LA MORENITA: THE DARK MADONNA
La Morenita (the little dark-skinned) Madonna is one of the 400–500 Black Madonna recorded in Europe alone. They each have a long story to tell and continue manifesting recorded miracles, each one with its own particularity. This article is regarding La Morenita’s unusual story. There shall be more interesting stories concerning the most notable Black Virgins in both the Catholic and Orthodox countries of Europe. These statues have usually been made out of wood, and occasionally out of stone to an approximate height of 76cm/30 inches. They have been painted in a spectrum of dark colors; though some attribute that to their veneration of candles over the centuries. But one may also attribute that to Mary’s Divine vision in response to her largest reverential and dedicated devotees in Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
Our Morenita de la Peña de Francia’s image is in the following Link.
In 1952, Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia was canonically crowned in the main square of Salamanca, Spain, as the Queen of Castile. The ceremony was presided over by Cardinal Federico Todeschini, Papal Legate of the 35th International Eucharistic Congress held in Barcelona. The crowning ceremony is in the Link below.
The Peña de Francia means French Rock. It is a rugged mountaintop in one of the highest mountains of the western sector of the Sierra de Francia south of Salamanca, in the municipality of El Cabaco, in the Autonomous Region of Castile & León in Spain. Its peak rises to 1,727 meters/5,666 ft, practically inaccessible in winter due to the heavy snowfalls.
Fleeing the Moslem invasion and oppression in western France, the French sought refuge in the towering rocky hills over the Sierra de Francia 70 km from Salamanca city. Although there is some debate whether they moved there between the 11th and 12th centuries, the chronology indicates that they started moving there as far back as the 8th century during the reign of Charlemagne (742–814 AD), and perhaps continued their migration westward into later centuries. In the days of Charlemagne, French knights came to Spain to defend their faith against the Moslem invasion. There the knights found the statue on Mount Pena de Francia protected by their citizens’ settlement, attacked Moslem advances, and won the day. A French bishop consecrated the mountaintop as Monte Sacro, the Holy Mountain. Sometime later, the Christian settlers lost the territory to the Moslems and buried the Madonna in the highest mountain cave to save her from being destroyed at the hands of the barbarians. She was eventually discovered in the 15th century by Simon Vela (Roland).
On September 4, 1401, a child was born to pious and religious parents, Roland and Barbara, in Paris. He was christened Simon. The family was well-to-do and owned a large property, but growing up in the faith, Simon never cared for wealth and riches. When his parents and sister died, he sold his entire estate and donated all the proceeds to the Church, the poor, the destitute, and to charitable institutions. He then applied to serve as a modest chamber boy in the convent of a Franciscan Church in Paris where he spent his time venerating the Holy Virgin Mary. He would spend hours before her altar praying and meditating incessantly attempting to please her. His life was holy and exemplary, though simple, he had a wonderful heart.
In 1424, in the little hamlet of Sequeros in the Sierra de Francia Mountain range, lived a young woman called Juana Hernández, referred to by everyone as La Moza Santa, the Holy Lass. On her deathbed, she admonished all the townsfolk to face Mount Peña de Francia whenever they prayed, because somewhere up there existed the miraculous image of the Black Virgin that had been hidden for several hundred years. Predicting that it will soon be unearthed and come to light, and through which many miracles will manifest. It will be built there because that is where Jesus and His Blessed Mother wish to remain in a home of deep devotion, where many Christians will come from all over the world seeking blessings and miracles.
To justify her prophecy immediately before her death, Juana declared with further precision that at sunset on the 3rd of May, 1424, 3 crosses will fall from the sky. The 1st will land on the Bishop of Salamanca’s house, where a convent of Franciscan friars will be built within 5 years. The 2nd will land over Mount Peña de Francia where a man of high morals will discover the image of Our Lady. The 3rd will land over the future Shrine of Our Lady of Peña de Francia where the Dominicans, the Preaching Brothers, will build their convent. As Divinely prophesied, all came to be realized over time.
One day, while in meditation and contemplation over the Virgin Mary in Paris, Simon drifted into unconsciousness. Suddenly, he heard a clear voice beckoning to him in Spanish, “Simon, be alert and do not sleep! Go to Peña de Francia in the western region and search for an image that represents me. You will find it in a cave. Once you do, I will tell you what to do.” Confused, Simon confided in his confessor who advised him to do nothing about it. Several days later while praying before the altar of the Virgin Mary as he usually did, he heard the same distinct voice telling him once again, “Simon, be alert and do not sleep! Go to Peña de Francia and there you will find what you have been longing for.” This time, Simon decided not to consult his confessor but rather requested his blessings in preparation to travel the following day.
The Holy Mother spoke of a French location and mentioned it was in the western region. Simon could only assume that it was west of Paris, where he was living. For 5 long and arduous years, he searched the caves in every mountain west of Paris, not knowing that it was as far west as Spain. One day, so discouraged in his pursuit he decided that he had tried his best and was finally prepared to give up. On his way back to Paris, he suddenly heard the same voice again, “Simon be alert and do not sleep! Do not give up your search. Do not give up on your mission. Persevere, for a great reward awaits every great sacrifice. You shall reap the fruit of your labor.” This uplifted his spirits and he resolved to resume his quest all over again. But this time around, he decided to change his last name from Roland to “Vela”, i.e., Be Alert! (Vela may also mean Candle). This way whenever someone addressed him, he would hear Heaven calling him to be alert and remind him to be persistent in pursuing his Divine assignment.
