Our Lady of the Paso, patron of Itapé

Marian Advocation of Itapé (Guaira)

La advocación de Our Lady of the Itapé Pass is attached to the Virgin of the Miracles of Caacupé, patron of Paraguay, whose pilgrim image crossed the river Tebicuary- me in the mid-20th century, in the context of a Marian mission in the region of Guaira. According to the synthesis collected by various sources, the devotion to the "Paso" was consolidated after one of those crosses of the river, lived by the population as a moment of special protection of the Virgin.

Main data

Origin and history

La advocación de Our Lady of the Itapé Pass is attached to the Virgin of the Miracles of Caacupé, patron of Paraguay, whose pilgrim image crossed the river Tebicuary- me in the mid-20th century, in the context of a Marian mission in the region of Guaira. According to the synthesis collected by various sources, the devotion to the "Paso" was consolidated after one of those crosses of the river, lived by the population as a moment of special protection of the Virgin.

Documented history. The written tradition places the concrete origin of the sanctuary in the 1950s, when the image of the Virgin of Caacupé was moved by different peoples of Paraguay. At the crossing of the river Tebicuary- me, near Itapé, there would have been a fact considered extraordinary by the faithful (especially linked to the safety of the passage over the grown waters), which led to the establishment there of a place of prayer and then a sanctuary. In 2004, the place was officially erected as Diocesan Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Paso for the corresponding diocese, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of devotion.

Tradition and legend. The popular memory speaks of the "step" of the Virgin as a miraculous event, linked to the protection against the strength of the river and the safety of those who crossed it. Many faithful interpret that the Virgin "stopped" or "dominated" the waters or accompanied in a special way the crossing of the image and of the pilgrims, which gave rise to a particular confidence in her protection in time of the rising Tebicuary River - me. These stories, very alive in local piety, are part of the oral tradition; the detail of the concrete facts belongs to the scope of the devotion and popular memory, rather than a verifiable historical chronicle point by point.

The image and the sanctuary

La Virgin of the Paso de Itapé is, in the strict sense, a local advocation of the Virgin of the Miracles of Caacupé. The available sources indicate that devotion is born from the passage of the image of Caacupé by the river, but they do not provide a detailed technical description of their own image (exact type of size, height, material, etc.). The iconography that appears in photographs and journalistic chronicles shows a Marian image dressed, crowned, similar to that of Caacupé, but does not contain in verifiable sources a precise iconographic sheet (material, author, date of size); therefore, these data no constan Documentally.

The place of worship is usually called Natural Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Pasolocated in the vicinity of the river Tebicuary- me, in the city of Itapé, department of Guaira, Paraguay. The area is described as a site around 2 hectares, conditioning as an outdoor park and sanctuary, with prayer spaces, stations and areas for the celebration of the Eucharist and the reception of pilgrims. In 2004 it was elevated to the category of diocesan sanctuary, which officially recognizes its importance within the pastoral life of the diocese. The accessible sources do not mention that they have the title of minor basilica nor that it has been declared a national sanctuary; therefore, these recognitions no constan.

Sponsorship and coronation

The Virgin of the Paso is considered one of the main Marian devotions of the Guairá, and the shrine of Itapé is described in the press as the most visited Marian sanctuary of Paraguay after Caacupé, which has led to call Itapé the "spiritual capital of the Guaira". The invocation is closely linked to the people of Itapé and to the area of the river Tebicuary-me, and you can talk about a Local and regional ownership deeply rooted. There is no formal proclamation of patronage at the national level in the sources consulted.

On a canonical coronationthe information available (sanctuary, diocese, Catholic press and general) does not record an act of canonical coronation officially decreed by the Holy See or by pontifical delegation for the venerated image as Virgin of the Paso in Itapé. It should therefore be indicated: does not contain a documented canonical coronation.

Party and devotion

The main party of the Virgin of the Paso de Itapé is held in the month of December. Several chronicles point out as strong dates the 9th from 9 to 18 December and, in particular, the day 18 December, which appears as the date of the great patron celebration. Around these dates an intense spiritual preparation is organized with novies, masses, confessions, processions and pastoral activities.

The shrine of Itapé is described as the second most visited Marian shrine in Paraguayafter Caacupé, with the arrival of miles de peregrinos from different parts of the country and also from other parts of Latin America, especially in December. Among the most characteristic expressions of devotion is the water procession by the river Tebicuary- me, in which the image of the Virgin is carried on ships, accompanied by other gilded boats and by crowds that follow her from the coast. This nautical procession has a long tradition and is symbolically linked to the memory of the "step" and to the protection of the Virgin from the growing river.

In addition to the festive aspect, devotion is manifested in foot pilgrimagescommunity prayers, popular songs in Spanish and Guaraní and a strong experience of Marian faith in the daily life of the population. The sanctuary is also visited outside of the patron parties, as a place of retreat, silence and prayer, taking advantage of the natural environment that favours contemplation.

Link to the Rosary

The sources consulted on the Virgin of the Paso of Itapé have emphasized the pilgrimage, the ninth, the nautical procession and the masses as main expressions of devotion, but do not explicitly reflect a unique practice of Rosary typical of this advocation (e.g. a specific Rosary fellowship or an exclusive rosarian tradition of the sanctuary). Consequently, no consta a formal or differentiated link of the Virgin of the Paso with the prayer of the Rosary, beyond what is common in the Marian Catholic piety.

In the general framework of Marian devotion, the Rosary It naturally accompanies the religiosity of the pilgrims of Itapé: novies, vigil, pilgrimages and waiting times by the river are privileged places for the meditation of the mysteries of Christ by Mary's hand. In an advocation linked to the "step" and to the protection in the waters, the Rosary can live as a prayer that accompanies the "steps" of Christian lifeby entrusting to the Virgin the moments of risk, the personal and community "growths," and asking for the grace of reaching a good port following Jesus, like Mary, in faith. This Marian dimension is consistent with the Church's teaching of the Rosary as a school of contemplation of the face of Christ with his Mother.