Chapel of Our Lady of Deliverance
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“The Chapel of Our Lady of Deliverance” digital experience where history and technology intertwine to bring you an immersive experience.
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1492 is the year that is credited with being the first known reference to this area, while the first mention of the Chapel itself comes from 1556. Before the year 1573, the ancient Chapel was renovated and adorned to become what is today the sacristy of the current Church. Lorenzo Gafa was the one who drew up the plans, and construction began around 1690.
Today, as a token of their thanks to the Holy Mary for a successful birth, parents bring their new-born children to the Chapel so that they can present them to the Virgin Mary.
The titular painting that bears the name belongs to the 18th century, and the statue of The Assumption that can be found in front of the parvis was carved by Ċensu Decandia in the year 1869.
The holiday is observed on the Sunday that comes after August 15 each year.
Our Lady of Deliverance
The devotion to Mary with the title of Our Lady of Deliverance is one of the oldest Marian devotions. The city of Madrid in Spain became the epicentre of its popularity.
During the Spanish battles that drove many to seek sanctuary in the New World, a plundering soldier stole a statue from one of Madrid’s shrines. The image was a lovely small statue of Mary snuggling at her breast the Infant Jesus, whom she was lovingly nursing.
A poor peasant returning from the fields after visiting the shrine recognised the statue in the inebriated soldier’s possession. He paid a tiny sum of money for the statue and carried it home to enshrine it in his humble house. Because this man’s wife was about to give birth, the pair bowed before the statue every day, praying the Mother of God to give the pregnant mother a safe delivery.
As the days passed, it became clear that there were complications, and that the wife of the poor peasant was almost probably facing death. The father prayed fervently for his wife’s protection in front of the image of Mary. His faith was rewarded by a happy delivery guaranteed by the Little Mother, as he affectionately called to the statue. He christened the statue the Mother of Safe Delivery, which later became known as Our Lady of Deliverance.
