Novelda was able to celebrate the transfer of the image of her patron saint, Santa María Magdalena, on March 22, when the emergency decree was already in force. The news published by this newspaper that day indicated how the transfer had been carried out without any legal impediment:
TheSantais already in Novelda. On the afternoon of this Sunday, March 22, it was lowered from the La Mola sanctuary untilparish of Saint Peter the Apostle. An extraordinary event, -the event is traditionally held in July-, with which the noveldenses seek theprotectionfrom her employer at a particularly tragic moment for thecrisis ofcoronavirus. The entourage has been composed solely of thepriest, themayor, thecommissarof the Local Police and thein chargeof the sanctuary.
The venerated image has been transferred in the priest’s car and his arrival at the temple has been made to coincide with the noveldenses, in thebalconiesfrom their houses, singing theHymn of the Holyas the bells ofSan Pedro and San Roque. A very emotional moment that recalls those episodes of thelocal historyin which the people did the same in times of epidemics to “implore their faithful protection”.
“In these difficult times we mustkeep fighting, keep hope, be united as brothers and have faith in God“, indicated yesterday afternoon the priest Francisco José Rayos, while he directed an affectionate glance at Santa María Magdalena, who already presides over the main altar.
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