200 years of Our Lady of the Angels as patron saint of Costa Rica

This September 23, Our Lady of the Angels, popularly known as “La Negrita,” celebrated two centuries as the patron saint of Costa Rica, an event that, according to the Catholic Church, “manifests the sincere faith of a people that wishes to develop sheltered by Mary.”

The venerated image of Our Lady of the Angels is located in one of the most significant sanctuaries in Central America, in Cartago, in the center of Costa Rica. The figure, small and made of stone, represents the Virgin Mary holding the Child Jesus in her arms.

How did devotion to Our Lady of the Angels arise in Costa Rica?

The origin of the devotion dates back to a popular story in which an old indigenous woman found the image in the mountains while collecting firewood in 1635. When she took it home, the image disappeared and reappeared in the same place for several days. Given the spread of this miracle, the community decided to move the image to the parish, but it returned to its place of appearance, which led to the decision to build a temple on that site.

On September 23, 1824, the Constituent Congress of the State of Costa Rica proclaimed her as Patroness of the country. In the Constitution of the country it reads: “The Catholic, Apostolic, Roman Religion is that of the State.”

They encourage working for “an increasingly better country”

To commemorate this bicentennial, a solemn Eucharist was celebrated this Monday morning in the Basilica of the Angels, presided over by Mons. Mario Enrique Quirós Quirós, Bishop of Cartago, accompanied by several bishops of the country.

During the ceremony, the prelate recalled the event of the Congress in 1824 as a key moment to “shape our identity,” recalling that since then “the message of Jesus has not stopped being heard in our town, preaching, announcing himself from the beginning to the formation of our nation.”

Mons. Quirós expressed his wish that the Virgin Mary continue to accompany Costa Ricans on their path toward “the formation of an increasingly better country,” renewing the commitment to build a society that promotes “propositive attitudes of good, justice and, therefore, Of course, peace.”

Pope Francis greets Costa Rica for the 200 years of the patronage of Our Lady of the Angels

Pope Francis sent a message to the Costa Rican people, in which he remembered the blessings received through the intercession of the Virgin.

Furthermore, the Holy Father encouraged people to continue the evangelizing mission at the hands of the Mother of God so that everyone “may reach the light of the word of God, the consolation of the sacraments, the help of prayer, and never lack “charitable and fraternal help to those most in need.”

Within the framework of this celebration, it was announced that From October 5 to July 25, 2025, the image of “La Negrita” will tour all the dioceses of the country. Likewise, various pilgrimages will be carried out, as well as congresses and special Eucharistic celebrations.