How the image of the Virgin of Almudena survived the eighth-century Muslim invasion

CNA: Every Nov. 9, the Church in Spain celebrates the Virgin of Almudena, the patroness of Madrid, whose image “hides” a peculiar story that might not be familiar to many.

During the Muslim invasion of the Iberian Peninsula in the eighth century, the faithful decided to hide an image of the Virgin Mary in one of the towers of the wall that surrounded the Spanish capital. They placed it there in order to protect the statue, since during that time the Muslims eliminated all signs of Catholicism that crossed their path.

Years later, the Spanish tried to recover the image, although without success, since they were unable to find the exact place in the wall where the Virgin had been hidden. Report is here.