Our Lady of Copacabana of Punta Corral, venerated in the Sanctuary of Punta Corral

Marian Tumbaya (Jujuy)

La devoción a Our Lady of Copacabana of Punta Corral it is part of the historical expansion of the advocation of the Virgin of Copacabana (native to Bolivia) to various regions of South America, including the Argentine Northwest. The venerated image in Punta Corral is located on the hills of the department of Tumbayain the area of Broken Humahuaca, more than 3,000 meters high.

Main data

Origin and history

La devoción a Our Lady of Copacabana of Punta Corral it is part of the historical expansion of the advocation of the Virgin of Copacabana (native to Bolivia) to various regions of South America, including the Argentine Northwest. The venerated image in Punta Corral is located on the hills of the department of Tumbayain the area of Broken Humahuaca, more than 3,000 meters high.

### Tradition and legend

La popular tradition places the origin of devotion in a apparition of the Virgin on the hills of Punta Corral towards the year 1835. According to this tradition, the image was found by a peasant of the Méndez family while taking care of his cattle, and since then the Virgin began to be venerated under the title of Our Lady of Copacabana of Punta Corral. These stories are transmitted orally and in local chronicles, but they belong to the popular piety and legend, not formal canonical documentation.

♪ documented history ♪

Since the 19th century there has been a venerated Marian image in the area of Punta Corralwhose devotion spread among the communities of the Quebrada de Humahuaca. In the 20th century, the pilgrimage took more organized form; various chronicles point out that, since 1971the image of his sanctuary in the hills to the people of Tumbaya el Palm Sunday, staying there about a month before being returned to his high sanctuary. The sources consulted do not contain a date of canonical erection of the sanctuary or a formal decree of recognition as a national sanctuary.

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The image and the sanctuary

♪ ♪ The image

The image is known as Our Lady of Copacabana of Punta Corral or, in popular speech, the "Mami of the hill. "This is a dress up image of the Virgin Mary, iconographically associated with the Virgin of Copacabana (Bolivian influence), although available sources do not accurately describe their material (wood, plaster, etc.), original size or restorations. There is therefore no detailed technical description of the sculpture (exact size, author or workshop, technique).

Some testimonies refer to the existence of two linked images to devotion: one that remains in the high sanctuary and another that participates in certain celebrations in nearby populations, both associated with the family of the image. However, the comparative iconographic details between the two do not accurately reflect the sources.

### The Sanctuary

The image is venerated in the Sanctuary of Punta Corrallocated on the top or high side of the hills of the Punta Corral area, in the jurisdiction of Tumbaya, Jujuy province, Argentina. The sanctuary is a high temple, located more than 3,000 metres on the sea level, which is accessed only by mountain paths used by pilgrims.

The chronicles describe it as a relatively simple temple, surrounded by service structures for pilgrims, with limited capacity given its location; however, it becomes the center of one of the most numerous pilgrimages in northern Argentina during Holy Week. It is not known that the temple has been elevated to the dignity of minor basilicaor that there is an official title of National sanctuary; according to the information available, it is a sanctuary of regional devotion, under the jurisdiction of the particular Church of Jujuy (there is no specific diocesan decree in the sources consulted).

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Sponsorship and coronation

# Patronage

Our Lady of Copacabana of Punta Corral is considered spiritual patron of numerous communities of the Quebrada de Humahuaca and the villages near Tumbaya, especially in the field of popular religiosity. The devotion congregates faithful from different localities of Jujuy and neighbouring provinces, so their influence goes beyond a single municipality.

It does not contain a official decree to declare her the principal patron of a diocese, city or nation, although at the popular level she is invoked as a protector of the broken communities and of the pilgrims who go up to her sanctuary.

# # Canonical coronation

In accessible documentation (local chronicles, regional media, devotional pages and general references on the Virgin of Copacabana) does not contain a documented canonical coronation of the image of Our Lady of Copacabana of Punta Corral, no date, pontiff or pontifical delegate are mentioned.

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Party and devotion

The devotion to the Virgin of Copacabana of Punta Corral is expressed in a privileged way in the great annual pilgrimage of Easter. Several sources agree that, since 1971the image goes down from his sanctuary on the hills to the people of Tumbaya el Palm Sunday. In Tumbaya he remains for about a month, receiving the visit of thousands of faithful, before being taken back to his high sanctuary.

Local media describe this "down from the Virgin"as one of the manifestations Marian more multitudinary from northern Argentina, bringing together thousands of pilgrims each year who go up and down the mountain trails, in a climate of prayer, sacrifice and popular feast. Many pilgrims are organized in Sikuris bands, musical groups that accompany the march with instruments of wind and percussion, integrating elements of Andean culture into the celebration of faith. Devotees often make barefoot rise or with other forms of penance, carrying candles, flowers and promises.

No consta una Fecha liturgica propia of the advocation other than these celebrations of Holy Week; the main partyin devotional practice, it is identified with the down on Palm Sunday and with the days when the Virgin remains in Tumbaya receiving the faithful.

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Link to the Rosary

The sources consulted on the Virgin of Copacabana of Punta Corral are concentrated in the pilgrimage, the reduction of the image and the musical and penitential expressions; they do not provide specific data about a particular association with the prayer of the Rosary (for example, the Rosary, specific indulgences or official programs focused on the Rosary). In this regard, does not contain an explicit documentary link between this advocation and a rosarian practice of its own.

However, since it is a deep-rooted Marian devotion, el Rosary It is usually natural to accompany the pilgrimages and celebrations: many pilgrims pray the mysteries as they ascend or descend the hill, intercaling the prayer with songs and touches of sikus, uniting the contemplation of the mysteries of Christ and Mary with the physical sacrifice of the road. In this way, the Rosary is set up as a contemplation school in the midst of the Andean landscape: each mystery recalls the presence of Mary in the life of Jesus, and the Virgin of Copacabana of Punta Corral is seen as Mother closewho accompanies their children in the effort of