“He is already here with us”

It is impossible not to be contaminated by the emotion experienced this morning on the day of the Immaculate Conception in the Basilica of the Macarena. “He is already here with us”was the most repeated phrase, the mantra with which thousands of … the faithful dreamed for more than four months, the time during which Pedro Manzanosupported by IAPH technicians, worked on the restoration of Esperanza. In a new era, far from the earthquake which caused the previous intervention last June by Maestro Arquillo, without trial or conviction. Today, there is no discussion about the sentence. “He’s already here with us.” The same as always, the one who lives perpetually in the heart of the Macareno, who overflowed to meet his Virgin face to face.

We write this column surrounded by the most prosaic murmur -“how pretty she is”-, of those who pray the rosary with unshakeable faith, of the tears of those who collapse while fulfilling their promise. To the sound of kisses and hugs, and in each jipio, a lung that exudes so much love for the Mother of Seville. It was impossible to contain the joy when a group of faithful burst into the Basilica of the Macarena to the sound of the hymn of Esperanza Macarena carrying 20 flower centers. In each of them, a ribbon labeled with verses of poetry that Rafa Serna He dedicated it to the Macarena in his proclamation of Holy Week. “How could he not even look at you?”.

It’s 10:30 in the morning, but there are those who haven’t slept yet. The first of three very long days that the brotherhood has planned for the veneration of the Virgin began at dawn. In a vigil reminiscent of Good Friday where the clock, neither fatigue nor the cold, deter the Macareno. At six in the morning it descends from the sky in Seville and no one wants to miss it. Joy explodes with the sound of rockets as the doors open. “He’s already here with us.” The community is growing more and more, up to three hours of waiting to see it. Who could touch her, think one by one those who meet her under an altar covered with floral offerings, among others, sister corporations like the Great Power, the students and Pino Montano. It is said that a florist, like Ramitos, had to close with all its stock sold because Seville bet on its Golden Rose. “It’s spectacular”only the one who leaves the basilica after months of desire can say: “This Esperanza Macarena, finally, is among us”.