I PREGÓN DE EXALTACIÓN A LA VIRGEN DE LA CABEZA, "ALABANZA A LA MADRE PROTECTORA"

The First Proclamation in Praise of Our Lady of La Cabeza Becomes a Song of Praise to the Mother Protector of All Creation and Patroness of the Fontanese Fields. Miguel González intertwined the verses of a popular prayer with his own personal history of devotion to this image in his speech. “We were always very clear that there was no one better to deliver this proclamation than Miguel,” declared Agustín Grajera during the presentation of the First Proclamation in Praise of Our Lady of La Cabeza, held this Friday, April 29th, at the Parish of La Candelaria, following a moving Eucharist in memory of the deceased members of the La Cabeza brotherhood. “He is an enthusiastic and committed person to his town, who collaborates with all the associations that ask him to, and who loves to share the heritage of his town.” With these words, a visibly moved Miguel González Zambrano was introduced, who once again made a procession through the aisle of the parish church “like a bullfighter in the Maestranza, Las Ventas, or Vista Alegre bullrings,” speaking directly to the Christ of Mercy, whose blessing he requested before being placed “on one of the main posters in my city.” And so, dressed in blue, “gold, and hopeful green,” he began to proclaim, in a responsible yet joyful tone, “the greatness of your mother, of the Mother.” A Mother who, he would explain, is venerated throughout the world, thus uniting the faithful from different continents. An idea he emphasized at various points in his speech: that the Virgin of the Head is the Virgin of the World because, above all, she is the Mother of the Creator. And, therefore, as a mother, she is responsible for protecting all elements of nature. And especially to all suffering creatures, such as—as she recounted—those who suffer in armed conflicts, women who are victims of trafficking and gender-based violence, children whose childhood is stolen, as well as the sick and the elderly, as “Our Lady of the Abandoned Elderly.” This title has deep roots in Fuente del Maestre, since, as she meticulously and accurately explained, it was in April 1917 that the Little Sisters of the Abandoned Elderly arrived in the town. This congregation, in the residence located next to the Church of San Lázaro (the house where the image has always resided), cared for lonely and sick elderly people until 2003. Subsequently, the Sisters of Martha and Mary took over, continuing their work to this day.