Our Lady of Solitude (Known as "Nuestra Señora de la Soledad" in Spanish) is one of many images of Mary through which She has granted miracles. It is a painting of Mary, dressed in white with a large black veil, kneeling sadly before the instruments of Her Son’s Passion and Death. The image keenly portrays the solitude and loneliness She felt when Jesus was gone.

The image has been enshrined for centuries in Cavite City in the Philippines and Our Lady has protected the people of that city more than once down through the ages. (In fact, the people there sometimes title this Marian image after their port- Our Lady of Solitude of Port Vaga)

In 1882, the cholera epidemic spread through Cavite City. People died by the hundreds. Funeral processions took place daily. Don Juan Salcedo y Manilla delos Rios was the unfortunate governor of the suffering city.

Because of the raging terrible disease, the Governor ordered that the customary festival in honor of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad be postponed until after the overwhelming sickness was past.

Some time later, the Governor himself became afflicted by the disease. He went to take some rest, and ordered his soldiers not to let anyone disturb him. Unfortunately, his rest was soon to be disturbed by a knock at his door. The visitor was an old lady, dressed in black.

She asked him to promise that Our Lady’s festival would be honored and celebrated with the greatest splendor possible, so as to save the city from the epidemic. Feeling ill as he did, the governor was in no mood to argue the point. And so the sick man thoughtlessly agreed to the woman’s request.

Later, after his rest, he was very angry with his soldiers for having violated his orders in allowing the old lady inside. But the men were truly shocked and assured him that they hadn’t seen anyone. Confused himself, the governor suddenly realized that he was cured!

Faced with these astonishing facts, Don Juan thought over the visit again. He remembered her distinct request - to which he promised - for a spectacular festival for Our Lady. The governor then realized the extraordinary grace he had just received - not only of a miraculous healing, but what he then understood to be a visit from Our Lady Herself!

The governor wasted no time to fulfill Our Lady’s desire. The festival of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad was celebrated like it had never been before! Members of the highest rank in the city processed in their finest array, as fitting to escort their heavenly queen. Delicious food was served everywhere, and after a long day, the festivities ended with fireworks. Our Lady was lovingly and enthusiastically honored that day. And Our Blessed Mother was no less generous, for the entire city was freed of the dreadful epidemic!