Liturgical commemoration and procession
On Thursday, May 29, the Parish of Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Guadiaro, in the municipality of San Roque (Cádiz), hosted the commemoration of the 42nd anniversary of what is known as the "Miracle of Guadiaro." The events began with a solemn Eucharist, followed by a procession of the image of the Virgin of Sorrows through the main streets of the neighborhood. Municipal authorities participated in the celebration, including the Deputy Mayor for Traditions, María del Mar Collado, and the Councilor for the Guadiaro Valley, Eva Gil.
Development of the events
The liturgy featured the participation of the Rociero Choir "Ciudad de San Roque," while the municipal band "Ciudad de La Línea" provided musical accompaniment for the procession. Previously, on the previous Tuesday, a floral offering had been made to the Virgin of Sorrows as the first commemorative event. Dozens of faithful accompanied the image on a route that started at Calle Posada, where the mass was held, continued along Calle Nueva and Calle Agua Marina—where petals were scattered—and then returned along Calle Almenara and Calle Francisco Amado to the entrance of the parish church.
The historical event: May 29, 1983
The origin of this commemoration dates back to May 29, 1983, when the then newly built church of Guadiaro collapsed completely. The event occurred minutes after the building had been "packed" with families celebrating the first communion of 52 children from the neighborhood. In what was considered a miracle by the community, no injuries were reported, as the structural collapse occurred just after all attendees had left the premises.
The sign of faith
Contemporary accounts relate that, after the collapse, only the image of Our Lady of Sorrows and the lamp of the Tabernacle, which remained lit, remained standing among the rubble. This event, interpreted as a sign of divine protection, consolidated the local devotion to this Marian invocation and gave rise to an annual commemoration that has continued for four decades, reinforcing the identity and faith of the Guadiaro community.
Original source: www.sanroque.es (published on May 30, 2025)
Photo: Tofin Creations on Unsplash
