Jubileo 2025: Venezuelans pilgrimage to Sanctuary known as “The Lourdes de América”

The Mariano de Bethania sanctuary, known as The Lourdes de Américahas become a privileged place to win indulgences in Venezuela during the celebration of the 2025 jubilee convened by Pope Francis.

Fr. Antonio Rivas, rector of the sanctuary, assured ACI Press that Bethany, with the intercession of the Mother of God, can help heal “a country that is fragmented in many ways.” The Catholic Church in Venezuela has recognized that in this place the Virgin appeared to the servant of God María Esperanza de Bianchini, between 1976 and 1984.

The first appearance occurred on March 25, 1976. The Virgin identified the seer as “Mary, Virgin and reconciliate mother of all peoples and nations.”

Fr. Rivas recalled that these appearances in Bethany were approved in 1988 by the then bishop of the Teques, Mons. Pío Bello Ricardo, who In a pastoral letter “After an extensive investigation,” he declared that the appearances are authentic, they have supernatural character and are of divine origin.

It should be noted that in May 2024 the Dicasterio for the Doctrine of the Faith published New rules for the discernment of alleged supernatural phenomenawhich determine that the declaration of supernaturality of the alleged appearances will be exceptional and will be reserved for the Pope.

“I do not mean only the political, or the social, but also to the familiar. The jubilee year and the reconciler message of Mary in Bethany invite us to have hope in forgiveness, to be close to God, near our brothers, ”said Fr. Rivas.

“The spirituality of the sanctuary is anchored in that: in reconciliation, not only with ourselves and with God, but with the one who is close to me and thinks differently,” he added.

“We all need it: a reconciling message. Enough of quarrels and differences, you have to look for points in common. The sanctuary is a place for everyone, it is open. Here you can live that universal fraternity, ”he added.

The 2025 jubilee was officially opened in Bethany on February 2, with a mass attended by hundreds of pilgrims.

Every weekend, the sanctuary welcomes people from all over the country determined to win a plenary indulgence. There they are received by a great door, built especially for the Holy Year of 2000 and that by its form highlights “the value of the Eucharist” for Venezuela, as the only nation of the world consecrated to the Blessed Sacrament.

In fact, on December 8, 1991, when a Mass was celebrated in the place, a host after the consecration began to “stain” a red liquid. Several scientific studies corroborated that it was human blood and, in 1992, Mons. Bello declared as “miraculous fact” the bleeding of that host in the sanctuary of Bethany.

“Bethany’s message and spirituality are totally in tune with this jubilee year,” said the rector, who highlighted the great influx of souls who have reached the sanctuary to confess since the jubilee was inaugurated. Fr. Rivas explained that hope and reconciliation are two points that go hand in hand.

“The sacrament of reconciliation is firmly anchored in the jubilee year, whose mission is to make us feel the mercy and love of God, through concrete signs. The sanctuary is a land of grace where hope and reconciliation is lived, ”he concluded.

To organize a pilgrimage to the Bethany sanctuary, you can contact through their social networks.