Ernest Hemingway’s Spiritual Connection to the Virgin Mary

June 16, 2025 ourladyweeps

Key Points:
- In The Old Man and the Sea, Santiago prays to the Virgin Mary and promises a pilgrimage to the Virgin De Cobre if he catches the fish.
- Hemingway likely mirrored Santiago’s vow by offering his Nobel Prize medallion to the Virgin De Cobre in Cuba after winning in 1954.
- His visit to the Our Lady of the Pillar shrine in Spain inspired the name of his boat, Pilar, which influenced his writing.
- The Pilar is now a popular tourist attraction in Cuba, reflecting Hemingway’s legacy.

Santiago’s Faith in Fiction

In Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, the protagonist Santiago, an aging fisherman, relies on Catholic prayers like the Hail Mary and Our Father during his struggle to catch a marlin. He vows to make a pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Charity, known as the Virgin De Cobre, in Cuba if he succeeds. This promise highlights the novel’s deep Catholic undertones, with relics of the Virgin and the Sacred Heart of Jesus adorning Santiago’s shack.

Hemingway’s Real-Life Devotion

After winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954 for The Old Man and the Sea, Hemingway appears to have fulfilled a personal vow similar to Santiago’s. He traveled to the Basilica of Our Lady of Charity in El Cobre, Cuba, and offered his Nobel Prize medallion to the Virgin Mary, a gesture reflecting his personal reverence for her (Los Angeles Times).

The Pilar Connection

Years earlier, Hemingway visited the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza, Spain, where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to Saint James. This experience inspired him to name his fishing boat Pilar, which became a significant part of his life and inspired The Old Man and the Sea. The boat is now a tourist attraction in Cuba.

A Spiritual Side to Hemingway

Hemingway’s tributes to the Virgin Mary, both in his writing and personal actions, reveal a spiritual depth that contrasts with his rugged public image. His faith-infused gestures offer insight into a complex man who found inspiration in devotion.

Hemingway’s Devotion to the Virgin Mary: A Literary and Personal Journey

Introduction

Ernest Hemingway, celebrated for his terse prose and rugged masculinity, is not often associated with spiritual devotion. Yet, his fascination with the Virgin Mary, particularly Our Lady of Charity (La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre), is a recurring theme in both his literary work and personal life. This connection is vividly portrayed in his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Old Man and the Sea, and in his real-life pilgrimage to the Virgin’s shrine in Cuba after receiving the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954. Additionally, an earlier encounter with the Our Lady of the Pillar shrine in Spain left a lasting impact, influencing the naming of his beloved boat, Pilar. This article explores how Hemingway’s engagement with the Virgin Mary shaped his writing and personal actions, revealing a lesser-known spiritual dimension of one of America’s greatest authors.

Santiago’s Faith in The Old Man and the Sea

In The Old Man and the Sea, Hemingway crafts a story of resilience and faith through the character of Santiago, an aging Cuban fisherman battling a massive marlin. Throughout his grueling ordeal, Santiago turns to Catholic prayers, reciting the Hail Mary and the Our Father to draw strength and guidance. His faith is further emphasized by a solemn promise: if he succeeds in catching the fish, he will make a pilgrimage to the shrine of the Virgin De Cobre, Our Lady of Charity, Cuba’s patron saint (Sacred Sites). The novel also depicts Santiago’s shack, adorned with relics of the Virgin De Cobre and the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which belonged to his late wife. These symbols underscore the deep Catholic undertones that permeate the narrative, reflecting Hemingway’s own spiritual inclinations and his ability to weave faith into his storytelling.

Element in The Old Man and the Sea	Description
Prayers	Santiago recites the Hail Mary and Our Father during his struggle.
Pilgrimage Vow	Promises to visit the Virgin De Cobre shrine if he catches the marlin.
Catholic Relics	Images of the Virgin De Cobre and Sacred Heart of Jesus in Santiago’s shack.
Spiritual Theme	Faith as a source of strength and resilience in adversity.

