Uruguay celebrated the Virgin of the Thirty-Three

With various activities and tributes, the Catholic community in Uruguay came together once again to celebrate its patron saint, the Virgin of the Thirty-Three. As every year, the concert and the 100-kilometer pilgrimage to his sanctuary stood out.

The celebrations in honor of the Virgin began on Thursday, November 7, the eve of the central festival, with the 30th edition of the concert “Uruguay sings to the Virgin of the Thirty-Three”, which took place in its sanctuary in the town of Florida, with the participation of around twenty artists.

In this framework, several artists were awarded the “Virgen del Pintado” distinction, a recognition of their contribution to culture and society.

Although the holiday is celebrated on November 8, the pilgrimage that unites the city of Montevideo and the sanctuary located in Florida takes place on the second Sunday of November.

In this edition, the motto chosen was “Courage, rise, He calls you and Mary accompanies you”, and one of the special prayer intentions was for the political candidates, facing the second electoral round in the country, which will be held on Sunday, November 24.

The Archbishop of Montevideo and Primate of Uruguay, Cardinal Daniel Sturla, accompanied the last leg of the pilgrimage. Upon arriving at the sanctuary, the Misa It was chaired by the host bishop, Mons. Martín Pérez Scremini Bishop of Mercedes.

Mons. Luis Eduardo González, Bishop of Mercedes, gave the homily before the people of God, who numbered about 5,000 present, and many others who followed the broadcast from their homes.

In his message, the prelate stated that Mary “represents the history, hopes and dreams of a people,” because “she is a mother who is always present and attends to our needs.”

The bishop prayed especially “for the elected authorities of our country and for those who will soon be elected to preside over the government,” while praying “for those who suffer the most, those who are left behind and those who are losing meaning in life.”

In Rome, the Uruguayan Catholic community also gathered on Friday to celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the Holy Twelve Apostles.

The Virgin of the Thirty-Three

The Virgin of the Thirty-Three is a carving of the Immaculate Conception carved by the Guaraní in American cedar wood. It measures 36 centimeters in height and dates from the first half of the 18th century.

Made during the Eastern Missions, the image synthesizes the first evangelization in the region, the Catholic faith and its baroque expression.

In 1779, the Indian Antonio Díaz, from Santo Domingo de Soriano, offered a plot of land for his chapel in Pintado. In 1970 it was elevated to vice-parish, and in 1805, it was established as a parish.

In 1809, the community moved its patron saint to the banks of the Santa Lucía River, to found the Villa de San Fernando de Florida, where families began to settle around the presence of the Virgin, becoming the civic center of the national revolution. Uruguay in 1825, which culminated with the declaration of independence on August 25.

It was before that image that the Mass for the country was celebrated, the Tedeum was sung and the tricolor flag was presented. For this reason, the people spontaneously began to call her “the Virgin of the Thirty-Three.”

The alliance between the people and the church of Uruguay with the Virgin of the Thirty-Three, captain and guide, was signed by Pope John XXIII, at the request of the bishops and the National Government.

Her pontifical coronation was in 1961. In 1962 she was declared Patroness of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay. On May 8, 1988, John Paul II consecrated the country to his protection.