Saint Genoveva Torres Morales

Memorial

5 January
Profile

Youngest of six children. By the age of eight, both her parents and four of her siblings had died. A child homemaker for her older brother, Genovena grew up a quiet child, accustomed to solitude. She took an interest in spiritual reading around age ten, and early understood that the purpose of all life is to follow God. When she was 13, her left leg became gangrenous and had to be amputated; there was no anesthesia for the operation, it never properly healed, and she was on crutches the rest of her life.
From 1885 to 1894 she lived at the Mercy Home run by the Carmelites of Charity, healing, learning to sew, and deepening her spiritual life. She wanted to join these sisters, but her health was not good enough. In 1894 she moved in with two other lay women who supported themselves and each other, living a poor but prayerful life. The desire to help poor women grew in Genoveva, and in 1911 Canon Barbarrós suggested she start a religious community for just such a mission. Shea established the first community of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Holy Angels (Angélicas) in Valencia, Spain; they would receive papal approval in 1953. It immediately attracted many women, both those needing help, and those wanting to help, and other communities were formed around Spain. Genoveva spent the rest of her life working for these communities, overcoming her physical and health problems, and even tougher, her own desire for quiet solitude.
Born

3 January 1870 in Almenara, Castile, Spain
Died

5 January 1956 in Zaragoza, Spain of natural causes
Venerated

22 January 1991 by Pope John Paul II (decree of heroic virtues)
Beatified

29 January 1995 by Pope John Paul II
Canonized

4 May 2003 by Pope John Paul II at Plaza de Colón, Madrid, Spain
catholicsaints.info/saint-genoveva-torres-morales/

El Pilar Basilica, Zaragoza
The Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar (better known simply as El Pilar) is one of two major cathedrals in the heart of Zaragoza, Spain. It is an important pilgrimage site, thanks to an ancient pillar said to have been given by the Virgin Mary to Saint James on this very spot.
History of El Pilar Basilica
According to local legend, in 40 AD the apostle Saint James the Greater was praying on the banks of the Ebro River in Zaragoza (then the Roman town of Caesar Augusta) when the Virgin Mary appeared to him. She was still living in Jerusalem at the time; this is her only reported apparition prior to her Assumption.
The Virgin gave James a small statue of herself and a pillar made of jasper, and instructed him to build a church called Our Lady of the Pillar. As instructed, Saint James built a small chapel on the spot, which would make it the first church dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Many churches were subsequently built on the site, each one more impressive than the last. Today's version was designed in 1681 by Felipe Sánchez y Herrera but significantly remodeled in the 18th century by Ventura Rodríguez. The towers were finally finished in the early 20th century.
El Pilar has received many distinguished pilgrims over the centuries, including Saints Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross and Ignatius Loyola, as well as virtually all the kings and queens of Spain. Pope John Paul II visited in 1982. It has also become a tradition for Spanish children to make a pilgrimage to El Pilar at the time of their first communion.
Today, Our Lady of the Pillar is the second-most visited pilgrimage destinatination in Spain after Santiago de Compostela (also associated with St. James). Thousands of pilgrims come every year to kiss the small statue given by the Virgin herself, and the El Pilar Festival is one of the most popular in Spain.
What to See at El Pilar Basilica
Inside there are a number of artworks, but the star attraction is the famous statue of Our Lady of the Pillar, located in the Holy Chapel. Made of wood and standing only 15 inches tall, is located near the center of the basilica in a glittering shrine. There is an opening behind the statue allowing pilgrims to kiss it. The cupola of the Holy Chapel was frescoed by Francisco de Goya.
The Museo del Pilar houses the jewelry used to adorn the Pilar statue as well as sketches by Goya and other artworks.
Festivals and Events
The Fiestas del Pilar are held annually in honor of the Zaragoza's patron saint, the Virgin of the Pillar. Festivities begin on the Saturday before October 12 and run for nine days.
During the festival, large quantities of flowers and fruit are brought to the Virgin's shrine in the basilica, while the streets are filled with processions, street performers, music and dancing. Bullfights and theater performances are also held. Book accommodation early during the festival: the city's population triples during this period!

Visitor and Contact Information
Coordinates:
41.656992° N, 0.878509° W
Address:
Plaza de las Catedrales
Zaragoza, Spain
Hours:
Cathedral: Tue-Sun 7am-8:30pm
Museum: daily 9am-2pm, 4-6pm
Lodging:
View hotels near El Pilar Basilica
Note: This information was accurate when first published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours and prices can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.
References
Catholic Shrines of Western Europe, 212-14.
Sacred Places of a Lifetime, 308.
Review of Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar - Frommers.com
Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar - LonelyPlanet.com
Fiestas del Pilar - official website
More Information
Photos of El Pilar Basilica - here on Sacred Destinations
www.sacred-destinations.com/spain/zaragoza-basili…

Map of El Pilar Basilica, Zaragoza
Below is a location map and aerial view of El Pilar Basilica. Using the buttons on the left (or the wheel on your mouse), you can zoom in for a closer look, or zoom out to get your bearings. To move around, click and drag the map with your mouse.