Our Lady of Copacabana

Patroness of Bolivia

Our Lady of Copacabana, also called the Virgin of Candelaria of Copacabana, is one of the oldest and most beloved Marian devotions in America. She is venerated in the shrine of Copacabana, on the shores of Lake Titicaca, in the Department of La Paz (Bolivia), at more than 3,800 metres of altitude. There, where the ancient Andean peoples had their sacred places, the Bolivian people recognize Mary as Mother and Queen.

关键事实

Central devotion: Mary, venerated under the title of Candelaria, sustains the faith of the Andean people and is honoured as Mother and Queen of Bolivia.

The image carved by Tito Yupanqui

Devotion to the Virgin of Copacabana began in 1583, in the viceregal era. The image was carved by Francisco Tito Yupanqui, an indigenous sculptor descended from the Inca Wayna Qhapak. To perfect his work, he travelled to Potosí, where he learned his craft in the workshop of the master Diego Ortiz, and he took as his model an image of the Virgin of the Rosary that he found in the convent of Santo Domingo.

On 2 February 1583 the image arrived in the town of Copacabana, which received it with great festivity and enthroned it in the church. For this reason this shrine is among the oldest in America. The image is carved in maguey wood, overlaid with fine gold, with garments that evoke the colours and vestments of an Inca princess; she holds the Child on her left arm and, in her right hand, a little basket. The original image does not leave the shrine: a replica is used for the processions.

The shrine and its history

The fame of the image as miraculous soon spread throughout the region and across the continent. The Augustinian fathers raised the first main chapel between 1614 and 1618, and the basilica was promoted by the Viceroy of Lima, the Count of Lemos, and inaugurated in 1678. The present church dates from 1805. After the independence of Bolivia (1825), devotion to the Virgin of Copacabana was already deeply rooted in the faith of the people.

Queen and Patroness

On 1 August 1925, on the first centenary of the independence of Bolivia and on the occasion of the First National Eucharistic Congress, the Virgin of Copacabana was crowned as Queen of the Nation, by virtue of the apostolic brief of Pope Pius XI of 29 July of that year. Her feast is celebrated on 5 August, with its own liturgy and a great popular celebration, alongside the ancient memorial of 2 February, the day of the Virgin of Candelaria. Her veneration spread from Bolivia to other countries of America —Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela— and also to Spain.

The spiritual message of Copacabana

Devotion to the Virgin of Copacabana speaks to us today with simple words:

📿 Mary welcomes the faith of a people. Upon ancient sacred places a shrine was raised where Mary gathers her children.
🛠️ Mary blesses humble work. From the hands of an indigenous sculptor was born the image that today a whole country venerates.
👑 Mary is honoured as Queen and Mother. Bolivia recognizes her as Queen of the Nation, while still feeling her close at hand.
✝️ Mary always leads to her Son. She carries the Child in her arms: she never keeps anything for herself, she always leads us to Jesus.

Prayer to Our Lady of Copacabana

Pray also the 圣母玛利亚祈祷文 and accompany your prayer with the holy Rosary.