Our Lady of Coromoto
Our Lady of Coromoto is the patron saint of Venezuela. The statue of " Our Lady of Coromoto " is the important Marian sanctuary of Venezuela. The Sanctuary Coromoto is a suburb of Guanare.
The Legend
As 1591 was the city founded Guanare ( capital of the state of Portuguesa in Venezuela), the Indian population of the region fled to the northern part of the state, and withdrew into the woods. Oral tradition is supposed to be the first time the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in 1591 in this forest to the local tribal chief. The appearance should be asked to have him and his tribe members to be baptized. Besides the chief, who refused, many people were baptized. On the night of 8 September 1652, the chief, his wife, his sister Isabel and their son, the Virgin Mary appeared a second time. It asks the audience again on to be baptized in the name of God. The chief effort on this bright appearance from an arrow, but the misses his target. The appearance leaves a small piece of parchment, on which her image was visible. The receiver will first burn the image, but is prevented by the present boys in it. Other people who had been informed of the publication in knowledge came to the place and took the parchment image itself.
The other, according to tradition, the chief returned to the forest, where he was bitten by a snake. In his distress he promised to be baptized. After the baptism, he was healthy, he should be back on it became a zealous apostle of the Holy Virgin. This event had the consequence that the Capuchin Father José de Najera taking care of the small village took over, the village was named " San - Jose -de- la- Aparición " (German: St. Joseph of the phenomenon). The village was later a great flood victim, while the original place of publication Coromoto grew into a major place of pilgrimage zoom. Many Indians were baptized, and often visited the place of publication. However, the civil and church authorities took the stories not as a serious mat- unit back and did not believe in the apparitions. But the place Coromoto developed more and more into a place of pilgrimage and became a cultural and religious center. On February 1, 1654 city officials decided Guanare keep the miraculous image of parchment with the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the town church.
Appointment to the Sanctuary
Only in the 20th century, the phenomenon has once again become the focus of public. The Venezuelan Bishops' Conference announced on March 1, 1942 announced that they have chosen the " Lady of Coromoto " the patron saint of Venezuela. Pope Pius XII. confirmed on 7 October 1944, the letter of the bishops and gave his papal approbation. The Pope explained thus "Our Lady of Coromoto " Patroness of Venezuela and raised the town church of Guanare where the miraculous image is kept, for papal basilica. In 1985, the miraculous image of Pope John Paul II, during his visit to Venezuela, crowned solemnly. On 10 February 1996, a new sanctuary was consecrated in Guanare ( Spanish). With the papal intercession on December 19, 1999 John Paul II asks following the Angelus prayer with "Our Lady of Coromoto " the protection and assistance during heavy flooding disaster in Venezuela. Finally, Pope Benedict XVI. the National Shrine of the rank of a minor basilica. The Day of Remembrance was set to 3 November.