Know in Costa Rica the Mariana Advocations of Latin America and the Caribbean

The most representative Marian warnings in Latin America and the Caribbean now have a space in the Basilica of Our Lady of Los Angeles, in Costa Rica, where a gallery pays tribute to the Virgin Mary and offers visitors a sample of their devotion throughout the region.

The inauguration took place on Saturday, March 1 in the Basilica, located in Carthage, the main place of pilgrimage of the country.

As Pi Prensa explained Fr. Miguel Adrián Rivera Salazar, rector of the sanctuary, this initiative seeks to pay a “gratitude tribute to the Blessed Virgin Mary, our mother. Each opportunity that comes to venerate it and thanking the gift of their motherhood is an opportunity that we must take advantage of. ”

In addition, the Basilica not only seeks to be a place of pilgrimage, but also a common house where people from different countries feel welcome and represented. This approach becomes relevant in the context of tourism growth in Costa Rica, which in recent years has consolidated the country as a successful destination, reaching in 2023 a “record figure of visitors”, According to the General Directorate of Migration and Foreigners.

“The fact of finding the Marian invocation closer to its culture, its history, its religiosity, as a people, as a country, since it is a great opportunity to also feel God’s blessing through the Blessed Virgin Mary about her people,” said the rector.

For the exhibition, 20 Marian warnings from Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Haiti, among others.

Among the Central American advocations are the Immaculate Conception of Mary, known as “La Purísima” in Nicaragua, and Our Lady of Suyapa de Honduras. In South America, advocations such as Our Lady of Luján de Argentina, Our Lady of Appearance of Brazil and the Virgin of Chiquinquirá of Colombia are represented.

“They are very beautiful altarpieces, made by Carthaginian artisans, with a sober design, but I think that at the same time colorful, elegant,” said the rector. He explained that the pieces were made with reforested wood from the region.

The Virgin Mary as a model of hope

The inauguration of this gallery is part of the 2025 jubilee, called de la Esperanza, that the Catholic Church celebrates throughout the year. In addition, the Basilica of Our Lady of Los Angeles is one of the temples where the faithful can obtain plenary indulgences.

“If there is a model of hope is the Blessed Virgin Mary, since she taught us how to wait with confidence in the fulfillment of God’s promises in our lives, in our church,” said the rector.

Finally, Fr. Rivera Salazar invited Catholics to visit the Basilica not only with the curiosity of those who observe an exhibition, but see in this gallery “one more reason to venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary, our mother.”