“Oxen refuse to move.” That’s the legend surrounding Our Lady of Luján. We stand before a representation of that very Virgin. Our Lady of Luján is deeply woven into the fabric of Argentina. This sculpture is more than mere metal or stone. It represents faith and history.
Our Lady of Luján’s story began in 1630. A Portuguese landowner wanted to invigorate Christianity. He requested an image of the Immaculate Conception from Brazil. Instead of one statue, he received two. When the statues arrived in Buenos Aires, they were placed on an oxen-pulled cart. After three days, near the town of Zelaya, the oxen stopped.
They simply would not move. The travelers tried everything. They changed the oxen. They unloaded cargo. Still, the cart remained stuck. Someone then noticed two small boxes. Each box contained a statue of the Virgin. One depicted the Immaculate Conception. The other showed the Virgin holding baby Jesus.
When they removed the statue of Mary and Jesus nothing happened. However, when they removed the Immaculate Conception statue the oxen moved with ease. The people believed Our Lady wished to stay there. The statue was taken to Don Rosendo Oramas’s home. He built a chapel for it.
In 1763, the statue moved to a larger shrine in Luján. The final sanctuary was completed in 1935. Pope Pius XII declared it a Basilica in 1930. It became a National and Historical Monument in 1998. The second statue is now known as Our Lady of Consolation.
The Basilica of Luján’s towers stand 106 meters tall. Its interior reflects French Gothic style. Stained glass windows add to its beauty. The terracotta statue of Our Lady is small only 38 cm. It wears a gold crown adorned with jewels. There are 365 diamonds rubies emeralds and sapphires. Also, 132 pearls decorate the crown. Enamels depict emblems of the Archbishop and Argentina.
To protect it, a silver covering was added in 1887. She is usually clothed in white and sky blue. These colors mirror the Argentine flag. Pope Leo XIII coronated Our Lady of Luján in 1887. Six million people visit her shrine yearly. Pilgrimages occur throughout the year.
The Gaucho’s Pilgrimage occurs on the last Sunday of September. Gauchos are Argentine cowboys. Their horses wait outside the church. The Youth Pilgrimage is on the first Sunday in October. A million youths walk 68 kilometers from Buenos Aires. They show faith and gratitude.
Feast days are May 8 and December 8. Nautical pilgrimages also take place. Statues of Our Lady sail on the Luján River. Popes have honored Our Lady of Luján. Pope John Paul II visited in 1982 during the Falklands War. He bestowed the Golden Rose upon her.
The Golden Rose is a papal gift to nations cities or images. It symbolizes honor and blessing. Today Our Lady of Luján remains a symbol. She is the Patroness of Argentina Paraguay and Uruguay. This sculpture connects us to centuries of faith. It links us to miracles and devotion. May it inspire hope and reflection in all who see it.