There is a miracle story that the friars prayed to the Blessed Virgin for help. Later, two baskets full of food were discovered at their door. Henceforth, she was known and invoked as la Vergine della Divina Provvidenza (in Spanish Virgin de la Divina Providencia) and la Madonna della Divina Provvidenza (in Spanish Nuestra Senora de la Providencia ).
Around 1580, an Italian painter Scipione Pulzone (1550-1588) created Mater Divinae Providentiae (Mother of the Divine Providence), which depicted the Madonna cradling the Divine Infant Jesus.
In 1664, this exquisite painting fell providentially into the hands of the Barnabite Fathers in charge of the church of San Carlo a Catinari in Rome, who thereupon erected a humble shrine. Soon all Romans came to visit it and were rewarded with extraordinary favors. Grateful pilgrims left votive tablets which today are so many historical pages proving the intercessory power of the Mother of God. In 1774, His Holiness Benedict XIV established the Confraternity of Our Lady of Providence. Endowed in succession with many privileges by Pius VII, Gregory XVI, Pius IX, Leo XIII, Pius X, and Pius XI, the Confraternity spread...At some point devotion to the Virgin of the Divine Providence spread throughout Europe, including Spain and Tarragona, Catalonia.--J.C. Tierney, Q: Who is Our Lady of Providence?, The Marian Library/International Marian Research Institute, Dayton, Ohio 45469-1390, accessed 5/3/13
This manifestation of the Mother of God relates to her authority to act in her Son's name. From the infinite treasure-house of Divine Providence, she is able to provide good things to all who implore her aid. This is often attributed to the bibical story of the Madonna's intervention at the wedding in Cana, which is related to this title; through her intercession Christ enacted his first public miracle and he provided wine for the marriage feast. Our Lady of Providence is sometimes also identified as "Queen of the Home." She is the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Divine Providence. Currently la Virgin de la Providencia has a strong veneration in Puerto Rico. Visitors to Puerto Rico can view the statue of Our Lady of Providence over the main altar of the cathedral of San Juan.
In 1848, Gil Esteve Tomas, was named the Bishop of Puerto Rico. He brought her vereration from his home in Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain, to Puerto Rico. In 1964, Pope Paul VI declared la Virgin de la Providencia the patroness of Puerto Rico. Though she is Regina de Puerto Rico, the Virgin of Providence has been gaining veneration around the Caribbean as "Queen of the Home." Her feast day is November 19. She is also honored on January 2.
Latino Puerto Ricans in New York likewise brought their devotion to la Virgin de la Divina Providencia to the USA and her veneration has spread with the Puerto Rican population to other areas, drawing others into her veneration.
According to Sonia Casanova, Assistant Director for Hispanic Ministry of the Catholic Diocese in New York, the appeal of Nuestra Senora de la Divina Providencia continues to grow and a more muliticultural crowd attends the festivities each year in New York.
Valerie Menard, The Latino Holiday Book, 2000.
J.C. Tierney, Q: Who is Our Lady of Providence? The Marian Library/International Marian Research Institute, Dayton, Ohio 45469-1390, accessed 5/3/13
Useful prayers: Prayer to the Virgin de la Providencia
Useful paryers: Prayer to Our Lady of Providence
Useful prayers: Litany of Our Lady of Providence
Useful Prayers: Prayer to Virgen Providencia
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