Our Lady Of Charity – Lovingly known as Cachita to the people of
Cuba has a simple and beautiful story.In and around the year 1600 three local boys from Santiago Del Prado, which is presently known as El Cobre, were sent to sea to gather salt used to preserve the meat in the town’s slaughterhouse.The boys were brothers Rodrigo and Juan de Hoyos native Indians and Juan Moreno a young black slave about 10 years old.
Halfway across the Bay of Nipe, a fierce storm threatened to sink their small boat and they prayed for divine help.The seas calmed down suddenly and the boys saw a whitebundle floating in the distance atop a piece of wood.At first the boys confused it for a bird but as they got closer they saw that it was a small statue of the Virgin Mary.She was holding Baby Jesus in her left arm and carried a gold cross in her right hand.In the wood the words, Yo soy la Virgen de la Caridad (I am the Virgin of Charity) were inscribed.
The boys gathered the statue noticing that despite the strong storm that had just passed and the high waves of the ocean it was not wet.The young men brought the statue back to their village and a chapel was built.Soon the chapel became a pilgrimage site andthe town where her sanctuary was built was named “El Cobre”.In 1916 Pope Benedict XV declared Our Lady of Charity patroness of
Cuba.
Her feast day is celebrated September 8th the same day that the Afrocuban religion of Santeria celebrates the feast day of the Oricha Ochun.African slaves identified Cachita with Ochun the Oricha or Goddess of love, femininity and sensuality. To this day practitioners of the Yoruba Religion synchretize Ochun with the beloved Catholic image of Our Lady of Charity.
Regardless of whether you pray to Cachita or Ochun don’t forget to light a yellow candle this September 8th.Ask them to look upon us mortals with eyes of charity and invite them to spread their love and kindness into our hearts.Nothing you request is too small or too big for them.
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