Virgin of Loreto
Spain (1513)
In 1545, the region around Mutxamel suffered a terrible drought. So the townspeople carried their image of the Virgin in procession to the monastery shrine of St. Veronica three miles south in Santa Faz.
On the way back, near the town of San Juan, Father Lloréns Boix suddenly found the image too heavy to carry. He stopped, and, lifting the protective veil to examine the image, saw a tear roll from the Virgin's left eye.
Rain fell soon afterwards. Mutxamel celebrates the fiesta of La Llagrima, the Tear, annually on March 1.
On September 9, the town holds its patronal festival in honor of the Virgin of Loreto, which includes a “Moors and Christians” reenactment.
During the Spanish Civil War, in 1936, the image was taken to Switzerland for safekeeping.
Text and image used with permission.
Source: "365 Days with Mary" by Michael O'Neill
Download the free "365 Days with Mary" app
Listen to "365 Days with Mary" each week on The Miracle Hunter® on EWTN Radio