A young Cuban identified as Darianne Díaz touched the hearts of thousands by sharing a video in which she is seen ascending the steps of the National Sanctuary of the Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre, in El Cobre, Santiago de Cuba, to fulfill a promise made to the patroness of Cuba.
The video was published on September 8, the day of the Virgin's feast, a date that held special significance this year as it coincided with the 110th anniversary of her declaration as the Patroness of Cuba by Pope Benedict XV.
In the images, Darianne is seen ascending step by step with her knees on the ground, accompanied by another young woman and holding a bouquet of sunflowers, while in the background, the chant "Holy be the Most High" can be heard.
Upon reaching the altar, the young woman pauses for a few seconds in prayer before the sacred image.
In the video description, Darianne explained the meaning of her gesture with words that resonated with her followers: "I climbed this staircase on my knees, not to demonstrate my strength, but to fulfill a promise made from the heart. Each step carried a prayer, a thank you, and all my faith. Because there are promises that are never forgotten, favors that are appreciated for a lifetime, and a faith that, when it comes from the soul, needs no explanation."
He closed his message with a phrase that summarized everything: "Promise kept. Faith intact. Grateful heart."
The video accumulated over 180,700 views, nearly 9,500 reactions, and 134 shares, and was widely praised by devotees and Cubans inside and outside the island.
Climbing the steps of the sanctuary on one's knees is one of the most recognized ways of "fulfilling a promise" in Cuban popular religiosity: the faithful asks the Virgin for a favor in a moment of need and, upon receiving it, fulfills the vow made.
The sunflowers that Darianne carried also hold a special meaning: the yellow color and these flowers are associated with Oshún, the orisha of love and rivers in the Yoruba-Cuban pantheon, with whom the Virgin of Charity is syncretized in Afro-Cuban traditions.
This September 8th, in El Cobre, the sanctuary opened continuously with masses and a music concert to celebrate the festivity, while in Havana processions took place in Vedado with the image on a platform along with yellow and white flowers.
It's not the first time a gesture like this has gone viral on social media. In September 2024, another Cuban ascended the steps of the sanctuary on her knees while carrying a child in her arms in a video that garnered over 21,000 reactions in less than 48 hours, reflecting the impact of scenes like these where Cubans share their fulfillment of religious promises on social media.
The Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre, patroness of Cuba is venerated both on the island and in the diaspora, and her feast day on September 8th is one of the most important religious dates in the Cuban calendar, a bond of faith that transcends borders and generations.
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