National Shrine of Our Lady of Coromoto

The Story

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Coromoto, near Guanare in the Venezuelan llanos, rises over the place where, according to the traditional account, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in 1652 to Coromoto, a chief of the indigenous Cospes people, and left behind the tiny image that has become the heart of Venezuelan Catholicism. Tradition relates that the Virgin first appeared to the cacique and his wife at a stream, telling him in his own language to go to the Spaniards and ask for the water of baptism. When Coromoto resisted and withdrew to the forest, she appeared again in his hut on September 8, 1652, radiant with light. He seized an arrow against her; the vision vanished, leaving in his hand a small parchment image of the Virgin and Child, scarcely an inch tall. The account continues that Coromoto, later bitten by a snake, asked for and received baptism before his death and urged his people to embrace the faith. The little image has been venerated since 1654, first in the church of Guanare and, since the twentieth century, at the sanctuary built at the traditional apparition site. Pope Pius XII declared Our Lady of Coromoto principal Patroness of Venezuela in 1944, and her image was canonically crowned on September 11, 1952, the tercentenary of the apparition. The vast modern sanctuary was inaugurated with a Mass celebrated by Pope St. John Paul II on February 10, 1996, and was raised to the rank of minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007. The relic-image is enshrined behind the main altar. Today the basilica is Venezuela's national Marian shrine, drawing pilgrims from across the country and from the Venezuelan diaspora worldwide, especially for the feasts of September 8 and 11 and February 2. Devotion to Our Lady of Coromoto continues to unite a nation in prayer, recalling how the Mother of God came to its first peoples to lead them to her Son.

Church Recognition

The devotion is fully approved by the Church: Pope Pius XII declared Our Lady of Coromoto Patroness of Venezuela in 1944, the image was canonically crowned in 1952, and the national sanctuary, inaugurated with a papal Mass by St. John Paul II in 1996, was made a minor basilica by Benedict XVI in 2007.

Catholic Teaching

The tradition of Coromoto speaks of Mary's maternal mission to lead all peoples to Christ and to the grace of baptism, reflecting the Church's teaching on her intercession and on authentic Marian devotion (CCC 963-975).

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1 Additional Information ▾

A basilica near Guanare marks the site.

Go Deeper

The basilica's official website (https://www.santuariobasilicacoromoto.com) recounts the history of the apparition and relic; see also St. John Paul II's homily at the shrine (February 10, 1996) and the Catechism on Marian devotion (CCC 971).