VENEZUELA: Venezuelans arrive at Caracas church of San Cayetano to pay homage to virgin of Coromoto whose statue is covered in tears of oil
Record ID:
862851
VENEZUELA: Venezuelans arrive at Caracas church of San Cayetano to pay homage to virgin of Coromoto whose statue is covered in tears of oil
- Title: VENEZUELA: Venezuelans arrive at Caracas church of San Cayetano to pay homage to virgin of Coromoto whose statue is covered in tears of oil
- Date: 19th February 2003
- Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PARISHIONERS FORMING A LINE AND SINGING IN PRAISE OF THE VIRGIN PEOPLE PRAYING AND CRYING AND DRYING THE VIRGIN
- Embargoed: 6th March 2003 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- City:
- Country: Venezuela
- Topics: Quirky,Religion,Religion
- Reuters ID: LVAB6VBLFY8RX838G0LQOXA2XDZ1
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Hundreds of Venezuelans arrive daily to Caracas'
Church of San Cayetano to pay homage to the Virgin of
Coromoto, whose statue, theu claim, is covered in tears of oil
rolling down from her face.
Hundreds of Venezuelans have put aside the anger and
discord of the country's bitter political crisis to pay homage
to the Virgin of Coromoto (kor-oh-MOH-toh) who, they claim,
has been crying tears of oil.
Young and old, men and women, rich and poor line up in
front of Caracas' Church of San Cayetano (sahn cai-ae-TAH-noh)
to pray to the country's patron saint for peace in Venezuela
and blessings in their own lives.
"This oil that is falling from the Virgin is falling now
in this church, in this temple. It is a blessing, not only
for the parish, but also for all of Venezuela. I consider it
a testament to the fact that she wants to save us and help us
in these unfortunate, painful moments of the country,"
explained the parish's priest Father Jose Coromoto Petit
(peh-TEET).
The Virgin's face was bathed in what many Venezuelans
believe is a glistening oil from tears that fall from her
eyes. The Church handed out swatches of cloth bathed with the
Virgin's oil.
"It is a very special oil because it has an extraordinary
fragrance. It is not an oil that one can drink - they sell it
in pharmacies - it is an oil that you rub on your hands," said
Petit.
According to the University of Dayton's International
Marian Research Institute, the Virgin appeared for the first
time to the chief of the Coromoto Indian tribe in Guanare
(gwahn-AR-ae) in 1651. She tried to convince him and his
tribe to convert to Christianity. When he balked and tried to
throw her out, she disappeared leaving behind only a small
holy card with her image on it, according to the legend.
At the request of Venezuela's bishops, on October 7,
1944, Pope Pius XII declared the Virgin of Coromoto the
"Patroness of Venezuela." - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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