Faithful Cubans began to gather from the early hours of this Monday at the seawall of the Ermita de la Caridad in Miami to honor the image of the Patroness of Cuba on the eve of her liturgical feast, which is celebrated every September 8th.
The Ermita de la Caridad announced on Facebook that the veneration began "very early" this Monday and extended an invitation to the faithful to come to the sanctuary during this day leading up to the celebration.
"Since early today, the veneration of the Most Holy Image of the Virgin of Charity has begun from the promenade of the Hermitage, on the eve of her celebration. We await you!" stated the religious institution.
The event serves as a prelude to the main celebrations scheduled for this Tuesday, September 8, when the traditional Solemn Mass in honor of Our Lady of Charity will take place.
According to the program announced by the Ermita, the main events will take place at the Miami-Dade Fair & Expo Center, located at 10901 SW 24 St., Miami.
The doors will open to the public at 5:00 p.m., and at 5:45 p.m., a prayer for Cuba with the Virgin at the Cuban Memorial is scheduled.
At 6:30 p.m., the Holy Rosary will be celebrated, and half an hour later, the procession of the Apostolic Movements of the Archdiocese of Miami will begin.
One of the central moments will arrive at 7:30 p.m., with the entrance procession of the Blessed Image of the Virgin of Charity.
The day will conclude at 8:00 p.m. with the Solemn Mass, which will be presided over by Monsignor Thomas Wenski, Archbishop of Miami.
The celebration in Miami has a strong historical connection to the Cuban exile: the image of the Virgen de la Caridad that is currently venerated at the Ermita arrived in Miami on September 8, 1961, brought by Luis Gutiérrez Areces in a suitcase.
On that same day, a large mass was held at Miami Stadium in front of more than 30,000 Cubans.
Meanwhile, in Cuba, celebrations for the Patroness are also taking place.
Since August 30, the nine days of preparation for the celebration on September 8 have begun, with activities in churches and communities and a special program at the National Sanctuary of El Cobre in Santiago de Cuba.
The date comes amidst a deep economic and social crisis.
A few days before the celebration, Cuban priest Alberto Reyes directed a prayer to the Virgin focused on the difficulties faced by the country, in which he mentioned poverty, emigration, family separation, and repression.
"In the midst of so much repression, help us to preserve the courage to tell the truth," he asked.
Related videos:
Filed under: