The virgin in question here is Sainte Bernadette, born Maria Bernada Sobirós, from Lourdes, in the Occitanian part of the French Pyrenees, barely 50 km from the Spanish borders. The young Demoiselle is said to have had an apparition of the Virgin Mary in the Grotte de Massabielle, back in 1858, at age 14. She was canonized for her visions in 1934.
I took the photo of this devotional artefact at the Oratori de Santa Margalida de Crestatx, Sa Pobla, which dates back to the 13th Century. Quite obviously, a devoted Mallorcan worshiper had been visiting the miraculous well in Lourdes in 1938. One has to know that the Catholic faith is the prevalent religion in Spain. Spanish devotees make up quite a sizeable portion of the 5,000,000 pilgrims who visit Lourdes every year, with quite a few of them from Mallorca, it seems.
Sainte Bernadette, priez pour nous.
The photo was taken near Pollença, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: April 19h, 2008. The time was 16:09:29.
Maria Bernada Sobirós, from Lourdes, in fact saw a vision of a young girl. It was the church that changed the story and said that Bernadette had seen the Virgin Mary. Bernadette insisted throughout her life that what she had seen was a little girl, but the church being what it is, has managed to twist the facts to suit it’s purpose.
PS: I’m fortunate enough to have a house on the coast just outside Porto Colom – but unfortunate enough to still be working and living in England.
However, in between many visits each year, I make a point every day of looking at your Photo Blog. At this gloomy time of year in England, it reminds me of the beauty and the superb quality of life on the island.
I find your notes extremely interesting and your photos are top quality.
Please, please keep the blog going as it helps to warm my soul every day.