History of Hemitage Cartama

The traditions say that the image of the Virgin was found by a shepherd. From parents to children it is reported that shepherd guarding his livestock in the rugged cliffs that rise above the town,he found one day a small figurine carving of a delicate face with a nice smooth profile.

The local pastor was very happy with the finding because it was believed that it was a beautiful doll and he thought to offer it to his daughter as unexpected gift, When he arrived at his house and looked in the gift bag for the girls present he could not find it.

Uncertain of himself,he thought that only a matter of forgetfulness or he had lost it. At the pastor went to the hill and in the same place as the previous day, to his great surprise, he found the same funny sculpture.

He put it back into the bag and tied it tightly To his astonishment that afternoon at his home; again, it was missing after he had so carefully stored it in his bag.

Three times, he repeated the amazing phenomenon and the pastor, a man of simple faith and a Christian man, surprised at the event, thought it was a call from heaven, the priest consulted with the municipality and other pious persons about a possible miracle.

She was a small image of the Virgin Mary, and all agreed that it was a clear indication that the Divine Lord had wanted to express their desire that at this rustic mountain he wished the people to worship so they raised a chapel in her honor thus giving her patronage of the feudal village and its surroundings.

The current dedication to the Remedies goes back to the last third of the sixteenth century, during a devastating plague epidemic. On April 23 of 1579,it was decided by the residents possessing the image of the patron. The City Council agreed, before the notary and the ecclesiastic diocesan bishop,”held since then, the role of thanksgiving each April 23.”