- 28 May, 2026
May 28, 2026: San Nicolás de los Arroyos in Argentina was once known simply as a peaceful river city. But everything changed when unusual events connected to the Virgin Mary began drawing the attention of believers from across the world, transforming the city into one of the most important Marian pilgrimage centres of the modern era.
At the centre of these events was Gladys Quiroga de Motta, an ordinary housewife with little formal education and no theological training. One day, she noticed her rosary beads glowing inside her home. Soon after, she began experiencing interior locutions and visual apparitions of the Virgin Mary.
Gladys described Mary carrying the infant Jesus while holding a large rosary. Between 1983 and 1990, she reportedly received more than 1,800 messages from Mary and Jesus. The messages focused on peace, repentance, spiritual renewal, and a return to daily prayer.
The Search for a Forgotten Statue
Among the many reported messages, one particular instruction created deep curiosity.
The apparition reportedly asked Gladys to search for a forgotten statue of the Virgin Mary that had once been blessed by Pope Leo XIII. Following these directions, Church authorities searched the belfry of the local Cathedral of St. Nicholas of Bari.
Hidden away in the bell tower, they discovered a wood-carved statue of Our Lady of the Rosary that had been brought from Rome in 1884. The discovery stunned many people because the antique statue matched the exact details Gladys had described during the apparitions — the blue robe, the pink dress, and even the placement of the child Jesus.
What began as a private spiritual experience inside a modest home slowly became a phenomenon followed by thousands.
A Marian Apparition Officially Recognised
Unlike many reported apparitions that remain unverified, the events at San Nicolás underwent a long and detailed Church investigation.
The local diocese carefully studied the messages over several decades. Medical examinations were also conducted regarding claims of miraculous physical healings connected to the site.
After years of investigation, the Catholic Church officially recognised the apparitions.
On May 22, 2016, Bishop Héctor Cardelli of the Diocese of San Nicolás declared the apparitions to be supernatural in character and “worthy of belief.” The declaration established Our Lady of the Rosary of San Nicolás as one of the officially recognised Marian apparitions of modern times.
The Sanctuary That Draws Thousands
As devotion continued to grow, construction began on a massive sanctuary along the banks of the Paraná River at a site locally known as El Campito — “The Little Field.”
Built according to instructions detailed in the messages, the Sanctuary of María del Rosario de San Nicolás was designed to welcome huge crowds of pilgrims. The sanctuary features a striking central dome with an interior diameter of 24 metres and can accommodate between 8,000 and 9,000 standing worshippers at the same time.
Every year on September 25, San Nicolás witnesses an extraordinary gathering of faith. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims arrive at the sanctuary, while thousands choose to walk the entire 240-kilometre journey from Buenos Aires as an act of penance and devotion.
For many believers, the story of Our Lady of the Rosary of San Nicolás is more than a story of apparitions. It is the story of a forgotten statue rediscovered after decades in silence — a mystery that transformed a quiet Argentine city into a place of prayer, pilgrimage, and enduring devotion.
By Catholic Connect Reporter
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