Nuestra Señora del Pilar Basilica
| Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar Catedral-Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar |
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Nuestra Señora del Pilar Basilica
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| Basic information | |
| Location | Zaragoza, Spain |
| Affiliation | Catholic |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Province | Archdiocese of Zaragoza |
| Year consecrated | 1st or 2nd century AD |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Minor Basilica |
| Architectural description | |
| Architectural style | Baroque |
| Groundbreaking | 1681 |
| Completed | 1754 |
Coordinates: 41°39′25″N 0°52′42″W / 41.65694°N 0.87833°W
The Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar (Spanish: Catedral-Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar) is a Roman Catholic church in the city of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. The Basilica venerates Blessed Virgin Mary, under her title Our Lady of the Pillar praised as "Mother of the Hispanic Peoples" by Pope John Paul II. It is reputed to be the first church dedicated to Mary in history.
Local traditions take the history of this basilica to the dawn of Christianity in Spain attributing to an apparition to Saint James the Great, the apostle who is believed by tradition to have brought Christianity to the country. This is the only reported apparition of Mary to have occurred before her believed Assumption.
Many of the kings of Spain, many other foreign rulers and saints have paid their devotion before this statue of Mary. Saint John of the Cross, Saint Teresa of Ávila, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, and Blessed William Joseph Chaminade are among the foremost ones. The Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar is one of two minor basilicas in the city of Zaragoza, and is co-cathedral of the city alongside the nearby La Seo Cathedral. The architecture is of Baroque style, and the present building was predominantly built between 1681 and 1872.
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