The "The Legend of the 'Rogativa'" Story

The Bishop and the Nuns

It was an ordinary day.  Tired and physically aching from traversing just about every level of the fort known as Castillo de San Felipe del Morro (El Morro) in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico and then winding our way throughout the historic city.  Just when I thought I couldn't take another step, there at the bottom of San Juan Street, to the right of the San Juan Gate, in an area known as Plazuela de la Rogativa, stood a statue which consisted of four beautiful bronze figures that caught my attention.  The statue, known as La Rogativa and carrying a slight green patina caused by time and oxidation, was designed and created in 1971 by Lindsay Daen, a native of Dunedin, New Zealand, to commemorate San Juan's 450 anniversary.  

Plaque placed on one side of the sculptures.

It was placed at the foot of the hill down from the Cathedral de San Juan Bautista near the gate leading into the city of San Juan.  The statue is meant to honor the legend of San Juan which dates back to 1797 and tells of the miracle that occurred that saved San Juan from a certain British naval attack.  Seems the British fleet had remained in the bay in front of the entrance to the gated city of San Juan to try and starve the city people of provisions and needed supplies.  

This statue of a nun shows her caring
a torch in one hand a a cross in another.

The British knew that Spanish reinforcements were far away and hoped to invade the defenseless city.  Finally, the governor of San Juan, at a loss for what to do, ordered a "rogativa", or religious procession, to try and get the saints to assist them.  So the Bishop, his nuns and his congregation gathered and at dusk marched through the streets of San Juan caring torches and singing hymns.  Upon seeing the large lit procession throughout the city, the British, assuming that reinforcements had arrived, pulled up anchor and fled the bay and abandoned their siege.  Now, whether the legend is true of not doesn't matter, since tales such as this dot history and create marvelous stories to pass on to future generations.  I could almost feel the power and strength given to the people of San Juan when I touched the greenish bronze statues.  I felt as if I were walking with the procession and my tired and aching body was energized .... almost.  Wasn't long before I was heading back to our hotel in a taxi.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an oridnary guy.