El Huerfanito

By Lorraine Caputo

In the 17th century, an earthquake devasted Pamplona. Only three buildings were left standing. Upon remembering that the statue of the Infant Christ was up in the choir loft of the chapel, the nuns of Santa Clara convent cried out, « Se quedó Huerfanito El Niño ! »--The Child has been left an orphan ! Searching for him, a beam fell on one of the sisters, killing her. Removing the debris, her colleagues found the Christ child unharmed and with one arm raised, as if giving a last benediction to the fallen nun. Since then, he has resided in a spacial place in the rebuilt temple.