Venezuela: 371 years after the relic of the Virgen de Coromoto

In Guanare, Venezuelan city where The Blessed Virgin appeared to Cacique Coromotothe 371th anniversary of the transfer of the Relic of the Virgin was commemorated, from Tucupido to the Guanare Cathedral. Mons. Owaldo Araque, local bishop, said that the Mother of God wanted to bless Venezuela “with her living and real presence.”

On September 8, 1652, the “beautiful lady” – as Coromoto said, leader of the Cospe tribe – left in his hand a very small relic with his image, that scientists do not hesitate to catalog “miraculous” due to several of its characteristics.

Juan Sánchez, an honest Spanish and good Christian, then kept the relic for some years, until on February 2, 1654 she was transferred from her home, in the Tucupido sector, to the Guanare Cathedral Church, where she remained a long time.

The Minor Basilica National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Coromoto, inaugurated in 1996 by San Juan Pablo II, is the place where today the patron saint of Venezuela is venerated in its sacred image.

During the Mass, This Sunday, February 2the Bishop of Guanare highlighted the importance of priests and religious in the framework of the World Day of consecrated life, encouraging them to look in Jesus especially in the most complicated moments.

“The Lord continues to bet on each of us, remains attentive to each of us and continues to live in the middle of his people. The Lord continues to meet his people, and today in a special way we have celebrated it: He sent us – because it is all that happens – to his Blessed Mother, the Virgin Mary, ”said Mons. Araque.

“She is a real presence of God who is with us, who accompanies us. God wanted that and that is why when we talk about Our Lady of Coromoto we have to say: Praise be Jesus Christ! Praise be God because he allowed his mother to accompany us in this Church of Guanare, to this people of Guanare and, above all, to the people of Venezuela! ”He added.

The bishop said that the patron saint of Venezuela wants to convey a message to her children, which is the same message of Jesus, who asks not to be afraid and live in hope, in love and in the transformative force. “They bet on a new life, a life according to the Gospel, a life really framed in the mystery of God’s love,” he said.

As part of the celebrations, the Coromoto relic toured the road between Tucupido and the city of Guanare, accompanied by hundreds of devotees and the local clergy.

Within the framework of the day of the presentation of the Lord in the Temple, also celebrated this Sunday, Mons. Araque asked to imitate Mary that – after meeting Simeon and Ana -, he carefully retained God’s will in his heart, which “it was discovering and accepting in everything with faith and total delivery. ”