Pilar
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- For the Argentine city, see Pilar, Buenos Aires
Nuestra Señora del Pilar (Spanish for "Our Lady of the Pillar") the name given to Virgin Mary for her appearance in Spain, whose shrine (Nuestra Señora del Pilar Basilica) is in Zaragoza, Spain, by the river Ebro.
According to legend, in the early days of the Church, the Apostle James the Greater was evangelizing the Gospel in Caesaraugusta, but making little progress when miraculously he saw Mary on a pillar committing him to Jerusalem. In it, she was atop a column or pillar, which was being carried by angels. That pillar is believed to be the same one venerated in Zaragoza, Spain today. Miraculous healings have been reported at the scene.
In Zamboanga City, The Philippines, the Virgin of the Pillar has been venerated for almost five centuries. Her statue is embossed at the top of the facade of the 16th century Spanish military fort called El Fuerza Real de Nuestra Señora Virgen del Pilar de Zaragoza. The military fort is now a Catholic Marian Shrine. The city also has a street named after her - Pilar Street.
Our Lady of the Pillar is celebrated on 12 October and is the patron virgin of Spain, Hispanics, the hispanicized City of Zamboanga as well as other municipalities in The Philippines, and the Civil Guard of Spain.
María del Pilar is a common female Spanish name. Sometimes Maria is also replaced with Pilar as a synonyme.[citation needed]
