Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Chiquinquirá | |
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The Colombian image made in 1562, also known as La Chinita in Venezuela | |
| Patroness of Colombia | |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church (Colombia and parts of Venezuela) |
| Major shrine | Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá, Colombia, Basílica of Maracaibo, Venezuela |
| Feast | 9 July, November 18 |
| Attributes | the Blessed Virgin Mary standing on a crescent moon, with a blue cloak and white veil, holding the Infant Jesus, with a bird, rosary and scepter, accompanied by St. Anthony of Padua and St. Andrew |
| Patronage | Colombia Maracaibo & Zulia, Venezuela Caraz, Peru Venezuelan National Guard |
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Chiquinquirá or the Virgin of Chiquinquirá, is a Marian title of the Blessed Virgin Mary associated with a venerated image in the northern Andes region. She has been for centuries the highly appreciated patron saint of Colombia and adjacent regions of Venezuela. Under this venerated title, the image is the patron saint of Colombia, the Venezuelan state of Zulia, and the town of Caraz in Peru.
The first and original painting was made by the Spaniard Alonso de Narváe on cotton support in 1562. The second image, of smaller colonial image for Venezuela, still very venerated today, which was made in 1709 and is kept in the Basilica of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá, Maracaibo. Painted on wood, located in Maracaibo, Venezuela, where it is also called La Chinita.
Pope Pius X in 9 January 1910 authorised the Canonical Coronation of the image but was not carried out until 9 July 1919 due to the political turmoil prevalent at the time. Pope Pius XI raised her sanctuary to the status of minor basilica via the Pontifical decree Exstat in Colombia in 18 August 1927. Pope John Paul II visited the sanctuary in 3 July 1986.
In August 2020, the Colombian government was approved to donate a Marian image of the same namesake in the Vatican Gardens at the 18th slot.