Our Lady of Grapes – christianapostles.com

What is the devotion to Our Lady of Grapes?

Devotion to Our Lady of Grapes is a Catholic devotion that centers around the miraculous image of the Virgin Mary, which is said to have been painted on a grapevine leaf. The story of this devotion goes back to the 18th century, in the region of Valencia, Spain. According to tradition, a farmer named Juan Fernández was working in his vineyard one day when he saw the image of the Virgin Mary appear on a grapevine leaf. The image was of the virgin Mary holding a bunch of grapes.

Fernández was struck by the beauty of the image, and he immediately gathered his fellow villagers to come and see it. They were all amazed by the image and the villagers began to believe that the Virgin Mary had appeared to them and blessed their land. This event marked the beginning of the devotion to Our Lady of Grapes and the grapevine leaf with the image of Mary on it was installed in the local parish church.

The image of Our Lady of Grapes has been considered miraculous ever since and is credited with bringing good harvests and prosperity to the area. The devotion to Our Lady of Grapes spread quickly through the region and it became an important devotion for the people of Valencia. Many farmers and workers, who were dependent on the grape harvest for their livelihoods, began to pray to Our Lady of Grapes for good harvests, protection from pests and other natural disasters.

Devotion to Our Lady of Grapes also has a strong connection to the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, as grapes are seen as a symbol of the blood of Christ. Many people who are devoted to Our Lady of Grapes also participate in devotions to the Sacred Heart, such as the Sacred Heart Novena, which is a nine-day devotion to the Sacred Heart.

In addition to the prayers and offerings made to Our Lady of Grapes in the local parish church, many people also make pilgrimage to the church to see the miraculous image. On the feast day of Our Lady of Grapes, which is on the 2nd of August, a big celebration is held in honor of the Virgin Mary in the parish church, where many people from the town and nearby towns come together to participate in the mass and to honor the image of Our Lady of Grapes.

Many people also make replica of the image of Our Lady of Grapes, which is often carried by the faithful during processions, and placed in homes and workplaces as a reminder of Mary’s protection and blessings.

In addition to physical acts of devotion, the devotion to Our Lady of Grapes also encourages spiritual growth, by fostering a deeper relationship with God and encouraging people to live a virtuous life. People who are devoted to Our Lady of Grapes often find themselves becoming more charitable, compassionate, and prayerful, they believe that by following Mary’s example of humility and submission to God, they can lead a more virtuous and fulfilled life.

In conclusion, Devotion to Our Lady of Grapes is a Catholic devotion that centers around the miraculous image of the Virgin Mary, which is said to have been painted on a grapevine leaf, it is said to have appeared in Valencia, Spain in 18th century. This devotion is associated with the belief that the Virgin Mary has blessed the land, the grape harvest and the people with her presence, the devotion is strong among the farmers and workers in the area and is closely tied to the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, as grapes are seen as a symbol of the blood of Christ, The devotion to Our Lady of Grapes encourages spiritual growth, by fostering a deeper relationship with God and encouraging people to live a virtuous life.