|
The last report from the
basilica estimated that 2
million people walk to the
Basilica of the Angels
every year.
/ Los Angeles Basilica
courtesy photo.
|
La
Romería: a tradition that
moves
millions of people
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
La Romería, a tradition that
began with the Catholic
community, has become one of the
most important events of the
year. Romería, which means
pilgrimage, is a mass journey of
the faithful to pay homage to
the Virgin of Los Angeles at the
Basilica of the Angels located
in the Province of
Cartago*.
The last report from the
basilica estimated that 2
million people walk to the
Basilica of the Angels every
year.
Many people start their walk to
the church on Aug. 1 every year.
The defined route is
approximately 22 kilometers from
San José to Cartago, but there
are devotees who travel to the
basilica from their homes which
may be a great deal farther from
the destination and their walk
may take days to complete. A
contingent from Golfito usually
walks for nine days.
Friday, Aug. 2, is the most
important day in this
celebration. A solemn Mass is
celebrated with the presence of
the archbishop, dozens of
priests and government
authorities, including the
president and representatives of
public institutions.
Those who walk usually do so for
two reasons, to ask for a favor
or help from the Virgin or to
give thanks for miracle already
done by the Virgin.
The tradition includes a promise
from the faithful, usually to
repeat the pilgrimage every
year.
It is a common practice to go on
your knees from the entrance of
the church to the altar, and
visitors can see this practice
daily as children, young people,
and entire families continue
this custom as a sign of
gratitude to the Virgin.
Another tradition is to collect
the holy water which comes from
the pipes in the lower part of
the church. Although this water
is basically potable water, the
pilgrims grant it curative
benefits because the water is
provided by the basilica.
According to historical reports
from the Costa Rican National
Library, these traditions began
since 1635.
According to tradition, a young
woman named Juana Pereira, a
resident of the province of
Cartago, was looking for
firewood so that her mother
would be able to cook the family
meal when she found a little
stone doll on a large rock next
to a spring of crystalline
water. The child took the doll
to her home.
The next morning when the child
went out to find more wood, she
was surprised to find a stone
figurine identical to the one
she found the previous day.
Thinking it was another doll she
happily took the new find home.
When she arrived, however, she
found that the first doll was
missing.
The next day, the same thing
happened: a new doll on a stone
and the doll at home missing.
This time the child was very
frightened. She ran home to tell
her mother what was happening
and both went to the house of
the town priest, Father Alonso
Sandoval, to deliver the doll
and tell him what was happening.
Sandoval took the doll, put it
in a box and dismissed the
matter. The next day, however,
when he went to look for the
little stone doll, it was no
longer in the box.
That same morning, Juana, went
back to the same forest to
collect firewood as usual and
again found the same stone doll,
right over the same large stone.
The child and her mother went
again to Sandoval’s home to
report the situation, and he
advised them that it was a kind
of message from the Virgin.
According to the tale, Sandoval
and some villagers decided to
take the little stone doll to
the local church and lock it up
in the tabernacle.
The next day when he opens the
tabernacle he found that the
doll is not there. Sandoval
finally concluded that little
stone doll, which looks like a
mother holding a baby, is a sign
from God and from the Virgin
Mary herself, asking that the
village of Cartago build a
church at that same large rock
where the stone doll was found
the very first time.
The stone image is now in the
church at Cartago. It measures
about 20 cm and is composed of
volcanic rock, graphite and
jade. Since the rock is black,
people call it La Negrita, but
it is presumed to be the image
of the Virgin of Los Angeles.
The image has a round face,
slanted eyes, a nose and a small
mouth. In her left arm, she
holds the baby Jesus whose right
hand is raised in an attitude of
blessing.
The name given to the image is
Virgin of Los Angeles, because
Aug. 2, the day of the
discovery, the Franciscan Order
venerates its patron saint,
Santa María de los Ángeles.
On Sept. 24, 1824, by decree of
the highest political
authorities of the country, the
Virgin of the Angels was
declared official patron of
Costa Rica.
--------------------------
Do you have a reason to give the
thanks to La Negrita? We
would like to know your thoughts
on this story. Send your
comments to news@amcostarica.com
|
|
|
