Color : White Wax
Dimensions: 8" height x 2.5" width
What is the depiction of this Holy Child of Atocha 8" Catholic devotional candle?
The Holy Child of Atocha is a boy, around twelve years old, dressed as a pilgrim with a broad-brimmed hat and wide lace collar. The St. James seashell that he wears pinned to his clothing marks him as a pilgrim as well. He is seated in a high-backed chair. In his outstretched right hand, he carries a basket. A water gourd is tied to his pilgrim's staff.
Atocha was a Spanish village where at one time all of the men were imprisoned in a religious war. Only young children were allowed to bring food and water to the prisoners, and the men who had no children often went hungry until a boy no one had seen before appeared and began delivering food and water to the prisoners. He was dressed as a pilgrim. It was said that his basket was never emptied, and his gourd never dries no matter how much sustenance he distributed.
The mystery was solved when people venerating the town's statue of Mary and Child noticed that the Christ Child's sandals were always dusty the morning following sightings of the mysterious young helper.
In numerous places throughout the Spanish Catholic world where the statue of the Holy Child of Atocha has been replicated, similar sightings and miracles have been reported as the child brings aid, comfort, and protection to travelers, prisoners, miners in dangerous situations.