- Parishioners celebrate the Marian devotion three times a year, one of them on September 11
Every September, Catholics commemorate the apparition of Our Lady of Coromoto, also known as the Patroness of Venezuela. Devotion to this virgin began in Guanare, Portuguesa state, but is currently spreading to countries in Latin America and Europe.
The story of its appearance dates back to September 8, 1652, 372 years ago, when the devotion appeared to the indigenous Coromoto, chief of the Cospes tribe, and his wife while they were walking along a river near the capital of Portuguesa, according to the website Virgin of Coromoto.
Its celebration was set for three days later, on September 11, the date on which Pope Pius XII carried out her canonical coronation in 1952. However, on November 19, 2011, it was renamed Our Lady of Coromoto, principal patron saint of the Archdiocese of Caracas, as confirmed by the Vatican.
In view of the commemoration of the Patron Saint of Venezuela, the team of The Diary selected five relevant facts about the Virgin of Coromoto:
1. Sanctuary of the Virgin of Coromoto
The Virgin of Coromoto remains in Guanare, the place where she first appeared and where her temple was built: the Minor Basilica National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Coromoto.
Inside this church is the image of the Patron Saint of Venezuela as it would have been given to the indigenous Coromoto. This figure has dimensions of 2.7 centimeters high by 2.2 centimeters wide.
The national shrine of Our Lady of Coromoto was established as a sanctuary in January 1996 and was inaugurated by Pope John Paul II in February of the same year during his second visit to Venezuela.
Later, in 2007, Pope Benedict XVI elevated it to the category of Minor Basilica.
2. It has three annual celebrations
The veneration of the Virgin of Coromoto is celebrated on three dates throughout the year. The first is on February 2, the day of the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, on that day the image entered the city of Guanare in 1654.
In addition, parishioners celebrate September 8, the day on which the Patron Saint of Venezuela historically appeared before Chief Coromoto and his wife.
The third date is September 11, the day on which Venezuelans celebrate the coronation of the Marian devotion.
For the Catholic Church, these three dates invite the institution of marriage and family; the union and solidarity between Catholic communities; and call for conversation with Christ within the Church.
3. Two apparitions of the Virgin of Coromoto
The history of the Virgin of Coromoto indicates that the patron saint appeared for the first time on September 8, 1651, however, a second appearance is attributed to the devotion.
“Go out to where the whites (the Spanish) were to receive water on your head and thus be able to go to heaven,” the Virgin told Coromoro, according to the Coromoto Basilica Sanctuary.
The second apparition occurred on September 8, but a year later, in 1652. When the Virgin appeared again before the hut of the Coromoto Indian.
The Virgin approached the chief and he tried to catch her. At that moment, the woman disappeared and only a small image remained in the man’s hand, which is where the image of the Virgin of Coromoto is engraved,” reads the portal.
4. Veneration of the patron saint of Venezuela around the world
The veneration of the Virgin of Coromoto extended to borders beyond those of Venezuela.
For several decades, the commemoration of the patron saint has extended to parishioners in Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Costa Rico and Spain.
5. The image of the Virgin was restored
In 2009, the María Camino a Jesús Association carried out a conservation treatment on the Sacred Relic of the image of the Virgin of Coromoto.
This process was approved at that time by the General Assembly of the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference (CEV), by Monsignor José Sotero Valero, Bishop of Guanare; and by Father Manuel Brito, rector of the Basilica Sanctuary of the Virgin of Coromoto.
Planning for the celebration of the Virgin of Coromoto
The General Secretariat of Portuguesa published on Thursday, September 5, the planning to venerate the Virgin of Coromoto on her 372nd commemoration in Guanare.
Monsignor Oswaldo Araque of the Diocese of Guanare reported that the ceremony will begin at 7:00 a.m. on September 11, when the walk will depart from the Quebrada de la Virgen sector to the National Sanctuary, where those present will take a five-kilometer route.
Below is the schedule to celebrate the Virgin of Coromoto:
-7:00 am: walk from La Aparición park to the starting point of the Coromotana Walk.
-8:00 am: A pilgrimage will be held with cyclists to the Minor Basilica of the National Shrine.
-10:00 am: Eucharist at the Minor Basilica of the National Shrine.
-3:00 pm: caravan to Coronation Field.
-5:00 pm: Eucharist at the Minor Basilica of the National Shrine.
8:00 pm: serenade to the Virgin, Coromotana Vigil, XXIII Edition of the Coromotano Cultural Festival and the subsequent evangelization called “Queen of Heaven” in the Minor Basilica National Sanctuary.
Portuguesa authorities recently confirmed that they will have 1,000 officers to ensure the safety of parishioners during the celebration.
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2024-09-11 18:58:30
