30 APRIL - OUR MOTHER OF AFRICA (ALGIERS)

 North Africa in the 2nd century AD was part of the Roman Empire and in the 3rd century, under the Emperor Constantine, a Christian. 

    This was once the land of St. Augustine and remained Christian until the Arab invasions in later centuries. The French re-established themselves early in the 19th century. 

    There was no Church in Algiers when the first Bishop arrived, and the local population was hostile to the French. 

    As he had no money to build a Church, Bishop Dupuch went back to France to appeal for any assistance. The Sodality of Our Mother in Lyon had a bronze statue of the Immaculate 

    Conception that they offered to the Bishop with the understanding that she would be the Protectress of both the Mohammedans and the natives. 

    It was brought from France in 1840 and enshrined it in the new Basilica at Algiers, where the image was crowned. The Basilica of Our Mother of Africa was eventually built, 

    and is situated on a height overlooking the Bay of Algiers, attractive Neo-Byzantine style, and was consecrated in the year 1872. 

    The statue donated by the Sodality became known as Our Mother of Africa and the statue venerated in Algiers today is this same bronze image, very dark in color, 

    but with European features. Pilgrims began to come to venerate the image where the lame, the blind and the crippled were miraculously healed, 

    and sailors came also to beg for protection of their perilous voyages. The walls of the Basilica are now covered with votive offerings testifying to the assistance the 

    faithful had received from the Mother of Mercy.




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