Our Lady of the Angels

Marian title of Cartago (Cartago)

According to the Costa Rican tradition, el 2 August 1635, a young mestiza called Juana Pereira, who collected wood in a place known as Puebla de los Pardosnear Cartago, he found on a stone a small image of the Virgin with the Child in his arms. The legend reports that, after taking her several times to her house and to the temple, the image would disappear and miraculously return to the same place of the find, which was interpreted as a sign that the Virgin wished to be venerated there. In time, this prodigy was considered the origin of the sanctuary and devotion to Our Lady of the Angels, popularly called «La Negrita».

Main data

Origin and history

According to the Costa Rican tradition, el 2 August 1635, a young mestiza called Juana Pereira, who collected wood in a place known as Puebla de los Pardosnear Cartago, he found on a stone a small image of the Virgin with the Child in his arms. The legend reports that, after taking her several times to her house and to the temple, the image would disappear and miraculously return to the same place of the find, which was interpreted as a sign that the Virgin wished to be venerated there. In time, this prodigy was considered the origin of the sanctuary and devotion to Our Lady of the Angels, popularly called «La Negrita».

As for the documented historythe sources point out that the cult is firmly rooted in Cartago (Costa Rica) at least since the 18th century. On August 14, 1782 the Virgin of Angels was proclaimed Patrona de Cartago by local authorities. The 23 September 1824the Constituent Congress of the State of Costa Rica officially declared it Patrona de Costa Rica. Since the end of the 19th century, the annual to the sanctuary every 2 August.

(Important warning: this whole tradition, history and veneration documented corresponds to Cartago, Costa Rica; there are no reliable sources that place this same advocation with the same history of Juana Pereira and "La Negrita" in Cartago, Colombia. The location indicated in the order appears to be a geographical error, as the main pattern described above is that of Costa Rica).

The image and the sanctuary

The original image is a small sculpture of round package, a few centimeters high, representing the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus in her arms. According to traditional description and local studies, it is developed in stone of dark tone, which has favored the loving appeal of «La Negrita». The iconography presents it as a Mother who supports the Child, underlining its closeness and intercession for the Costa Rican people. The size is kept in a shrimp in the temple, and is usually covered with blankets and crowns, according to devotional custom.

The main place of worship is the Basilica of Our Lady of Angels, in Cartago, Costa Rica. The present temple, of wide proportions and eclectic style, has been rebuilt after several earthquakes and is recognized as minor basilica and great National sanctuary Costa Rica. In its vicinity is the traditional water source, associated with favors and miracles attributed to the intercession of the Virgin. The sanctuary is one of the most important Marian pilgrimage centers in Central America.

(There is no equivalent sanctuary in the sources consulted with this same image and tradition in Cartago, Colombia; all solid documentation refers to the basilica of Cartago, Costa Rica).

Sponsorship and coronation

The Virgin of Angels is Patron of the city of Cartago since 1782, according to the proclamation of the authorities of the time. The Constituent Congress subsequently declared it Patrona de Costa Rica September 23, 1824. This national patronage has been ratified by the Costa Rican Parliament on several occasions, including in 1924 and 2002. In popular religiosity, it is recognized as Chief Patron of Costa Rica and protection of the Costa Rican people.

As for the canonical coronationsources indicate that 1926 the pope Pío XI concedió la pontific coronation from the image of Our Lady of Angels. This coronation is part of the tradition of coronating images of special veneration and spiritual relevance to a country. No parallel documentation has been found indicating a canonical coronation of its own for a hypothetical homonymous image in Cartago, Colombia; therefore, for that location does not contain a documented canonical coronation.

Party and devotion

La main party of Our Lady of Angels is celebrated the August 2, date traditionally associated with the image finding in 1635. On that day one of the greatest expressions of popular piety in Central America is developing: national to the sanctuary of Carthage. Since the end of the 19th century there has been a historical record of this mass pilgrimage. Every year, hundreds of thousands of faithful, and sometimes more than a million, walk from different parts of the country to the basilica to thank favors, present intentions and renew their consecration to the Virgin.

Devotional traditions include:

– La romería a pie, muchas veces realizada descalzo o de rodillas en los últimos metros, en signo de penitencia o gratitud. – La "Past of the Bold", procesión en la que la imagen recorre la ciudad, documentada desde 1782. – La búsqueda del water from the source from the sanctuary, to which many pilgrims attribute thanks and signs of protection.

The devotion to "La Negrita" transcends the strictly local: many Costa Ricans living abroad keep this feast alive, and in various parishes of the country altars and replicas of the image have been erected.

Link to the Rosary

The specific sources on the advocation of Our Lady of Angels in Carthage do not highlight a fact which exclusively links this image to a self-catering or work of Rosary (as in other Marian advocations). However, in pastoral practice and in the popular piety of Costa Rica, the rezo of the Holy Rosary is very present in the novies, vigil and pilgrimages in honor of "La Negrita."

The Rosary, in meditating on the mysteries of Christ's life with Maryit becomes a privileged way to welcome the message of this advocation: subsidiary trust, maternal intercession and protection of the people. Around August 2, many families, parishes and communities pray the Rosary as a spiritual preparation for the feast, joining the Virgin of Angels in contemplating the mysteries of salvation and offering every ten for the needs of Costa Rica and those who come under Mary's protection.