A crowd congregated this Friday in the Sanctuary of Copacabana, in the Bolivian diocese of El Alto to celebrate the 100 years of the coronation of the Virgin of Copacabana, Patroness of the Bolivian Altiplano and symbol of faith and hope for thousands of devotees.
With a Mass chaired by the Apostolic Nuncio in Bolivia, Mons. Fermín Emilio Sosa Rodríguez, the community expressed thanks and devotion to Copacabana’s mother, 100 years after that time when he was crowned as “Queen of the Nation.”
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The Eucharist was concelebrated by the local bishop, Mons. Giovani Arana, and other Bolivian bishops and priests, who reached Copacabana, on the shores of Lake Titicaca to honor the Virgin. Civil and military authorities participated, and numerous religious communities from different parts of the country.
The ceremony began with the opening of the Jubilee Year and the Holy Gate, in correspondence with the Jubileo de la Esperanza convened by the Pope. Then the decree that designates the sanctuary as a jubilee temple was read. The Holy Door will remain open until January 6, 2026.
In his homilythe Apostolic Nuncio highlighted the figure of Mary, “that woman who knew how to say to God without hesitation.”
“Today we come before this Marian sanctuary to confirm our adhesion to God, consecrating our personal vocation, also through Mary, through that immaculate heart.”
Highlighting the importance of coronation, of which 100 years are turned, the Nuncio said that crowning Mary “is nothing more and nothing less than also crowning Christ with her.”
With that coronation, “God was asked and Mary was asked not to depart from us, but interceded for all of us before her beloved Son Jesus Christ.”
He then referred to Maria’s advocations, and pointed out that there are many ways to honor her, including “Queen of Peace” and “Virgen de la Candelaria”, titles that “honor the missionary work of Mary” that had an important mission in the work of salvation.
“She collaborates closely with her beloved son, so that we can also enjoy that peace and that light. The unconditional ‘yes’ of Mary is a teaching for us. She teaches us how to collaborate in the search for truth and light, to illuminate our path and give us the wisdom of God,” he said.
Later, Mons. Sosa Rodríguez directed a message of hope inspired by the liturgy: “Not everything is lost, but in God everything is rescued, despite glimpsing an uncertain future. That hope has come true in Christ, that wonderful advisor, strong God, Father forever, prince of peace. Only in Christ can we glimpse a new world,” he said.
“Mary gives birth to the Savior, Christ Jesus. It is through her that God wants to become present in the world. It is through a woman that the doors of heaven are reopened, closed from the sin of Adam and Eva,” he said. “She has given us that prince who would fight the dragon, that is, against Satan, the father of lies and division,” he summarized.
Those who approach God “with a sincere heart, can be triumphant to evil,” he said, ensuring that “every time that happens, the sky and its inhabitants are happy.”
“Every time we go through this holy door, let’s ask the Lord to bless our heart, to bless my son’s heart, my wife’s heart, my husband’s heart, my parents’ heart, the heart of my priests, the heart of my bishops,” he urged.
“It is in Mary where we also reinforce our commitment to the father, to want to be better Christians and citizens,” he said. Therefore, by celebrating the 100 years of María Madre Coronada de Bolivia, she called to consecrate the heart, families and peoples to Mary, through her immaculate heart, and ask “that the Lord give them that strength to continue fighting for good, to remain pilgrims of hope.”
Together with the offerings of bread and wine, the crown of the Virgin was delivered. The ceremony culminated with the coronation of the Virgin of Copacabana.
When the celebration of the Eucharist, the Bishop of El Alto, Mons. Giovani Arana, took the floor to thank those present and who were preparing this party for a year.
Especially, he thanked the pastoral and spiritual accompaniment of the Franciscan brothers who encourage the community of the Virgin Sanctuary of Copacabana.
Finally, the rector of the sanctuary, Fray Abelino Yeguaori encouraged to try to live what was heard in communities and parishes. On behalf of the diocese, he presented to the Apostolic Nuncio an image of the Virgin of Copacabana.
The party culminated with a procession through the streets of the city with the image of the Virgin.
Julieta Villar
I am a journalist, a graduate in Communication from the National University of La Matanza in Argentina. I have work experience in non -governmental organizations. Since 2016 I dedicate myself to Catholic journalism, first in the Argentine Catholic Information Agency (AICA) and, since 2022, as a correspondent for ACI Press for Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Bolivia.