Nuestra Señora de la Caridad is among Cuba’s most treasured objects – representing hope and salvation in the face of misfortune for Catholic and non-Catholics alike. Cachita is the affectionate nickname Cubans use to refer to the Virgin of Charity.

The requests that people usually make to Our Lady of Charity are many and varied. Many of them point to love. Many people with love problems today ask the Virgin to help them solve her love problems. This is because the patron saint of Cuba is known worldwide as the Goddess of love.Each year, several thousand Cubans make a pilgrimage to the site with particular attention paid on September 8, the feast day of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Devotion to the Virgin of Charity has expanded to other countries, including Spain, the Philippines, and parts of the United States.