On September 25, 1983, Gladys Quiroga de Motta was praying the rosary in her modest home in San Nicolás de los Arroyos when she heard a voice: "I am Mary, your Mother." So began a series of 1,800 apparitions that would continue until 1990, transforming this Argentine river town into one of South America's most important modern pilgrimage sites. Gladys—a wife, mother of five, and grandmother with only a fourth-grade education—received messages emphasizing prayer, penance, conversion, and devotion to the Eucharist. The apparitions came during Argentina's difficult transition from military dictatorship to democracy, offering hope and spiritual guidance in a time of national crisis.
The Virgin's request was clear from the beginning: build a shrine dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. One month after the first apparition, Mary gave Gladys a white rosary from her own hands, saying, "Receive this Rosary from my hands and keep it forever and ever." What began with skepticism from local church authorities gradually became a movement that drew thousands, then hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to this unassuming provincial city on the Paraná River.
On May 22, 2016, after decades of theological investigation, Bishop Héctor Cardelli of San Nicolás declared the apparitions to have a "supernatural character" and to be "worthy of belief"—making them among the most recently recognized Marian apparitions in the Catholic world. Today, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary of San Nicolás draws over a million pilgrims annually, many seeking the Virgin's intercession in personal difficulties or giving thanks for favors received. The shrine complex includes the original chapel where Gladys prayed, the family home where the apparitions occurred, and a vast new basilica designed to accommodate the growing crowds.
For Argentine Catholics, San Nicolás represents a contemporary encounter with Mary—proof that the Mother of God continues to visit her children in modern times.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
San Nicolás de los Arroyos traces its origins to April 14, 1748, when Rafael de Aguiar founded the settlement on the western bank of the Paraná River, naming it in honor of Saint Nicholas of Bari. The town was declared a city in 1819 and achieved historical significance in May 1852 when provincial delegates signed the Pact of San Nicolás here, calling for a constitutional congress that would shape the Argentine Confederation. Located 61 kilometers from Rosario and 240 kilometers northwest of Buenos Aires, the industrial river city remained an unremarkable provincial center known primarily for its steel mills—until September 25, 1983.
On that feast day of Our Lady of Mercy, Gladys Quiroga de Motta was praying the rosary at home for her family when she heard a voice: "I am Mary, your Mother. I want you to spread my messages." Gladys, a wife and mother of five with only a fourth-grade education and no theological training, would receive approximately 1,800 apparitions over the next seven years. The Virgin appeared as Our Lady of the Rosary, consistently emphasizing the power of the rosary, the importance of the Eucharist, and the need for prayer, penance, and conversion.
One of the Virgin's first requests was that Gladys search for a statue of Mary in the cathedral. On November 27, 1983, Gladys and the parish priest discovered a forgotten statue in the bell tower of the diocesan church—a standing Madonna holding the Child Jesus and offering rosary beads, blessed by Pope Leo XIII. Gladys immediately recognized it as representing Mary as she had seen her. This discovery gave physical form to the apparitions and became the model for the devotional images that would spread throughout Argentina.
The messages came at a pivotal moment in Argentine history. The military dictatorship that had ruled since 1976—marked by the "Dirty War" and the disappearance of thousands—ended in 1983. Democracy was restored that December, but the nation was traumatized and economically devastated. The Virgin's messages of hope, peace, and conversion resonated deeply with a people seeking healing and spiritual renewal.
Bishop Héctor Cardelli of San Nicolás appointed a theological commission to investigate the apparitions in 1989, while they were still ongoing. The investigation continued for decades, examining the messages, Gladys's character, and the spiritual fruits of the devotion. On May 22, 2016—after 33 years of study—Bishop Cardelli officially declared the apparitions to have a "supernatural character" and to be "worthy of belief," making them the first approved Marian apparitions in Argentina and among the most recently recognized in the Catholic world.
