BY PRISCILLA GREEAR

Staff Writer

ATLANTA--Three fisherman sailing the Bay of Nipe, Cuba in the early 1600s spotted and retrieved an image of the Mother of Christ floating across the waters one dawn following three days of storm. It was inscribed "I am the Lady of Charity."

The men brought the image to the shore and it was placed years later in the parish of "El Cobre" where the image reportedly appeared and disappeared from its setting. A girl claimed she saw the image on the hill of "El Cobre" and townspeople one night saw a light on the hill. They built a small chapel there in which to place the image and the Lady of Charity remains there today in what is now a national sanctuary.

In 1916 she was declared the patron saint of Cuba by Pope Benedict XV and became known as Our Lady of Charity. Her image is seen in public areas throughout the country.

To honor the Mother of God and pray for Cuba a Mass in honor of Our Lady of Charity was celebrated in Spanish at the Cathedral of Christ the King on Sept. 6. Alfredo Ledon, a native Cuban who left the country 35 years ago, says that Catholics in Cuba honor Our Lady of Charity each year on Sept. 8, the feast of the birth of the Virgin Mary, and that he initiated a similar event in Atlanta in 1980.

Father Mario Vizcaino, director of the Southeast Pastoral Institute in Miami, spoke at the service about Our Lady and her appearance in Cuba hundreds of years ago and on the spirit of unity and healing which she represents today between Cubans in the U.S. and in Cuba, who often disagree in ideology on ways to create peaceful change on the island.

He also described how Cuban soldiers became devoted to her while fighting for independence from Spain in the 1800s and how a leader was saved by wearing a medal of her on his chest.

Prayers and petitions for the communist country were spoken throughout the Mass.

Archbishop John F. Donoghue concluded the Mass requesting that Our Lady intercede for the "many family members and friends who still live in the land of Cuba" and expressing his hope for the country's future through the scheduled visit of Pope John Paul II in January.

"May the powers that govern Cuba, inspired by this momentous event, realize that from the public proclamation of Christ's love, and from the public ministry of His holy Catholic Church, only good will come to the people of Cuba," the archbishop said. "And so we pray, that where there has been hostility shown to the church in the past, in the future our prayers will be answered by a growing spirit of cooperation and an increase of religious freedom for all the people of Cuba."

He also asked for the intercession of Our Lady of Charity for the ministries of the archdiocese which help people from other countries to resettle in the United States.

The Mass attracted approximately 275 people from Cuba and other Hispanic countries. It began with a procession of six people carrying a statue of the patroness and the U.S. and Cuban flags and concluded with worshippers departing the cathedral with her statue, carrying candles and reciting the rosary as they proceeded to a reception of Cuban pastries.

In a hymn to the Blessed Mother people sang, "Don't abandon, oh Mother, your people. Save Cuba from weeping and worry and your name will be our shield, your graces will be our protection."

Cuba is approximately 95 percent Catholic. Ledon said that when the island became communist in 1960 under Fidel Castro clergy were persecuted and exiled, but that the government has gradually become more tolerant of religion although in a limited way.

"They have the freedom, but it is limited to the church," he said. "Because of the communist government the celebration (of Our Lady) is only at church. They don't go outside."