Virgin of Chiquinquirá: Thousands of Colombians celebrate the 105 years of her coronation

In the square in front of the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Chiquinquirá, thousands of faithful gathered to celebrate the 105 years of the coronation of this Marian dedication as Queen and Patroness of Colombia, and to ask her to help them “be pilgrims of hope.” and builders of a united and peaceful nation.”

The request for the intercession of the Virgin was expressed by Mons. Francisco Javier Múnera, president of the Episcopal Conference of Colombia, who today, July 9, celebrated the Eucharist in the atrium of the basilica at 11:00 a.m.

The Mass was preceded by the procession of the pilgrim image of the Virgin of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá, a replica of the 16th century canvas that is kept inside the sanctuary, and which left from the Renovación church, built where the miracle of the renovation of the painting in 1586.

Present at the celebration were the provincial of the Order of Preachers, Fr. Franklin Buitrago; the Bishop of Chiquinquirá, Mons. Luis Felipe Sánchez Aponte; local authorities, among others.

In his homily, Bishop Múnera highlighted the 105 years since the coronation of the Marian image as Queen and Patroness of Colombia, granted by Pope Pius X on January 9, 1910 at the request of the Dominican friars and Colombian bishops.

The pontifical decree was sent to the then Bishop of Tunja, Mons. Eduardo Maldonado Calvo, who arranged the coronation for July 9, 1919, the day on which the Catholic Church in Colombia celebrates the feast of this Marian dedication.

To the Virgin of Chiquinquirá, expressed Mons. Múnera, “we come presenting all our desires, our anxieties and above all also our hopes.”

In his homily, the prelate remembered María Ramos, the devotee who rescued the image that had been abandoned and deteriorated a few years after it had been painted, as well as the indigenous Isabel and her little son Miguel, first witnesses of the miracle of renewal. of the canvas.

In September 2017, he indicated, Pope Francis noted during his visit to Colombia that María Ramos is “the first devotee of the Virgin of Chiquinquirá,” because she had the courage and faith “to place that blurred and cracked image in a prominent place.” restoring his lost dignity.”

The Pontiff also stated that Isabel and her son “were the first to look with simple eyes at that piece of totally new cloth and see in it the radiance of the divine light that transforms and makes all things new,” Bishop Múnera recalled.

In his homily, the Archbishop of Cartagena also cited the final message of the Plenary Assembly of the bishops, published on July 4, in which the Episcopate calls on society not to get used to violence, corruption, the deterioration of family and the political and ideological polarization that does not allow the country to advance.

Given this, the prelate encouraged looking at the Virgin because, as the Pope says, “hope finds its highest testimony in the Mother of God. In it we see that hope is not a futile optimism, but a gift of grace in the realism of life.”

The ceremony concluded with the consecration of several faithful to Jesus by Mary, after having followed a 33-day preparation, according to the method of Saint Louis Mary Grignion de Montfort.

History of the canvas of the Virgin of Chiquinquirá

The image that represents the Virgin of the Rosary, with the Child Jesus in her arms and accompanied by Saint Anthony of Padua and Saint Andrew, was painted between 1560-1562 by Alonso de Narváez at the request of the encomendero Antonio de Santana and the friar Andrés de Jaraque to be placed in the Chapel of the Sutamarchan Chambers, where the Dominicans had their mission.

However, in 1574 the friars left the place and the chapel and the canvas were abandoned. The paint lost its color and deteriorated due to heat and rain. Later, thanks to barter, the image arrived in Chiquinquirá in 1578.

In this town the canvas was rescued by the Spanish María Ramos and placed in a chapel. On December 26, 1586, an indigenous woman named Isabel passed by the place with her 5-year-old son Miguel, who saw that the canvas was on the ground and glowed as if it were burning.

Frightened, Isabel alerted María Ramos, who was leaving the chapel. Both were amazed to see that the image of the Virgin was illuminated and that the canvas seemed “renewed.” The current Renewal Church was built on this place.

This Marian dedication was proclaimed Patroness of Colombia by Pope Pius VII in 1829.

Our Lady of Chiquinquirá is also the patron saint of the Zulia state in Venezuela, where she is celebrated on November 18.