The shrine grew steadily even before approval. Construction of the first sanctuary began in 1987 and was consecrated in 1990. In 2008, on the 25th anniversary of the first apparition, a magnificent new basilica was inaugurated—200,000 people passed through it on opening day. The interior was completed in 2014. Today, the complex accommodates 8,000 worshippers inside with additional space for outdoor celebrations, and preserves both Gladys's original home and the chapel where she received many of the messages. Every September 25, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims gather to commemorate the anniversary of the first apparition.
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in San Nicolás
Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of San Nicolás
Modern shrine of Argentina's approved apparitions
The contemporary basilica, inaugurated in 2008 on the 25th anniversary of the first apparition with full interior completion in 2014, features striking modern architecture with symbolic elements referencing the rosary and the apparitions. The sanctuary accommodates 8,000 worshippers. The main altar houses a wooden statue of Our Lady of the Rosary—a standing Madonna offering rosary beads to the faithful while holding the Child Jesus, based on an earlier statue blessed by Pope Leo XIII that was discovered in the cathedral bell tower in 1983 after the Virgin asked Gladys to search for it.
Chapel of the Rosary (Original Shrine)
Within the sanctuary complex, the small chapel where Gladys Quiroga de Motta regularly prayed and received many of the apparitions preserves the original atmosphere of the supernatural encounters. Pilgrims can visit this intimate space where the Virgin first appeared in 1983.
House of the Visionary
Also preserved within the pilgrimage complex, Gladys's family home—where many of the 1,800 apparitions took place between 1983 and 1990—allows pilgrims to see the rooms where Mary appeared to this mother of five.
Rosary Path
The sanctuary grounds include a pathway with meditation stations focusing on the mysteries of the rosary, reflecting the Virgin's emphasis on this devotion throughout the messages she gave to Gladys.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary — October 7
The principal celebration draws the largest crowds of the year, with special Masses and rosary processions.
Anniversary of First Apparition — September 25
Annual commemoration of the beginning of the apparitions in 1983.
Feast of the Immaculate Conception — December 8
Major Marian celebration with special devotions.
🛏️ Where to Stay
Hotel Plaza ⭐⭐⭐ — In San Nicolás center near the sanctuary. Reserve this hotel
Sanctuary Lodging (pilgrim accommodation) — The sanctuary provides basic accommodation for pilgrimage groups. Contact the sanctuary directly for availability and reservations.
Rosario, 70 km south, offers extensive accommodation options for those seeking more variety or luxury hotels.
🚗 Getting There
By Air: Jorge Newbery Airfield (AEP) in Buenos Aires is 240 km south.
By Bus: Regular bus service connects San Nicolás to Buenos Aires (4 hours), Rosario (1.5 hours), and other Argentine cities.
By Car: From Buenos Aires, take Route 8 northwest, then Route 188 north to San Nicolás (approximately 4 hours). From Rosario, take Route A012 north (1.5 hours).
By Train: Limited passenger rail service operates from Buenos Aires to San Nicolás.
📚 Further Reading
Books:
René Laurentin. An Appeal from Mary in Argentina: The Apparitions of San Nicolas — Comprehensive study of the apparitions and messages by noted Marian scholar and theologian.
Online Resources:
Miracle Hunter: San Nicolás — Detailed documentation of the apparition chronology and church approval process.
🎥 Recommended Videos
San Nicolas: A Message from Heaven for the Youth — Fr. Chris Alar explains the recently approved Argentine apparitions and their significance. The Divine Mercy.
🔗 Useful Links
Sanctuary of San Nicolás — Official shrine website with Mass schedules, pilgrimage information, and devotional resources.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
Corrientes (665 km north) — The City of the Cross of Miracles, founded in 1588, with the Cruz de los Milagros sanctuary and the Franciscan convent from which missions radiated into Guaraní territory.
Luján (200 km south) — Argentina's national Marian shrine, home to the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján, patroness of Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay.
Rosario (70 km south) — Argentina's third-largest city, with the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary and the National Flag Memorial on the Paraná.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"With prayer, with the continual prayer of true Christians, many will reach salvation." — Message from Our Lady of the Rosary to Gladys Quiroga de Motta, San Nicolás, 1983-1990
