Virgin of Socavón

Marian Invocation of Oruro (Oruro)

La Virgin of Socavón, also known as Our Lady of the Socavón Candelaria, is a Marian advocation venerated in the city of Oruro, in the highlands of Bolivia, closely linked to the mining world and the famous Carnaval de Oruro, declared a Master of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2001.

Main data

Origin and history

La Virgin of Socavón, also known as Our Lady of the Socavón Candelaria, is a Marian advocation venerated in the city of Oruro, in the highlands of Bolivia, closely linked to the mining world and the famous Carnaval de Oruro, declared a Master of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2001.

### Tradition and legend

According to popular tradition, devotion is linked to the figure of the bandit Anselmo Belarus, known as Girl girl o Chiru-Chiru, an assailant who, despite his life of crime, had great devotion to the Virgin. Wounded by death after a confrontation, he was found agonizing in the vicinity of a minion (bocamine) and, when he died, would have been discovered on the wall of the place a image of the painted Virgin, interpreted as a sign of Mary's intercession for her conversion. Since then, the Virgin began to be venerated as a protector of the miners and the people of Oruro, associating herself with the light of the cirius and the feast of the Candelaria.

♪ documented history ♪

Historical studies place the origin of devotion, in its present form, towards the end of the 18th century. Various authors indicate that the image of the Virgin of Socavón already known and venerated around 1789when the apparition of the painting is mentioned on the wall near the place linked to Niña Niña. In the 18th and 19th century the cult was consolidated, and the Virgin was gradually recognized as patron of the city of Oruro and the miners, linking his party to the Carnival celebrations.

El Carnaval de Oruro It was set up throughout the twentieth century as a great festive pilgrimage to its sanctuary, until it was recognized by UNESCO in 2001 as the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, in part for its close relationship with devotion to the Virgin of Socavón.

> Important note: the advocation is documented and rooted in Oruro, Bolivia. There are no serious sources that place this advocation as an original of "Oruro, department of Oruro, Colombia"; therefore, the reference to Colombia does not correspond to the historical reality of this devotion.

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The image and the sanctuary

The original image of the Virgin of Socavón is a fresh painting on plaster, made on a wall of adobe on the slopes of the hill Pie de Gallo, next to the entrance of an old mining miner. The Virgin appears dressed in a scarlet habit and blue mantle, adornado con 40 stars, holding in his left hand at Child Jesuswhich carries a globe, while in the right hand it carries a Cirium on, symbol of the light of Christ that guides in the darkness of the minions and of life. At his feet is represented a moon, stressing her character as a woman with sun, in resonance with the biblical image of the Revelation.

Next to this image was first raised a simple hermitagewhich over time was extended to become the current Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Socavon, also known as Socavón Sanctuary. The temple is located on the edge of the old bocamine, in the upper part of Oruro, and is the point of arrival of the great pilgrimage of the Carnival. Under the sanctuary is preserved the old tunnel of the mine, today conditioning as museum of the minerswhich underlines the relationship of devotion to life and work on the ground.

It is not found in the consulted sources that the sanctuary has the title of minor basilica not declared National sanctuary; is generally known as the Marian sanctuary of the diocese / town of Oruro.

In addition to the original painting, devotion has inspired other images, including a great monumental sculpture of the Virgin of Socavón about 45 meters high, built on Mount Santa Barbara, which reproduces the iconography of the Virgin with the Child and the Cirius, dominating the city of Oruro.

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Sponsorship and coronation

The Virgin of Socavón is held by patron of the city of Oruro and especially miners. Its protection also extends to the Danzants and folklorists who participate in the Carnival of Oruro, considered a great expression of popular Marian faith.

In popular piety it is invoked as "Mamita del Socavón" o “Mamita Candelaria”, reflecting his link to the mystery of the Lord's Presentation and the light of the cirius. It is also actually recognized as patrona del Carnaval de Oruroin whose honor is the funning entrance and the main dances, such as the diablade.

On a canonical coronationthe sources consulted (including mariological synthesis and religious outreach articles) do not provide clear and verifiable data of a coronation officially decreed by the Holy See with specific date and delegate. Therefore, according to the above criteria:

There is no documented canonical coronation.

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Party and devotion

The advocation of the Virgin of Socavón is celebrated liturgically the 2 February, en la Feast of the Presentation of the Lord and Our Lady of the Candelaryand the Carnival Saturdaythe central day of the great dancing pilgrimage to the Socavón Sanctuary.

Every year, on the eve and at the party, miles de devotos they walk the city carrying Cirios on, illuminating the way to the sanctuary, where a solemn Eucharist is held. During Carnaval de Oruro, the faithful - many of them members of the dancing fraternities - make a pilgrimage of more than five kilometres dancing and singing until they reach the Socavón Sanctuary, where they go on their knees before the image of the Virgin, in a gesture of deep veneration.

Devotion is marked by:

– Pledges and offers: los danzantes suelen comprometerse a bailar varios años seguidos en honor de la Virgen, como signo de agradecimiento o petición. – Relationship with the mining world: los mineros acuden a su santuario para pedir protección antes de ingresar a las minas y agradecer favores recibidos. – Popular expressions: the use of suits, masks and ritual dances (especially the diablated) is understood as a tribute to the Virgin, who overcomes evil and protects her children.

The influx of pilgrims is counted each year by decenas de miles, integrating both the inhabitants of Oruro and other regions of Bolivia and the faithful of neighbouring countries. The declaration of the Carnival of Oruro as the Oral and Intangible Heritage of the World underlines precisely the fusion of fe mariana y expresión cultural around the Virgin of the Socavon.

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Link to the Rosary

The specific sources on the Virgin of Socavón do not document a unique practice of Rosary linked exclusively to this advocation (for example, the Rosary's own cofradies or specifically rosarian promises). Therefore:

There is no particular relationship between the veneration of the Virgin of Socavón and a specific or own form of prayer of the Rosary.

However, as every Marian advocation fully inserted into the life of the Church, the Virgin of Socavón is naturally integrated into the spirituality of the Rosari