Our Lady of the Pillar

Our Lady of the Pillar refers to the Blessed Virgin Mary venerated in Zaragoza, Spain, where, according to tradition, she appeared to the Apostle James in 40 AD while he was evangelizing Spain. The apparition is notable because it is believed to be the earliest Marian apparition in Christian history. Mary is said to have given James a pillar and instructed him to build a church in her honor. The Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza remains a major pilgrimage site.