Venezuela: Festivities begin in honor of the Virgen del Valle in Margarita

In eastern Venezuela, “devotion to the Virgin of the Valley is something capillary, it is in the DNA of the people,” said Mons. Fernando Castro, Bishop of the diocese of Margarita. This September 8, Our Lady of the Valley of the Holy Spirit is celebrated in Venezuela, one of the most important Marian devotions in the country.

From the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Valley, located in the town of El Valle del Espíritu Santo, a town in the heart of the island of Margarita – the largest in the island state of Nueva Esparta – Bishop Castro spoke with ACI Prensa about of the beginning of the festivities and the importance they have, in the face of a panorama as complicated as the Venezuelan one.

Since 1911, the Virgin of the Valley has been the patron saint of the eastern region of Venezuela, of fishermen and of the Venezuelan Navy. Every year, thousands of pilgrims come to the Basilica to venerate the Blessed Virgin, whose image reached the country’s shores in the 16th century.

“Where there is an oriental, there is the Virgin of the Valley. It is something very beautiful, because it is a thread that sustains the faith of many people and, above all, creates hope in Jesus Christ. Hope that we can be better, which is ultimately the great legacy of God in our hearts,” said Bishop Castro.

The bishop highlighted the unconditional devotion of the Neo-Spartan to his Virgin and stressed that “it is a great gift” for the entire East, especially in these times when Venezuela is so in need of peace and unity. “Mary is going to help us so that with Jesus Christ we can be apostles of peace,” he added.

Our Lady of the Valley, Queen of Peace

For this year’s celebrations, marked by social and political tension, caused by the presidential elections of last July 28, the Diocese of Margarita chose the motto “Mary, Queen of Peace.”

Monsignor Castro stressed that “peace is in the hearts of men” but that we must ask the Mother of God for the ability to put it into practice. Furthermore, he gave as an example the wars in Ukraine and Gaza to warn that “evidently Venezuela needs peace.”

“It has always needed it and, at this moment, what we want is to give hope to our people,” he added. Finally, he highlighted the need for Venezuela and its people to look up, towards the sky, to “be able to walk and give their best: for the family, for the community, for the country and for the Church.” .

Last Sunday, August 1, the traditional “Bajada de la Virgen” took place. After the solemn Mass, officiated by Bishop Castro, the image of Our Lady of the Valley was lowered from its dressing room to the main altar of the Basilica, which began the days of celebration on the island of Margarita, which will have their culminate this September 8.