Our Copper Lady of Charity statue

religious statue

Religious statue representing the patron saint of Cuba "Nuestra Senora de la Caridad del Cobre", or "Our Coper Lady of Charity". Declared the patroness of Cuba in 1916 by Pope Benedict XV. In 1610 a statue of the Madonna was found floating in Nipa Bay by two native Indians and a ten year old slave boy. Neither the figure nor her clothing were wet. This statue is a familiar image in Cuba, representing both the Madonna of Catholicism and Oshun, one of the "seven African powers" of the religion of Santeria. She is always shown coming to the aid of 3 men in an open boat in heavy seas. This statue shows the Madonna with the infant Jesus on her left arm and a copper crucifix in her right hand. She wears a copper crown. She stands on a stormy sea with 3 faces below her, probably representing the Trinity, with all above an open boat carrying two men and a younger black boy. Beneath the boat are stormy waves. Mounted on a wooden base with brass plate reading "Casinelli". This item has great significance to the family who travelled on ANALUISA from Cuba to Florida, as the saint is believed to aid those at sea in heavy weather. See article in The Log, Summer 1997, Vol. 49, #1.