Sanctuary of Lourdes Tourist Place
This Grotto is an authentic replica of the one that exists in France in the Perineos known by the name of Lourdes in whose Grotto appeared the Mother of God to a humble peasant named Bernardita Zubiru.
This Grotto is an authentic replica of the one that exists in France in the Perineos known by the name of Lourdes in whose Grotto appeared the Mother of God to a humble peasant named Bernardita Zubiru.
It is a monastery whose physical structure calls attention, was designed a long corridor that describes the 14 stations until reaching the Grotto and in the surroundings is a small forest that adorns it.
Creation date
The Grotto of Lourdes is an attraction of San Miguel. In a break of the cordillera, the faithful placed at the beginning of the century a replica of the virgin appeared in France. Next to her, the nuns of the Poor Clares built a convent. People go to him massively.
Location
Located 5 kilometers from the road San Miguel Babahoyo, sector of Piscurco on the right.
Popular Festivals
The feasts in honor of the Virgin Mary of Lourdes begin on the 8th of September this is a month full of festivities and from the 20 of the Arcángel San Miguel Patrono del Pueblo festivities that have National reputation, are given top quality shows, shows Art, novenas, parades of joy, pyrotechnic fires, village bands, Bullfight, processions, masses and the Famous Years to the Patron.
Pilgrimages to the Grotto of Lourdes
A tradition not only of the people of San Miguel, but of all the devotees of the Virgin of Lourdes, who make their pilgrimages during the month of May towards the Sanctuary that is in the highest elevation of San Miguel.
Description
The sacred image that was there was brought in the year 1902 by the venerable parish priest Dr. Leonidas Verdezoto Rivadeneira, who on February 2 of the same year in the company of Don Juan Pio de Mora who was a very devout man.
They chose this place with a natural grotto formed by huge blocks of stone and varied cliffs that give this summit, a showy, pleasant place that dominates the lordly landscape of San Miguel, there have not been places like this in the province for its style And gender.
Once placed the image was declared inaugurated the sanctuary with the name of Lourdes. The 2 of February of the year 2002, celebrated 100 years of the arrival of the holy mother of the canton.
The devotion is not only of the Sanmigueleños come from romería of all the country, there is a source of natural water that the romeriantes affirm is prodigious and curative.
History
There are two versions that have been transmitted from generation to generation with certain modifications or alterations.
The first version shows that the settlers in colonial times saw all the afternoons and nights that the fog reigned in the hills of Lourdes and Padre Urco, producing contrasts and thunderstorms that frightened them.
One day some young men decided to go to the hill of Lourdes; They were aware that a peasant while hepherding his sheep had seen three times a tall lady dressed in white with a rosary in her hands. Walking around the hill they found a peasant who was asked to tell them and take to the Grotto or exact place where the apparition occurred.
Once there the young people talked and decided to speak with the priest of the place that gathered the people of the town and they decided to order to construct the image of the virgin of Fatima of France in order to place it in the cave where they had seen it.
The second version shows that in the republican life confrontations between conservatives and liberals occurred; And when the battle of Galte was fought in an esplanade near Riobamba on December 14, 1876, the government troops were defeated by the rebels, Colonel Juan Pio de Mora having to flee in the company of several Sanmigueleños, who hid in The Natural Cave of volcanic origin known by the name of Capa Rosa in the vicinity of San Miguel where they remained refugees several days.
One day when preparing the food, a stone was split in two and with great astonishment they observed on one side a painted image of the Virgin Mary and immediately told the parish priest of San Miguel who moved to the cave, stating the fact and committing himself to Bring a replica of the Virgin Mary of Lourdes.
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