Hemingway’s Pilgrimage to El Cobre

Hemingway’s admiration for the Virgin Mary extended beyond his fiction into his personal life. After winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954 for The Old Man and the Sea, Hemingway made a pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Charity in El Cobre, near Santiago de Cuba. There, he offered his Nobel Prize medallion to the Virgin Mary, a gesture that mirrored Santiago’s fictional vow (Los Angeles Times). This act was not merely symbolic; it was a profound expression of gratitude and devotion, suggesting that Hemingway may have made a personal promise akin to Santiago’s, vowing to honor the Virgin if he achieved literary success. The medallion was displayed at the sanctuary until the 1980s when it was stolen and later recovered, after which the Catholic Church kept it secure to prevent further theft (Los Angeles Times). This pilgrimage highlights the deep personal significance the Virgin Mary held for Hemingway, revealing a spiritual side often overshadowed by his public persona.

The Influence of Our Lady of the Pillar

Hemingway’s connection to the Virgin Mary predates his Nobel Prize and his time in Cuba. Years earlier, while attending bullfights in Spain, he visited the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza, a site revered for the Virgin Mary’s apparition to Saint James the Greater in the early days of Christianity. According to legend, the Virgin appeared atop a pillar carried by angels, an event considered the only apparition of Mary before her Assumption (Wikipedia – Our Lady of Charity). This experience left a lasting impression on Hemingway, inspiring him to name his fishing boat Pilar after the pillar associated with the apparition. The Pilar became a central part of Hemingway’s life, serving as a retreat where he fished the Caribbean waters and drew inspiration for The Old Man and the Sea. Today, the boat is preserved as a popular tourist attraction in Cuba, a testament to Hemingway’s enduring legacy and his connection to the Virgin Mary (The Atlantic).

Aspect of Hemingway’s Connection	Details
Visit to Zaragoza	Encountered the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Spain.
Boat Naming	Named his fishing boat Pilar after the Virgin’s apparition.
Role in Writing	The Pilar inspired The Old Man and the Sea.
Current Status	The Pilar is a tourist attraction in Cuba.

A Deeper Look at Hemingway’s Spirituality

Hemingway’s engagement with the Virgin Mary, both in his writing and personal actions, reveals a complex and often overlooked aspect of his character. Known for his rugged individualism and stoic machismo, Hemingway’s public image rarely included spiritual devotion. Yet, his tributes to the Virgin Mary—through Santiago’s prayers, his pilgrimage to El Cobre, and the naming of the Pilar—suggest a man who found solace and inspiration in faith. These acts of devotion offer a counterpoint to the stereotypical view of Hemingway as a hard-drinking, adventure-seeking writer, showing instead a figure who grappled with deeper existential and spiritual questions.

The Virgin Mary, particularly in her manifestations as Our Lady of Charity and Our Lady of the Pillar, served as a touchstone for Hemingway. In Cuba, the Virgin De Cobre is not only a Catholic icon but also a cultural symbol, revered as the patroness of the nation and syncretized with the Afro-Cuban deity Ochún (Cuba-Junky). Hemingway’s decision to offer his Nobel Prize medallion to her shrine reflects an acknowledgment of this cultural and spiritual significance, as well as a personal act of gratitude. Similarly, his naming of the Pilar after the Zaragoza apparition indicates an early and lasting fascination with Marian devotion, which influenced his creative output.

Conclusion

Ernest Hemingway’s relationship with the Virgin Mary, as expressed through his literary and personal actions, offers a fascinating glimpse into the spiritual dimensions of his life. From Santiago’s faith-filled struggle in The Old Man and the Sea to Hemingway’s own pilgrimage to the Virgin De Cobre and the naming of his boat Pilar, these moments reveal a man who found meaning in devotion, even amidst his celebrated ruggedness. The preservation of the Pilar as a tourist attraction in Cuba further cements Hemingway’s legacy, tying his literary achievements to his spiritual inspirations. This lesser-explored facet of Hemingway’s life enriches our understanding of him, showing that even a writer known for his stoic exterior could be moved by the profound symbolism of faith.