Soccer star thanks Our Lady of Mount Carmel for Spain’s World Cup victory

Jul 16, 2010 / 09:59 am

Spanish soccer star David Silva, who played on the nation's winning World Cup team is spending the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel thanking her for the victory last Sunday in South Africa.

The midfielder, who is from the Canary Islands, promised he would participate in the celebrations honoring Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the patroness of his hometown of Arguineguin.

Silva’s grandmother told reporters the family has a great devotion to Our Lady and that they were very “nervous” during the World Cup final. So much so, she said, that she could not watch the end.  “I just held on to Our Lady of Mount Carmel … Who would have thought that when this 14 year-old boy who I raised left my home he would achieve this? I am so proud,” she added.

Upon arriving in his home town, Silva told reporters he wanted to join the Marian festivities, as has always been his custom.

At the beginning of July, celebrations in honor of Our Lady began taking place on the islands.  In Silva’s hometown of Arguineguin there is a long procession through the streets, which are covered in rugs made especially for the occasion.