Today we had the opportunity to go on a "Paseo" with our teachers and fellow students here at language school. We visited "Basilica de Nuestra Senora de los Angeles" in Cartago. This was an excellent way for us to better understand part of the culture in Central America.
A beautiful church with amazing stained glass windows, this Basilica is home to La Negrita ‘The Black Virgin’. Every August, millions of Ticos (Costa Ricans) come from all across the country to pray here and ask for miracles. People are frequently sighted walking, many barefoot, along the Pan American highway and other Costa Rican roadways. They come from towns all over Costa Rica and even the bordering countries of Nicaragua and Panama. Some walk several hundred miles, others just a few, but all have one destination in mind. Upon arriving at the Basilica, many climb the church steps on their knees and crawl to the alter as a way of penance. Below is a small exert about the history of the Basilica and its importance.
"As the story goes, a young girl, on August 2nd, 1635, was playing in a stream while her mother was washing clothes. On top of a rock she found the little statue and took it home. When her mother found out she was very angry and ordered her to take it back because the real owner was probably very upset. The little girl went to the box where she had hidden it and it was gone. The next day when they returned to the stream the statue was again on the same rock. The mother, upon finding it was very upset, thinking that her daughter had lied. Again they took the statue, this time with the intention of bringing it to the local priest. The next day when they went to get the statue to take it to the priest, it was gone again. They immediately ran down to the stream and there it was once more atop the rock. This was taken as a message from God and a shrine and church were built on the site. The original church was destroyed in an earthquake in 1920 and the current church, La Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles (see photo) was built six years later. The Basílica is in the Byzantine tradition and is probably the most unique church in the country. The north side of the church is the shrine to the Virgin Mary, on the very site where the statue was first discovered. So, on August 2nd of every year, there is a pilgrimage of the faithful to the shrine." (Exert from: worldheadquarters.com)
During our "Paseo" we were once again reminded of the desperate need to share the love of God and the Freedom that is received in serving Him. Pray with us that God will continue to open the hearts of His people and that they too will receive the freedom we have in Christ.
A beautiful church with amazing stained glass windows, this Basilica is home to La Negrita ‘The Black Virgin’. Every August, millions of Ticos (Costa Ricans) come from all across the country to pray here and ask for miracles. People are frequently sighted walking, many barefoot, along the Pan American highway and other Costa Rican roadways. They come from towns all over Costa Rica and even the bordering countries of Nicaragua and Panama. Some walk several hundred miles, others just a few, but all have one destination in mind. Upon arriving at the Basilica, many climb the church steps on their knees and crawl to the alter as a way of penance. Below is a small exert about the history of the Basilica and its importance.
"As the story goes, a young girl, on August 2nd, 1635, was playing in a stream while her mother was washing clothes. On top of a rock she found the little statue and took it home. When her mother found out she was very angry and ordered her to take it back because the real owner was probably very upset. The little girl went to the box where she had hidden it and it was gone. The next day when they returned to the stream the statue was again on the same rock. The mother, upon finding it was very upset, thinking that her daughter had lied. Again they took the statue, this time with the intention of bringing it to the local priest. The next day when they went to get the statue to take it to the priest, it was gone again. They immediately ran down to the stream and there it was once more atop the rock. This was taken as a message from God and a shrine and church were built on the site. The original church was destroyed in an earthquake in 1920 and the current church, La Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles (see photo) was built six years later. The Basílica is in the Byzantine tradition and is probably the most unique church in the country. The north side of the church is the shrine to the Virgin Mary, on the very site where the statue was first discovered. So, on August 2nd of every year, there is a pilgrimage of the faithful to the shrine." (Exert from: worldheadquarters.com)
During our "Paseo" we were once again reminded of the desperate need to share the love of God and the Freedom that is received in serving Him. Pray with us that God will continue to open the hearts of His people and that they too will receive the freedom we have in Christ.