Our Lady of Copacabana | |
|---|---|
_-_Bolivia-113.jpg) Original statue of the Virgen de Copacabana in the Basilica | |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Majorshrine | Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana, Copacabana, Bolivia |
| Feast | 2 February 5 August |
| Attributes | Incan dress and crown, Infant Jesus, candle, woven basket, pigeons, gold Quechua jewellery |
| Patronage | Bolivia and Bolivian people, Bolivian Navy, National Police of Bolivia |
Our Lady of Copacabana orOur Lady of the Candles of Copacabana is atitle of theBlessed Virgin Mary honored as thepatrone saint ofBolivia. She is venerated in Bolivia on 2 February, the Feast of the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ There is as well as a second feast for Our Lady of Copacabana with own liturgical texts on 5 August.
Pope Pius XI granted the image aCanonical coronation on 29 July 1925 and it was crowned on 1 August the same year.Pope Pius XII later decreed her shrine a Basilica on 2 July 1940.Pope Paul VI issued the decreeMaria Mater Ecclesiæ on 4 November 1968, which declared Our Lady as Bolivia’s national patroness.
Copacabana is a Bolivian town located on a peninsula at the southeastern shore ofLake Titicaca, close toIsla del Sol andIsla de la Luna, islands sacred to theAymara andQuechua. In the mid-16th century, the inhabitants of Copacabana were divided into two groups: Anansayas (Inca newcomers) and Urinsayas (the original residents of the area). Despite conversion to Christianity, the two groups were still attached to their original beliefs. Poor harvests led them to consider attracting heavenly favour through a new confraternity, with the Anansayas resolved to venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary while the Urinsayas selectedSaint Sebastián .[1]
Francisco Tito Yupanqui, an Anansaya amateur sculptor descended from the eleventhSapa IncaHuayna Capac, decided to craft an image of the Virgin to influence the local people. Using clay and assisted by his brother Philip, Francisco Tito created the sculpture, which was placed at the side of the Copacabana church altar by its parish priest, Antonio de Almedio. After Almedio left the area, Antonio Montoro took over; unhappy with the coarse and disproportionate features of the image, he ordered it be removed from its place and hidden in a corner of thesacristy.
Francisco Tito was humbled by this, and upon the advice of relatives, went toPotosí where there were outstanding teachers of sacred image making. While studying in the workshop ofMaestro Diego Ortíz, Francisco Tito gained expertise in sculpture and wood carving. He resolved to create an improved image of the Virgin with his new skills and while looking through the churches of Potosí for an image to serve as a model, he chose that ofOur Lady of the Rosary in the convent of Santo Domingo. He studied it closely to remember details before starting his new piece, and had aVotive Mass of theHoly Trinity celebrated to ask for divine blessings upon his work.
The Urinsayas had meanwhile accepted establishment of the confraternity to the Virgin Mary preferred by the Anansayas, but they disliked Francisco Tito's carving and so decided to sell it. InLa Paz, this reached the priest of Copacabana who decided he would bring the image to the people. On 2 February 1583, the image of Mary was brought to the hills ofGuaçu. A series of miracles[1] attributed to the icon made it one of the oldestMarian shrines in the Americas, along with that ofOur Lady of Guadalupe inMexico.
On August 1, 1925, during the visit ofPope Pius XI to Bolivia, the image of the Virgin of Copacabana was blessed and granted acanonical coronation.[2][3] Attending the coronation were three Bolivian bishops,PresidentBautista Saavedra, and ambassadors representingArgentina andPeru.
From its beginning, the image gained a reputation for being a miracle. TheAugustinians built their first chapel between the 1614 and 1618, and later, theViceroy of Peru morally and financially supported the construction of abasilica to honor the Virgin. Construction of theBasilica of Our Lady of Copacabana began in 1668, was inaugurated in 1678, and was completed by 1805. Subsequently, the faithful donated embellishments to the image, including valuable jewels, and the temple was filled with gifts and treasures.
In 1825, when Bolivia gained independence, it was attributed to the faith of the population through the Virgin of Copacabana. However, in 1826,Marshal Antonio José de Sucre, the President of the Republic of Bolivia, expropriated all the jewels and colonial treasures at the Shrine of the Virgin, using them to create the first coins from Bolivia.
The body of the image measures about four feet, carved frommaguey wood, and laminated ingold leaf. The clothes are that of an Inca princess, and the basic form is covered in luxurious robes and dresses, with the head wearing a wig of long, natural hair. The Virgin holds theChrist Child with her left arm, in a peculiar position as if he is about to fall. In her right arm is a basket and a gold candle, which was a gift and souvenir of the 1669 visit by the Viceroy of Peru.
The original image never leaves its shrine, and a replica is used for processions. Devotees leaving the shrine customarily walk backwards towards the door, to avoid turning their backs on the Virgin.
The veneration of the Virgin of Copacabana was not limited to this region, but rapidly expanded to the whole Viceroyalty of Peru, and was even said to be the Patroness of the country.[4] In Lima, the Viceroy of Peru decided to build a Church for the Virgin after an image of her survived theearthquake of 1687.[5]
During the 17th and 18th century, this marian apparition was also venerated inSpain andItaly, where many paintings and literary books were made.[6]
In the early hours of Monday 22 April 2013 the sanctuary of Copacabana was robbed and the image of the Virgen de Copacabana was stripped of her gold and silver accessories.[7] Initial reports indicate that twenty-eight items, including the sculpture of the baby Jesus, were removed from the Virgen de Copacabana by thieves who entered the building using a ladder stolen from a nearby telecommunications station.[8]
On Saturday 6 July 2013, the town of Copacabana restored the image of the Virgin with new jewelry.[9]