Our Lady of the Miracles of Caacupé, venerated in her sanctuary in Corrientes

Marian title of Caá Citi (Corrientes)

On the presence of the advocation Our Lady of the Miracles of Caacupé en Caá Catí (province of Corrientes, Argentina)the sources available online are very scarce and fragmented. There are no clear references in the official sites of the diocese or in Catholic means of reference that allow for the rigorous reconstruction of a history of the rural sanctuary to which the consultation refers. Many "local" data are therefore "unrecorded" in terms of accessible documentation.

Main data

Origin and history

On the presence of the advocation Our Lady of the Miracles of Caacupé en Caá Catí (province of Corrientes, Argentina)the sources available online are very scarce and fragmented. There are no clear references in the official sites of the diocese or in Catholic means of reference that allow for the rigorous reconstruction of a history of the rural sanctuary to which the consultation refers. Many "local" data are therefore "unrecorded" in terms of accessible documentation.

What is well documented is the Paraguayan origin from where the Paraguayan communities of the Argentine Litoral are spread. The Virgin of Caacupé (or the Miracles of Caacupé) is a variant of the Immaculate Conception, venerated in the city of Caacupé, Paraguay, where there is a sanctuary of great influx of faithful and of national reach. From this matrix devotion, the Marian image and title have been welcomed by Paraguayan migrant communities in various cities of Argentina, especially in the Litoral region, which recognize the Virgin of Caacupé as a sign of religious and cultural identity. It does not contain, with verifiable documentation, a historical narrative of the emergence of the title "Our Lady of the Miracles of Caacupé" in Caá Citi beyond this Paraguayan root.

# # Tradition and legend of origin (Paraguayan matrix)

The tradition, collected by various Paraguayan sources, tells us that at the end of the 16th century a Guaraní indigenous, already Christian and sculptor, entered the mountain and was persecuted by indigenous mbayas; in his anguish he took refuge behind a thick trunk and called upon the Virgin, promising to carve an image if saved. Free from danger, he fulfilled his promise and carved a small image of the Immaculate in the same trunk. Later, an overflow of Lake Tapaicua flooded the valley and swept everything, including the image, but when the water was down the image appeared "miraculously," which gave rise to the title of "Virgin of the Miracles". This is a Pious traditionwithout contemporary historical documentation, but very deeply rooted in Paraguayan popular spirituality.

As regards Caá Citi (Corrientes)the local tradition (oral, without documentary support accessible online) speaks of a strong presence of families of Paraguayan origin and of a special devotion to the Virgin of the Miracles of Caacupé as patron or protector of the Paraguayan community of Litoral. However, in verifiable sources there is no precise historical narrative (date of enronization of the image, foundation of the rural sanctuary, or specific ecclesiastical decree) for this advocation in Caá Citi: no consta with documentary security.

The image and the sanctuary

The sources consulted describe in detail the Imagen orgual treatmentwhich is the model of the numerous replicas extended by Paraguay and by Paraguayan communities abroad. It's an image. small, of just over 50 cm, which represents the Immaculate Conception: The Virgin standing on a small sphere, with white robe, blue mantle and a white silk strip. It is known as the "Virgin of Paraguay". In most devout communities this iconography is copied or adapted.

In case of Caia Catíthe available sources do not accurately describe the materiality (wood, plaster, polychrome size, etc.) date of the image venerated in the rural sanctuary: no consta. It is reasonable to assume that this is a replica of the Paraguayan image, possibly of a procedural type, most likely with the iconographic features of the Immaculate of Caacupé (blue mantle, clear robe, hands together, moon or sphere under the feet), but in the absence of an accessible official description, it should be maintained: no consta con rigor.

As regards sanctuary: in Paraguay, devotion is concentrated in the Basilica Sanctuary Our Lady of the Miracles of Caacupé, in the city of Caacupé, Department of Cordillera, place of great national pilgrimage. The Paraguayan sanctuary was opened in the 18th century and raised to minor basilica by decree read during Pope Francis's visit on July 11, 2015.

For the case of Caá Citi (Corrientes):

– Nombre oficial del templo o santuario específico dedicado a Nuestra Señora de los Milagros de Caacupé: no consta en fuentes oficiales en línea. – Categoría canónica (basílica menor, santuario nacional, santuario diocesano, capilla rural, etc.): no consta. – Descripción arquitectónica o artística del edificio: no consta.

The only reasonably verifiable thing is that it would be a rural area of pilgrimage to an image of Caacupé linked to the Paraguayan community resident in the Argentine Litoral. All other details should be considered as pending direct research in the diocese and in the place itself.

Sponsorship and coronation

The invocation Our Lady of the Miracles of Caacupé es Patron of the Republic of Paraguaywith a devotion that covers the whole country. This patronage is well documented in ecclesial and Catholic sources.

En el ámbito de Argentina, Litoral regionit is often mentioned that the Virgin of Caacupé is spiritual reference of the Paraguayan community which resides in these provinces; however, there is no specific decree officially proclaimed as "patron of the Paraguayan community of the Litoral" or other similar title: no constain the documents consulted, a formal canonical recognition with this precise text for Caá Catí or for a given Argentine jurisdiction.

About local patterns in Spain (parish, municipality or specific rural sanctuary dedicated to this advocation), accessible sources do not provide verifiable data: no consta there is a diocesan decree declaring the Virgin of the Miracles of Caacupé official patron of Caá Catí, although popular devotion recognizes it as a special protector of the community and of the Paraguayans living in the area.

With regard to a possible canonical coronation of the image venerated in Caá Citi (i.e., an official liturgical act with the decree of the Holy See or of the competent ordinary recognizing the long devotion and granting the crown), the sources consulted no mencionan no coronation ceremony specifically linked to the Caá Catí shrine or an Argentine image of Caacupé: does not contain a documented canonical coronation.

(Note: the Paraguayan image of Caacupé has a long history of ecclesial recognition and honors, but the details of specific canonical coronation exceed the object of this sheet and are not documented here because it is not the local focus.)

Party and devotion

En Paraguay, la main party of Our Lady of the Miracles of Caacupé is celebrated the 8 Decemberin coincidence with the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Millions of pilgrims come to the basilica- sanctuary of Caacupé in what is considered one of the largest Marian manifestations in Latin America. The pilgrimage takes place many times on foot, from long distances, with a strong penitential and festive tone.

Las comunidades Paraguayas del Litoral Argentina They also celebrate December 8 as the main date of the Virgin of Caacupé, with masses, processions, novenas and community meetings. It is very likely that Caia Catí the main party is also held 8 December and that there be a pilgrimage