Our Lady of the Cortex, Patron of Acaragua

Marian Advocation of Acaragua (Portuguese)

According to the Pious traditionthe Virgin Mary would have manifested herself in the bark of a tacamahaco tree a una mujer mulata de Araure llamada Margarita "la Perla"when he returned with his son to fulfill a promise before the Virgin of Coromoto, in early 1702. This apparition would have taken place on the real road between Araure and Ospino, in a place later known as The break of the Virginwhere the family stopped to rest; in the light bark of the tree the image of the Virgin with the Child would have been clearly seen, giving origin to the title "Our Lady of the Cortex." Local traditions point to a more repeated date 2 or 11 February 1702, although popular sources are not uniform on the specific day.

Main data

Origin and history

According to the Pious traditionthe Virgin Mary would have manifested herself in the bark of a tacamahaco tree a una mujer mulata de Araure llamada Margarita "la Perla"when he returned with his son to fulfill a promise before the Virgin of Coromoto, in early 1702. This apparition would have taken place on the real road between Araure and Ospino, in a place later known as The break of the Virginwhere the family stopped to rest; in the light bark of the tree the image of the Virgin with the Child would have been clearly seen, giving origin to the title "Our Lady of the Cortex." Local traditions point to a more repeated date 2 or 11 February 1702, although popular sources are not uniform on the specific day.

As for the documented historythe chronicles gather that the veneration to the Virgin of the Corteza received church approval in 1757, which marks the official recognition of this cult by the Church. It is further noted that, a few years after the fact considered prodigious, the Capuchin missionary Felipe de Palma fundó en 1706 the people of Our Lady of the Cortex, located on the real road between Araure and Ospino, as an expression of gratitude and memory of the apparition. In 1800 the Church of Our Lady of the Apparition of the Cortex in the place where, according to tradition, Margarita and her son rested and looked at the image in the bark. In time, devotion was closely linked to the city of Acaragua and, already in contemporary times, to the diocese of Acarigo-Araure, erected in 2002.

The image and the sanctuary

La original image of Our Lady of the Cortex is described in ancient sources as a relief or figure of the Virgin with the Child on the bark of a tree, conservada en un Relicary in the form of custody, about two and a half palms high. A testimony cited by tradition presents it with golden crown and golden orla in the mantle, and claims that the original was smaller but more beautiful than a venerated copy in the people of the Corteza. Several stories also mention that this image was protected in a relicary, it was stolen and then recovered, but recent sources do not specify with certainty the current state of that original. Therefore, is not sure, in the accessible documentation, the current situation of the original case recorded in the crust.

In the city of Acaragua, the main cultural reference is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Cortex, also called Catedral de Acarigua o Parish Cathedral Our Lady of the Corteza. This temple, located in Acarigo-Araure (Portuguese state), is the seat of the diocese of Acaragua and was dedicated to the Virgin under this advocation; the Church recognizes that the apparition is believed by the faithful in a trunk of 11 February 1702, when the region still belonged to the Spanish colony. The church was declared Historical Monument of Venezuela in 1996and in the year 2000 was elevated to the range of Catedraland was later restored between 2007 and 2011 with the contribution of faithful and private companies.

In addition to this cathedralicia, the memory of the advocation is also expressed in the square or monument to the Virgin of the Cortezalocated in the back of the Church of San Miguel Archangel of Acaragua. East monumento en broncein a sculptural group of the Virgin and the characters of the tradition of the apparition, and has become an emblematic space, popularly known as Plaza de la Burrita.

Sponsorship and coronation

Our Lady of the Courtesy is recognized as patron of the city of Acaragua y sentimental patron of the city of Acarigo-Araure. Several sources also point out that it is considered one of the employers of the Portuguese statealong with the Virgin of Coromoto. In the ecclesial field, the diocese erected in 2002 took Our Lady of the Cortex as her patron, so that the advocation also has a patronazgo diocesan on Diocese of Acarigo-Araure.

As for a canonical coronationin the documentation consulted (ecclesial sources, Catholic dissemination and local historical reviews) does not contain a documented canonical coronation of the image under this advocation. None of the sources identified mention a decree of coronation or date, or intervention by the Holy See or a pontifical delegate in this regard.

Party and devotion

The devotional and journalistic sources place the main party of Our Lady of the Cortex in the surroundings of early February, linking it to the memory of the apparition in 1702. Some traditions specifically mention the 2 February as the date of the demonstration, while others point to the 11 February 1702However, the testimonies agree that the liturgical and popular celebration takes place around those days, in particular the 11 Februarythe day to which recent ecclesial sources are referred. In any case, does not contain a published universal liturgical decree that officially sets the exact date of memory, so the reference to the first days of February is maintained as the framework of the party.

The devotion to Our Lady of the Cortex is characterized by her marked plain seal and because of the closeness with the people of the countryside and the twin cities of Acarigua-Araure. During the party they are organized solemn Eucharistic celebrations, processions and popular events; the local accounts mention an important participation of faithful from the Portuguese state and other regions of Venezuela, although no official flow figures. The square of the Burrita and the cathedral become points of reference for prayer, the burning of candles, the fulfillment of promises and the expression of popular religiosity, where the presence of families, peasants and promesers who come in thanksgiving stands out.

Link to the Rosary

No documentation available specific or unique relationship of the title of Our Lady of the Cortex with particular practices of the prayer of the Rosary (for example, co-fradies of the Rosary that are specific to this advocation or special indulgences linked to it). Therefore, does not contain a specific documented historical link with the Rosary beyond the general practice of Marian piety.

However, as in most Marian shrines and cathedrals of Venezuela, the Rosary He regularly accompanies devotion to Our Lady of the Cortex, especially in the ninth preparatory sessions, the vigil