ArmUlas, a small town near Saragossa

838. Notre Dame del Pilar. Before the apostle James went to Spain, he received according to tradition the benediction of the Virgin, who told him to build in her honor a church, in the city where he should make the most converts. While in Saragossa, he retired each evening with his followers to the banks of the Ebro«

and there the Virgin appeared one night on a column of pure marble, and ordered him to build a church upon the spot. The marble pillar remained after she had vanished and was kept for worship.