Simon decided to take the “French Path” the Pilgrims’ Path further westwards which headed to the most important pilgrimage site in Europe, Santiago de Compostela in Spain, assuming it will lead him to the “French Mountain”, Peña de Francia. On his journey, he enquired through countless pilgrims, but nobody could help him. In Spain, and without a single clue, he decided to visit the famous University of Salamanca. But instead of receiving help from pilgrims or professors, he found inspiration most inadvertently through the modest marketplace where 2 men were quarreling and the wounded man fell at his feet. The offender ragingly declared, “Had I even killed him, I would have fled to my village in Peña de Francia, and no man, not even the King himself could have found me!” Elated, Simon was relieved to hear the name publicly for the first time! Finally confirming that such a place actually existed. Barely a few hours later, on his way to church, he heard a coal vendor yelling out, boasting of the superior quality of his coal from Peña de Francia! Simon could not believe his ears for the second time, and ever so casually. He leaped with joy ever so grateful to the Holy Mother. He approached the vendor delightedly, asking him for directions to the mountain. But apprehensive of an eccentric foreign stranger, he flatly refused. Simon decided to wait for the vendor to head back home up the mountain range and discreetly followed him at a distance. When they arrived in the village of San Martin de Castañar, he lost sight of the vendor. So, he went to a nearby Church to attend Mass. On his way out, he asked a parishioner the way to Mt. Peña de Francia. The man directed him to a rugged hill in the distance. Simon was elated that he had finally found his Promised Land.
By now, it was May 14, 1434, almost a decade later on a mission he thought was unachievable, yet eager to please the Divine Mother. He immediately headed uphill, on foot. It was a long and isolated hike. On his way, Simon realized he ran out of provisions, but deep in his heart he also believed in Divine Providence. As he felt the pangs of hunger on his deserted path, he found a bag with a loaf of bread and a piece of meat. Night had fallen and he sought the shelter of a cave to rest and sleep until the next day.
In his exuberance early the next morning, Simon started digging everywhere in the cave for the Virgin’s image. In despair and discouragement, he earnestly prayed for guidance and perseverance. Again, the gentle voice clearly resonated through the cave, “Simon, be alert and do not sleep!” From the mountaintop, radiated a brilliant light. He trembled with joy as he approached it higher up the mountain. Dazzling before him, was the apparition of a majestic golden throne with the glorious presence of the Holy Virgin Mary holding the Child Jesus in Her arms! He instantly fell on his knees, thanking and praying with all his being in gratitude and praise, relieved that he had achieved his Divine mission, honoring his Savior and His Mother.
“Simon, rejoice! Your constancy will be rewarded. Your dream will be realized. Your labors are now ended. Take heed and keep in your heart what I wish you to do. Dig in this spot and take what you can see and place it on the summit of this rocky hill. Build on this hill a beautiful Shrine. You are to begin it and others will come to finish it. This must come to pass as it has been the wish of my Child.”
The next morning, on the site of the apparition, Simon began digging and excavating singlehandedly. Again, that distinct and gentle voice interceded, “Simon, VELA Y NO DUERMAS! Do not attempt to undertake this big task alone. Undertake it with the help of two, three, or more persons.” This was Providence to avoid casting any doubt or suspicion over the veracity of the miracle and Simon’s credibility. He rushed back to San Martin de Castañar and sought the help of 5 men who associated the event with the prophecy of La Moza Santa, the holy youngster. Honored to participate in this manifestation and final materialization, they immediately volunteered to help. For three days they dug until finally, after removing a huge boulder, they found the holy image of La Morenita, the Black Madonna, embedded among the rocks. On May 19, 1434, the most coveted Black Madonna with the Holy Infant in her arms was eventually unearthed!
All 5 men received immediate Graces through Our Lady. Anton Fernandez who was deaf, could hear. Pascual Perez’ defective eye was instantly restored. Benito Sanchez’s incessant pain from a crippled finger was healed. Juan Hernandez with a 10-year nagging stomach cramp, was totally cured. The 5th person was Antonio Sanchez, the parish priest of the village. In the process of excavation, Simon Vela suffered a head injury and was instantly cured also. The miraculous unraveling history of Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia, and the miracles that followed were the object of a formal Declaration duly signed by all the parties and witnesses concerned, at a Notary Public and preserved in the archives of San Martin de Castañar.
Three years after the discovery, upon the order of King Juan II, and with the blessings of Pope Martin V, the site was entrusted to the Dominican Order who built the church, a convent, and a hospice to receive pilgrims from all over the world. Currently, only one dedicated monk remains and runs it.
The crypt of the Sanctuary is inside La Capella Blanca, the White Chapel which dates back to the 16th century, where the statue was unearthed and where the Gruta de la Virgen, the Grotto of the Virgin is. The graves of Simon Vela and La Moza Santa are in the church of El Robledo, the Oak Grove monastery near Sequeros.
In the first half of the 19th century, the surrounding villages in the region struggled over possession of the holy relic, as she was taken around for adoration and religious processions. She resided in Sequeros, Mogarraz, and La Alberca for a while. In 1859 she was returned to her original sanctuary at the summit of Mt Pena de Francia.
In 1872, someone stole her, mishandled the statue, and neglected it for 17 years. When she was eventually found, she was beyond repair. As a result, she was encased in a new statue. The image of the Virgin, carved in 1890, is located on the highest rock on the mountain and towering over the altar. At the monastery and shrine, only the following may be visited: the chapel, the cloister, and an area accommodating for photography exhibitions.
During the summer she is in her sanctuary 75km southwest of Salamanca, 15km west of La Alberca, on Mt.Pena de Francia. During the winter she is in the Convent of the Poor Clares in Zarzoso
She remains La Morenita Querida, the Beloved Morenita. The remnants of the ancient original (8th century) are enclosed in this rendition of 1890, one can see them through a window in the chest of the new statue.
Sammy RNAJ — sammy.rnaj.writer@gmail.com
