nolasco 5

The discovery of the sacred image of Our Lady of El Puig...

was a powerful encouragement to King James I of Aragon... 

who was resolved to finish the conquest of Valencia at that time. 

He credited Our Lady of El Puig and the prayers of Saint Peter Nolasco for his conquest, when he received into his hands the keys to the city of Valencia from the Moors. And acclaimed Our Lady of El Puig the Patroness of Valencia, and of his entire kingdom.

The holy image was always considered miraculous... 

and was universally revered throughout Christendom. 

Popes and kings, and very many people of the greatest holiness and nobility came on pilgrimage to Our Lady of El Puig. Her powerful protection was confirmed through many long years, for whenever there was a dangerous storm threatening, the bells in the church bell tower would ring, and people would again witness the wonder of the seven stars.

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The angels could also often be heard singing... 

soft melodies and sweetest chants in the choir of the church... 

that were heard by the religious, filling their hearts with heavenly rejoicing.

W.A. Bouguereau

It is recorded that a boy named Jose Carbonell...

was pushed by another boy and fell with his arm landing in the path of a heavy cart. The boy’s arm was crushed so severely that it was soon considered necessary for a surgeon to cut off the arm to save the child’s life.

The following morning the boy’s father went to work at his brother’s farm, from which he could see the church of Our Lady of El Puig. He prayed as he worked with humble supplication and many tears. At the end of the day the father returned home to find the surgeon had just arrived and was undoing the bandages over the boy’s injured arm. Once it was unwrapped, the surgeon cried out, “Gentlemen, what is this? This arm is good and healthy!” 

In recognition of the favor, the boy eventually took the habit...

of the Religious of Our Lady of Mercy.

The heavenly image of Our Lady...

was eventually taken from El Puig to Valencia at the request of the Catholic monarch Philip II. 

The people followed the venerable Patriarch Don Juan de Ribera, Archbishop of Valencia, on foot in solemn procession on Sunday, 17 July, 1588. All was done with the same solemnity with which the procession of the Blessed Sacrament occurred in this famous city.

The praises of the angels could be heard for sixteen nights in the holy church of Valencia, and the wonder of the seven stars was frequently seen, filling with inexpressible joy the witnesses both inside and outside of Valencia. 

It is known that the stars have appeared many times on the bell tower of the church of Our Lady of El Puig since then, and not only in ancient times, but they were especially noted again between the years 1723 to 1758.

[bron]