Many years ago, in a time no longer found in history books, a story began that has been passed down from mouth to mouth among the Andorrans, full of mystery, faith, and a certain air of wonder. It is the legend of Our Lady of Meritxell, who over time would become the spiritual heart of the Principality of Andorra.
The story takes us to a cold winter, specifically to Epiphany, when a shepherd was heading to Canillo to attend mass. Halfway there, passing the place where the sanctuary now stands, he saw something surprising: a gorse bush, which should have been bare from the cold, was fully in bloom. Attracted by this unusual phenomenon, he approached and, beneath the shrub, found a beautiful wooden statue of the Virgin Mary.
The shepherd, impressed, alerted the villagers. The community, excited by the discovery, took the wooden statue to the church of Canillo and placed it on the main altar, with the promise to build her a chapel of her own.
But the next day, when the sacristan entered the church, the wooden statue of the Virgin was no longer there. It had mysteriously disappeared. They searched everywhere until they found it exactly in the same spot as before, under the blooming gorse.
They thought that maybe this was a message: the Virgin wanted to stay there. Nevertheless, the people of Encamp decided to try as well. They took the wooden statue to their church, with good intentions and the same promise. But the miracle repeated itself: the next morning, the Virgin had returned to the original location, as if making it clear where she wanted to stay.
This event, interpreted as a miracle, convinced the inhabitants of the surrounding villages. It was clear that this simple, natural spot was the place chosen by the Virgin. And so, united in faith, they decided to build a sanctuary there, which we now know as the Sanctuary of Meritxell.
Over time, devotion to Our Lady of Meritxell grew stronger. On October 24, 1873, she was officially declared the patroness of Andorra by the General Council, in recognition of her protection over the years. And on September 8, 1921, after the Pope's approval, she was crowned as the patroness of the Principality. That same day, Andorra also unveiled its national anthem, closing a circle of symbols that define the country's identity.
A story that not only tells of a miracle, but also of a choice: that of a Virgin who wished to remain in a corner of the Pyrenees to protect and accompany it with her presence. A legend that remains alive in the hearts of the Andorrans for eternity.