Our Lady of Coromoto
Encyclopedia
Our Lady of CoromotoOur Lady of Coromoto is a celebrated Catholic image of an apparition of the Virgin Mary. In 1942 she was declared the Patroness
of Venezuela
.
(capital of Portuguesa
state) was founded in 1591, the Indian tribe who inhabited the region, the Cospes, fled to the north jungle. When the Roman Catholic Church began to evangelize its efforts were at first resisted. There is a legend that the Virgin Mary appeared twice to the chief of the local tribe, once in 1651 in a river canyon when she told him to be baptised, and again, when he was still refusing Baptism, on September 8, 1652, when she appeared in his hut. This time he is said to have tried to grab her and she vanished, leaving behind a small painting of her.
on 1 May 1942, which was ratified by Pope Pius XII on 7 October 1944. Pope John Paul II was crowned in his visit to the Marian shrine in Guanare, and Pope Benedict XVI elevated the National Shrine of Our Lady of Coromoto to the rank of Minor Basilica
.
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
.
Apparition
When the city of GuanareGuanare
Guanare is the capital city of Portuguesa State, Venezuela. It is where la Virgen de Coromoto is said to have appeared to a Coromoto Indian.Located at the edge of the Southwestern floodplains, near the Andes foothills, Guanare is in a region known for livestock and agricultural production...
(capital of Portuguesa
Portuguesa (state)
Portuguesa State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela.The state capital is Guanare, founded in 1591.Portuguesa State covers a total surface area of 15,200 km² and, in 2007, had an estimated population of 873,400.-Municipalities:...
state) was founded in 1591, the Indian tribe who inhabited the region, the Cospes, fled to the north jungle. When the Roman Catholic Church began to evangelize its efforts were at first resisted. There is a legend that the Virgin Mary appeared twice to the chief of the local tribe, once in 1651 in a river canyon when she told him to be baptised, and again, when he was still refusing Baptism, on September 8, 1652, when she appeared in his hut. This time he is said to have tried to grab her and she vanished, leaving behind a small painting of her.
Canonization
The Venezuelan episcopate declared her as Patroness of VenezuelaVenezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
on 1 May 1942, which was ratified by Pope Pius XII on 7 October 1944. Pope John Paul II was crowned in his visit to the Marian shrine in Guanare, and Pope Benedict XVI elevated the National Shrine of Our Lady of Coromoto to the rank of Minor Basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
.