Every September 11, Venezuela celebrates the Blessed Virgin under the invocation of Our Lady of Coromoto, patron saint of the country.
“On October 7, 1944, Pope Pius XII confirmed the desire of the Venezuelans who had resonated in the voice of his bishops, constituting the Blessed Virgin of Coromoto as Celeste and main patron saint of Venezuela”, Explains the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference (Body).
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On September 11, 1952, within the framework of the 300 years of the appearance, Cardinal Manuel Arteaga Betancourt crowned the sacred image of Our Lady of Coromoto in Guanare, Portuguese State, fulfilling the mandate of the Holy Father.
San Juan Pablo II also crowned the patron saint of Venezuela during his first visit to the country in 1985. Then, when he returned in 1996, the Holy Father inaugurated the Minor Basilica National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Coromoto, built in the precise place of the second appearance of the Virgin to the Coromoto chief.
“I also express the immense joy that the Divine Providence grants me by being able to inaugurate today this National Sanctuary of the Virgin of Coromoto, whose image crowned in my previous trip, entrusting the sons and daughters of this noble country, which pays him a great devotion,” said San Juan Paul II February 10, 1996.
“Mary, temple of the new alliance and dwelling of God among men, is present! The inauguration of this national sanctuary, a meeting place with God from the mother of the Redeemer, is an invitation to revitalize faith; to love the Church and humanity with the same love of Christ,” he added.
That day, the Polish Pope pronounced a prayer to Our Lady of Coromoto, who has been treasured and repeated by Venezuelans of all generations.
Prayer to the Virgin of Coromoto de San Juan Paul II
Virgin and Mother of Coromoto,
that you have always preserved the faith of the Venezuelan people,
In your hands I put their joys and hopes,
The sadness and sufferings of all your children.
Implore the gifts of the spirit on bishops and presbyters,
so that, faithful to their priestly promises,
be indefatigable messengers of the good news,
especially among the poorest and needy.
Infuse in religious and religious
The example of your total delivery to God,
so that in the self -abnoted service to the brothers
They accompany them in their work and needs.
Mother of the Church, encourages the lay faithful,
committed to the new evangelization,
so that, with human promotion and
The evangelization of culture,
Be authentic apostles in the third millennium.
Protects all Venezuelan families
to be true domestic churches,
where the treasure of faith and life is guarded,
Fraternal charity is always taught and always practiced.
Help Catholics to be salt and light for others,
As authentic witnesses of Christ, saving presence of the Lord,
Source of peace, joy and hope.
Queen and Holy Mother of Coromoto,
illuminates those who govern the destinations of Venezuela,
to work for everyone’s progress,
safeguarding Christian moral and social values.
Help each and every one of your sons and daughters,
so that with Christ, our Lord and brother,
walk together towards the father
In the unity of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Andrés Henríquez
I was born in Caracas in 1996. I am a writer for ACI Press and correspondent of EWTN since 2023. Since then, I cover events of the Catholic Church in Venezuela, Latin America and the world. I have more than 6 years of experience in bilingual media. In addition, in Venezuela I have worked from various fields for freedom and respect for fundamental rights in the country. I am a member of the Regnum Christi Federation since 2014.