated to her title as Our Lady of Charity. In the Basilica of El Cobre, celebrations begin on September 7 with a forefeast, including Masses, rosaries, and a festive conga procession from the town’s central park to the sanctuary. On September 8, a midnight Mass, presided over by the Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba, Monsignor Dionisio GarcΓa IbÑñez, is broadcast on national television, followed by a principal Mass and pilgrim assistance throughout the day.
In Miami, Cuban Americans celebrate with a procession of the replica statue through the streets, accompanied by prayers, hymns, and cultural performances. The faithful offer sunflowers and other flowers, symbolizing devotion and hope, as seen in the 2025 visit of Mike Hammer, the U.S. Embassy’s Head of Mission in Cuba, who left a bouquet at the El Cobre Basilica. Pilgrims also leave personal offerings, such as Ernest Hemingway’s Nobel Prize medal (1954) and items from Major League Baseball players, reflecting the devotion’s cultural significance.
In Cuba, devotees prepare with a novena (nine-day prayer) leading up to the feast, lighting candles, offering flowers, and praying for protection and prosperity. The conga procession blends traditional Cuban music with religious devotion, creating a vibrant celebration. The feast is also marked in Spain, the Philippines, and other Hispanic communities, where Our Lady of Charity is venerated under similar titles.
The Basilica of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, elevated to basilica status by Pope Paul VI in 1977, is a major pilgrimage site, drawing thousands annually. Located in the village of El Cobre, the basilica houses the original statue in a Chapel of Miracles, where pilgrims leave offerings and pray for intercession. The sanctuary’s steps and perimeter fence were restored in 2024 through a collaboration between Cuban and American Catholics, reflecting the devotion’s global reach.
The National Shrine in Miami, established in 1961, serves as a spiritual and cultural hub for Cuban exiles. Its annual feast day Mass, often led by the Archbishop of Miami, Thomas Wenski, attracts thousands, with a replica statue processed through the city. The shrine’s design, inspired by the Cuban landscape, features a mural of the three Juans and the statue, reinforcing its connection to the El Cobre apparition.
Theologically, Our Lady of Charity represents Mary’s role as a mediatrix of grace, interceding for her people and guiding them to Christ. Her apparition to the three Juans symbolizes God’s universal love, embracing diverse ethnic groups in a time of colonial oppression. Her title as Patroness of Cuba underscores her role as a unifier, offering hope amid political and economic challenges, as noted by Father Ernesto Alonso-Aguila during a 2024 Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York.
Culturally, she is a symbol of Cuban identity, bridging Catholic and Afro-Cuban traditions. Her syncretic association with YemayΓ‘ reflects Cuba’s complex religious landscape, while her veneration by exiles highlights her role as a beacon of hope and resilience. Pope Benedict XVI, during his 2012 visit to Cuba, entrusted the nation’s future to her, and Pope Francis, in 2015, praised the devotion as a call to “sow seeds of charity,” emphasizing Mary’s tenderness and compassion.
The devotion to Our Lady of Charity has received significant papal attention. In 2008, a replica statue was blessed by Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican, and in 2014, it was enthroned in the Vatican Gardens, symbolizing her universal significance. Pope Francis, during his 2015 visit to the El Cobre Basilica, offered prayers and a silver chalice, reinforcing her role as a protector of the Cuban people.
O Virgin of Charity of El Cobre, Mother and Patroness of Cuba, who appeared to the humble in the Bay of Nipe, guide us with your maternal love to your Son, Jesus Christ. Protect your people, grant us hope, and intercede for peace and unity in our hearts and nation. Amen.
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