Our Lady of the Assumption of Chochís, patron saint of Chochís

Marian devotion of Chochís (Santa Cruz)

From the point of view documented, el Mariano de la Torre Sanctuary, known as the Shrine of Chochís, was born as a memorial and thanksgiving after the landslides and landslides of 15 January 1979, which affected the area of El Porton and the railway road near Chochís. The rains buried the southern neighborhood of El Porton and caused the death of 16 persons. The survivors attributed their protection to the intercession of the Virgin of the Assumta.

Main data

Origin and history

From the point of view documented, el Mariano de la Torre Sanctuary, known as the Shrine of Chochís, was born as a memorial and thanksgiving after the landslides and landslides of 15 January 1979, which affected the area of El Porton and the railway road near Chochís. The rains buried the southern neighborhood of El Porton and caused the death of 16 persons. The survivors attributed their protection to the intercession of the Virgin of the Assumta.

The sanctuary was built between 1988 and 1992 under the direction of the Swiss architect Hans Roth, specialist in the restoration of the Jesuit missions of Chiquitanía. It was opened on 15 August 1992, solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin. The temple was expressly erected as for the missing of the tragedy and as a sign of gratitude to the Virgin of the Assumption for the preservation of the community.

In the plan of the local traditionthe inhabitants report that the magnitude of the disaster may have completely swept the area, but that the people of Chochís was protected from a greater evil by a "miracle of the Virgin of the Assumption". Concrete testimonies are preserved, such as that of a survivor who claims to have entrusted his life and that of his family to the Virgin during the flood while travelling on the passenger train that passed through the place at that time. These narrations belong to the devotional memory and popular pietynot strict historical documentation.

The image and the sanctuary

In the interior of the Mariano de la Torre Sanctuary, an image of the Virgin of the Assumta, wood carved by local artisans, following the tradition of sacred chiquitan art inherited from Jesuits missions. The iconography corresponds to the Assumption of Mary, although the sources do not detail precisely the position or attributes (crown, angels, etc.); therefore, no consta an exhaustive iconographic description in the sources consulted. In the same sanctuary an image of the Virgin of Urkupiña, an offering from one of the survivors of the 1979 flood.

The temple is officially called Mariano de la Torre Sanctuary o Shrine of Chochís. It is a Catholic sanctuary of style chiquitano, with rich decoration in wood carving, monumental doors and sculpted columns with biblical and indigenous motives. It is located to some 2 km from the town of Chochís, in the municipality of Roboré, province of Chiquitos, department of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, at the foot of the imposing rock formation known as "Tower of Chochís" or "Tower of David".

The architecture combines elements of the military churches with original solutions: open chapel for great celebrations, natural corridors and contemplation spaces, with a remarkable collection of wood sizes (doors, columns, reliefs) that make the sanctuary a reference to contemporary chiquitan art. The sources do not mention that they have the title of minor basilica, ni de National sanctuary; if it presents simple com Marian sanctuary of diocesan area located in the diocese of San Ignacio de Velasco.

Sponsorship and coronation

The Virgin of the Assumption venerated in the Marian Shrine of the Tower is recognized as patrona de Chochís and the object of the main religious feast of the people, which bears the name of "Virgin Asunta of Chochís" o the patron party of the Virgin Asunta of Chochís. Devotion has a marked character local y municipal (the village of Chochís and the municipality of Roboré), inserted into the religious life of the province of Chiquitos and the diocese of San Ignacio de Velasco. There is no patronage at the level of the entire diocese or at the national level in the sources consulted.

With regard to a possible canonical coronation, sources (Wikipedia, press reports and religious tourism) no documented canonical coronationneither by a pontifical decree nor by delegation of the competent ecclesiastical authority. It is therefore appropriate to indicate: does not contain a documented canonical coronation.

Party and devotion

La main party of Our Lady of the Assumption of Chochís is celebrated the August 15, solemnidad de la Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Around that date, the people live intense days of religious and popular celebration: they are organized trides or celebrations from 14 to 16 August, also commemorating the tragedy of 1979 and the memory of the victims. The patron party is described as an encounter where they intertwine devotion, liturgy and folklorewith solemn masses, processions and cultural expressions of the Chiquitan region.

The sanctuary has become an important pilgrimage and religious tourism destination. Every year faithful come from the Chiquitos region, the department of Santa Cruz and other parts of Bolivia, especially for the August feast, although the sources consulted do not give precise figures of influx. In addition to the usual liturgical celebrations (Mass, Sacraments), the sanctuary is the point of arrival of pilgrims who travel the road from the village of Chochís to the base of the Tower of Chochís, on a journey of approximately 1,5 km.

The devotion to the Virgin of the Assumption in Chochis is strongly marked by the the 1979 disaster and the testimony of gratitude for the saved life. Many faithful come to the sanctuary to thank received favors, to ask for protection from natural dangers and to entrust their families and jobs, integrating Marian piety with the contemplation of the landscape and the silence of the place.

Link to the Rosary

The available sources do not indicate a specific or historical relationship of this advocation with the prayer of the Rosary (for example, co-fradies of the Rosary, particular promises linked to the Rosary or own denominations as "Virgin of the Rosary of Chochís"). No consta, therefore, a particular link of the title "Our Lady of the Assumption of Chochís" to the Rosary in the legal or formal devotional sense.

However, as Marian advocation deeply rooted in a pilgrimage sanctuary, the Virgin of the Assumption of Chochís is fully inserted into the Marian Classical Spirituality of the Churchwhere Rosary It occupies a central place. To the extent that the pilgrims contemplate in this sanctuary the mystery of the Assumption of Marythe prayer of the Rosary allows to meditate precisely this glorious mysteryunited with Christian hope in the face of suffering and death; thus, the memory of the 1979 flood is illuminated from faith in the resurrection and victory of Christ, reflected in the glorification of his Mother.

In the ordinary pastoral practice of the Marian shrines - and Chochís is no exception according to the logic of the parish and diocesan life - the Rosary is prayed as Marian prayer, particularly on the eve of