Our Lady of the Peñas, popular patron of the valleys of Azapa and Lluta

Marian Advocation of Arica (Arica and Parinacota)

According to the tradition local, the image of the Virgin would have been miraculously found on the rock of the riverbed of Livílcar (broken of Las Peñas), inside Arica, where it began to be venerated by the inhabitants of the valleys of Azapa and Lluta since colonial times. This tradition is often presented as a "appeared" image in the rock, associated with favors and miracles for farmers and travellers, but there are no old documents that describe in detail the episode of the finding nor a precise date of apparition; it is therefore maintained in the field of popular piety and oral memory.

Main data

Origin and history

According to the tradition local, the image of the Virgin would have been miraculously found on the rock of the riverbed of Livílcar (broken of Las Peñas), inside Arica, where it began to be venerated by the inhabitants of the valleys of Azapa and Lluta since colonial times. This tradition is often presented as a "appeared" image in the rock, associated with favors and miracles for farmers and travellers, but there are no old documents that describe in detail the episode of the finding nor a precise date of apparition; it is therefore maintained in the field of popular piety and oral memory.

En la documented history, the advocation appears as Our Lady of the Rosary of Las Peñas, held in the Sanctuary of Las Peñas, in the Cerrada de Livílcar, commune of Arica, Region of Arica and Parinacota, Chile. The feast is already consolidated as a mass pilgrimage in the 20th century, and today it is recognized as one of the most important religious manifestations of the large Chilean north. The diocese of Arica and the official portal of the Church in Chile present it as one of the main Marian festivities of the region, with strong peasant and urban roots.

As for their exact chronology prior to the 20th century, the sources consulted (ecclesial press, website of Chilean Church, articles divulgative) point out that this is a devotion of origen colonial venerated since the 18th century, but no consten creas crécis ni documents cited allowing for a specific year of the beginning of public veneration. Therefore, beyond that general reference to the colonial period, a more strict dating with historical rigour cannot be affirmed.

> Note on location: ecclesial and journalistic sources describe the shrine of Las Peñas in the Region Arica y Parinacota, Chile. It does not consist of reliable sources located in a "department of Arica and Parinacota, Colombia" which does not appear in the documentation consulted and appears to be a geographical error.

The image and the sanctuary

The image venerated as Our Lady of the Rosary of Las Peñas It's a size. sculpted directly on the rock from the break. As described in the New Life and other testimonies, it is an image in sobrerrelieve, of a little more than half a metre high, which represents the Virgin Mary and which, by its form, can be covered in dresses and blankets, according to the local devotional tradition. It is also known as the “Palomita Blanca”, expression of closeness and affection of the people to the Virgin.

The place of worship is the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary of Las Peñaslocated in the riverside of Livílcar, next to the San José River, about 70 km inside Arica and more than 1,200 m high in the Andes Range. The sanctuary is located in a small village (Livilcar / Las Peñas) to which it is only accessed by breakway, which reinforces its character as a pilgrimage center. The main structure is a temple of modest dimensions, of simple style, adapted to the Andean environment, which welcomes the image and liturgical celebrations at the parties; around it is organized the space for religious dances, pilgrims and trade during the festivities.

In available documentation (Iglesia.cl, ecclesial chronicles, recent reports) it is not known that this temple has been elevated to the rank of a minor basilica or declared a national sanctuary by the Episcopal Conference; if you usually call it "Santuario" o "Shrine of Livilcar"in the framework of the Diocese of Arica. There is no explicit reference in the sources consulted to a formal declaration of diocesan sanctuary with date and decree; therefore, that specific data no consta.

Sponsorship and coronation

La advocación de Our Lady of the Rosary of Las Peñas is considered in practice popular patron of the valleys of Azapa and Lluta and of the city of Aricaas they recognize various chronicles and testimonies: it is referred to as "the patron of the Arizans," to which one of the most significant pilgrimages of the diocese is directed. The devotion, without being a national patron, has strong regional roots and is one of the most important Marian references in the northern end of Chile.

As for a canonical coronation, revised sources (Iglesia.cl, Caritas Chile, Catholic press, Wikipedia and devotional chronicles) do not mention any formal act of canonical coronation with pontifical or diocesan decreeor indicate a date or delegated authority. Therefore, with the available data, it should be indicated: does not contain a documented canonical coronation.

Party and devotion

The fiesta principal se conoce como Feast of the Virgin of the Rosary of Las Peñas. Se celebra twice a year:

– First Sunday of October: usually called one of the “Fiesta Grande”. – 8 December, Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception: also considered Big Party / Party Girl, according to the sources, and celebrated for three days.

These celebrations bring together a great multitude of faithful. Caritas Chile points out that about 50,000 pilgrims They come to the sanctuary every year, most of them to keep promises. The Church in Chile stresses that this is a massive pilgrimage in which "thousands of pilgrims come to the Sanctuary in the village of Livilcar" for the feast of the first Sunday of October.

Devotional features include:

– Peregrinación a pie por la quebrada, en muchos casos de noche o madrugada, con cantos y oración. – Bailes religios (tinkus, morenadas, diabladas y otros bailes andinos) que acompañan las procesiones y misas solemnes, expresión típica de la religiosidad popular del norte grande. – Fuerte presencia de lily o promesas: los fieles peregrinan para agradecer favores, pedir salud, trabajo o protección para las familias y los campos. – Participación de families, dance associations, urban and rural parisheswhich make the party a regional meeting of faith and culture.

The feast thus combines liturgical elements (Eucharist, sacraments, procession) with expressions of popular religiosity (music, dance, traditional garments), always focused on the veneration of the Virgin of the Rosary of Las Peñas as as Mother and protector.

Link to the Rosary

Invocation is explicitly called Our Lady of the Rosary of Las Peñas, and the official and journalistic sources mention it with this full title. This indicates an original and stable link with the devotion of the Rosary, which historically was one of the main instruments of Marian evangelization in the Hispanic world.

Although the chronicles consulted focus more on the pilgrimage, the dances and the feast than on the detailed description of concrete practices of piety, in the context of a title "of the Rosary" it is reasonable to say that the rezo of the Holy Rosary It is part of the spirituality of this advocation, especially in the novies, vigil and moments of preparation for the parties. Many groups of pilgrims, co-fradies and families who come to the sanctuary integrate the Rosary in their moments of prayer on the way to Las Peñas or before the image.

Where the sources do not explicitly specify community rosary schedules or organizations in the sanctuary, it can be noted in general that:

– El Rosario ayuda a to contemplate the mysteries of Christ's life with Mary, which harmonizes with e