59 years ago, the last descent of Our Lady of Sorrows to Arrecife took place. In the mid-1960s, the so-called Rosary Crusade took place worldwide, whose motto was "The family that prays together, stays together," aimed at promoting prayer in the family sphere. At the head of this initiative was an Irish priest, Father Peaton, who attended this pilgrimage. The transfer was carried out within this campaign.
On that January 19, 1965, many people walked behind the Virgin down the slope of Mount Mina. A large line of cars closed the accompaniment. From Arrecife, with many fewer houses than now, the procession was clearly visible. As it advanced through the neighborhoods of Argana and La Vega, more people joined. Upon reaching Calle Real, it was already a multitude. Marianism in its purest form.
The image reached the sea, in front of the old La Marina school where the town hall is located today. On the esplanade of land where the San Ginés festivities were previously held (today the promenade), a stage had been built, where different families, almost all large, went up to pray a mystery of the rosary. Father Peaton presented the act and the Virgin presided over the prayer.
When they lowered the image from the carrier, the crown got tangled in some cables stretched between two wooden posts. An Ay! came out of the crowd, several people went to help. An elderly lady shouted "Juan, lower the Virgin, you have the knack, because these people don't know and are going to drop her." The said Juan, in his forties, balding, with a jacket and no tie, stepped forward. He managed to untangle the crown and lower the image. A great sigh of relief was heard.
That pilgrimage was a great island event. The popular hubbub was varied: so many cars had never been seen together (at that time, the island's car park was small), in the Plaza de San Bartolomé, in the afternoons, the whole town prayed the rosary (according to a friend, not many people attended this prayer), that a family that had prayed a mystery on stage, the husband hit the woman (if he wasn't ashamed)...... Anyway, the topic gave for much.
Now, more than half a century later, the pilgrimage is repeated. But the context is very different: the years of national Catholicism have passed, religion has given way in favor of civil values. Religious sentiment is no longer as strong as before, although it retains a certain imprint. Our society is different now.
Let's hope that this new visit encourages collective reflection. Encourage us to reflect on our values, reviewing some priorities, not everything can be material. We must think about how to face problems of our time such as immigration or the conservation of the environment. Be more supportive. As my neighbor says, we must not only dress in old clothes and walk to Mancha Blanca in September, we must go further.
