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: 862966

  • 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 PEOPLE RECEIVING CLOTHS SATURATED WITH OIL VARIOUS OF PEOPLE FORMING A LINE IN FRONT OF THE VIRGIN MARY PARISHIONERS IN MASS
  • Embargoed: 6th March 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • City:
  • Country: Venezuela
  • Topics: Quirky,Religion,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVABHPZ8W199G6P9D401APDZTP71
  • 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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