Our Lady of Coromoto

Patrona de Venezuela · Basilica National Sanctuary of Guanare (Portuguese)

Patrona de Venezuela, Nuestra Señora de Coromoto appeared in 1652 to the Coromoto cacique of the Cospes Indians, leaving in his hand a tiny picture - the "Sagrada Reliquia" - that is still being venerated today in his National Sanctuary of Guanare.

Origin and history

The apparitions are located in the evangelization of the indigenous Cospes de Guanare in the mid-17th century. The tradition tells us that in 1651 the Virgin appeared to the Cacique Coromoto and his family, urging them to go "to the white people's house" to receive baptism. In a second apparition, on September 8, 1652, the cacique - irritated - tried to catch her; the Virgin disappeared and in her hand there was a very small picture of about 2.5 × 2 cm, considered since then the "Holy relic," which today was venerated in the sanctuary. The image-relic was moved to the temple of Guanare in 1654.

The Venezuelan Episcopate proclaimed it Patrona of Venezuela on May 1, 1942, and Pope Pius XII declared it "Celeste and Principal Patrona of the whole Republic of Venezuela" on October 7, 1944. It was canonically crowned on 11 September 1952, on the third centenary of the apparition, and its temple, erected at the place of the apparition, was raised to basilica. His main feast is September 11, and he is also the patron of the archdiocese of Caracas.

Some details of the account of the apparitions belong to the pious tradition, not fully documented.