The Catholic Church in Bolivia prepares for a very special celebration: the centenary of the coronation of the Virgin of Copacabana, queen and patron of the country, whose central party will be on August 5.
Although the anniversary is on August 1-it has been that, in 1925, the Virgin was crowned as Empress of Bolivia, Generala of the National Police and mother of the people-, the solemn procession and Mass will be on Tuesday, August 5 at 12:00 in the Basilica Minor Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles-San Francisco in the city of La Paz.
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This centenary coincides with the Jubileo de la Esperanza, the 800 years of the song of the creatures of San Francisco de Asís and the Bicentennial of Bolivia. Therefore, the invitation is to take advantage of this particular time to renew faith and hope in the light of the Gospel.
Therefore, in the days prior to the central celebration, from the Minor Basilica they call on the prayer of the Franciscan coronation, to participate in formative catechesis and receive the blessing with the mantle of the Virgin Mary.
The Apostolic Nuncio in Bolivia, Mons. Fermín Emilio Sosa Rodríguez, affirmed that “the Virgin of Copacabana, is a reflection of that love. The same Virgin Mary is present, ours is made, it joins the culture of the Bolivian people. That is why it is the mother of the Bolivians. Mary Most Holy is one that takes us to her son.”
“That is why we, if we want to get to your child, we have to go through it with unconditional love, but asking always protecting us, to enlighten us, to guide us on that path,” he said.
When summoning the celebrations, the bishop of Coroico, Mons. Juan Carlos Huaygua, said: “We want and love the Virgin. In it we find a path to reach Jesus.”
“Our country, Bolivia, was born under the mantle of the Virgin, specifically our country under the command of the Virgin of Copacabana, which is our patron, is our protector, and it is to whom we are entrusting ourselves daily,” he said.
The prelate affirmed that “from the Virgin we learn faith, humility, service. But we also learn delivery, yes to God. When celebrating the centenary, by renewing our faith, our love to the Virgin, that we also, as she, seeks to live the evangelical values, particularly humility, simplicity and service.”
Activities to prepare the heart
In this preparation road, the Franciscan brothers invited to participate in the prayer of the Franciscan crown, which is held by groups from July 2 to 30, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6:00 p.m., following the order established for each group/community. In the meetings the book “Santo Rosario of Franciscan inspiration” is used.
In addition, on Saturdays from July 5 to 26 there are four sessions of formative catechesis centered on the Virgin. Among the themes are the meaning of the Marian pilgrimage, the figure of Mary in God’s plan and a centenary reading from Franciscan spirituality. Registration is free and the activity is open and face -to -face.
People and families can also approach the Basilica to receive the blessing with the mantle of the Virgin, a special blessing that encourages to renew faith and enshrine under the amparo of Mary. It will be held on Tuesday and Thursday at 6:15 p.m., after the angelus prayer. Registration for the blessing will be carried out for free in the temple secretariat.
On Thursday, July 17, an international conversation will be held with researchers and academics from Bolivia, Peru, Spain and the United States, which will review the Andean history, spirituality and culture, highlighting the role of the Virgin.
The activity will be developed in face -to -face and virtual mode from 3:00 p.m. (Bolivia time) and will be transmitted via zoom with the meeting ID 853 0187 9047 and access code 458443.
More information about this activity: https://www.sanfranciscobo.org/formandonos/conversatorio-internacional-por-el-centenario-de-la-coronacion-de-la-virgen-de-copacabana/.
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.