Our Lady of Covadonga (8 September): Butler's Lives of the Saints

About this sermon

A handful of Christians, a holy image of Mary, and a narrow mountain gorge—Covadonga is where Spain’s reconquest began. On September 8, the Feast of Our Lady’s Nativity, we recall Our Lady of Covadonga in Asturias, Spain—often called the “Spanish Lourdes.” Drawing from Butler’s Lives of the Saints, this episode recounts how Don Pelayo and a small band of Christians, praying before an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary in a cave, faced down a vastly larger Moorish force. The battle—in or around 718 according to the text read here—became a turning point traditionally seen as the spark of the Reconquista. You’ll hear about the dramatic setting in the Deva River gorge, Pelayo’s retreat to the cave of Covadonga, the miraculous reversal as arrows turned back and boulders rained down, and the fierce storm that scattered the enemy. We then follow the rise of the sanctuary, royal patronage, fires and rebuilding, and today’s basilica that welcomes pilgrims from around the world. Spanish keywords / variantes: Nuestra Señora de Covadonga (también “Kovadonga”), Virgen de Covadonga, Don Pelayo, Batalla de Covadonga (718/722), Santuario de Covadonga, Asturias, Reconquista, “Lourdes español”. If this blessed story strengthens your faith, please subscribe, like, and share. Pray for Spain, for the Church, and for a renewal of Christian courage under Mary’s mantle. Key Moments / Chapters 00:00 Intro & Butler’s Lives of the Saints 00:11 The setting: Asturias, the Deva gorge, and the cave 00:54 Christian Spain under Muslim domination 01:40 Don Pelayo chosen to lead the resistance 02:24 The Moorish advance & the narrow ravine 03:01 The battle begins: prayer before the image of Our Lady 03:45 Arrows turned, rocks rolled, and a storm rises 04:53 Rout of the Moors & Don Pelayo’s victory 05:56 From victory to Reconquista; Mary proclaimed Patroness 06:50 Early shrine, monks, royal favors, and growth of the sanctuary 07:58 Fire, rebuilding, and the 19th-century basilica 08:44 Covadonga today: Spain’s “Lourdes” & enduring devotion https://sensusfidelium.com/the-lives-of-the-fathers-martyrs-and-other-principal-saints/september/ Get Butler's Lives of the Saints here: https://loretopublications.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=102&url=1 #OurLadyOfCovadonga #Covadonga #VirgendeCovadonga #DonPelayo #Reconquista #Catholic #MarianDevotion #LivesOfTheSaints #Asturias #SpanishLourdes #CatholicHistory #FeastDay #NativityOfMary #Pilgrimage #SensusFidelium 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 Support Catholic Businesses here - https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ Sensus Fidelium Press - https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ Sensus Fidelium Apps - https://sensusfidelium.tv/ Support Sensus Fidelium - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 🙏🏻PLEASE HELP OUR CHANNEL GROW 🙏🏻 ▶ 1. Become a Channel Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SensusFidelium ▶ 2. Visit the website https://www.sensusfidelium.com for Gueranger, Saint of the Day, Apologetics, Meditation by the Saints, Scripture Study and more. ▶ 3. Subscribe to Other Video Platforms 🔴 SpiritusTV - https://spiritustv.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 BitChute --- https://www.bitchute.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium/ 🔴 Rumble --- https://rumble.com/c/c-298311 🔴 My Catholic Tube - https://mycatholictube.com/videos/sensus-fidelium-channel/ 🔴 LBRY.tv --- https://lbry.tv/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 ODYSEE - https://odysee.com/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 UGETube - https://videos.utahgunexchange.com/@Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 BrandNewTube - https://brandnewtube.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 GabTV - https://tv.gab.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 GloriaTV - https://gloria.tv/Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 Brighteon - https://www.brighteon.com/channels/sensusfidelium ▶ 4. Paypal, Bitcoin, Anedot, Stripe, Square & PO Box donations - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ ▶ 5. YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 Please "Like" our videos so that Youtube shares it to others by clicking the "Like" thumbs-up under the video = 👍🏻 ▶ 6. Please share this video 📲, and help others find Christ inside the Catholic Church! Please share this video on Facebook and Twitter using the share button. ▶ 7. Follow on Social Media: 🔴 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SensusFidelium/ 🔴 Twitter: https://https://twitter.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 🔴 Parler: https://parler.com/profile/Sensusfidelium/posts 🔴 SP3RN: https://www.sp3rn.com/community/pages/14-sensus-fidelium 🔴 GAB: https://gab.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 Bastyon: https://bastyon.com/sensusfidelium 🔴 GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/sensus_fidelium 🔴 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sensusfidelium/ 🔴 Telegram: https//t.me/RealSensusFidelium 🔴 Truth Social - @SensusFidelium ▶ 8. Follow on iTunes: 🔴 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sensus-fidelium-catholic-podcast/id1477010758