How one man’s dream was to honor 50,000 pilgrims, Mrs. Cubacabana, in Bolivia

Copacabana, Bolivia (AP) – More than 50,000 people from Bolivia and neighboring Peru making Hajj every August to Copacabana, on the beaches Lake TitkakaTo honor the saint of Bolivia, Lady of Cobacabana. In the main event of the celebration, a replica of the wooden sculpture number of the Virgin Mary leads a procession.

Her official holiday is February 2 – in conjunction with The Virgin Mary’s purification feast But August 5 marks the anniversary of its ecclesiastical crowning as the saint of Bolivia by the papal bull issued by Pius XII in 1925. This year is the 100th anniversary.

“You have given me different miracles,” said Elizabeth Valdevia, who traveled 12 hours on the road and boats from Arkueba in Peru to join the procession. “Our car has given us, the possibility of raising my son, and I always ask her to monitor our jobs.”

The birth of a sacred icon

Lady of Cobacabana has maintained this number of Virgin Mary since the late sixteenth century. It dates back to 1583, when the descendant of Inca Francisco Tito Yobanki was designed in her honor.

According to Marsila Cruz, a guide in the museum next to Bazilica, Yubanke had a dream of the Virgin to reach a mud figure to photograph her. He showed this to the priest, but after his rejection and mockery, he went on a picnic to walk next to the lake.

Cruz said: “There, he faced the image of the Virgin like Bakr Inca.” “That’s why her picture is very simple.”

Inspired by appearing, Yubanqui set out for the city of Potosí, about 330 miles (530 km) from La Paz, the current capital. There, the sculpture of the image that is now in the basilica of the Maguey tree trunk.

When Yabanke traveled to Copakapana, the town was under the Spanish occupation, and both the indigenous people and Kichua were now citizens of Bolivia and Peru – at a preaching site.

“I arrived at dawn on February 2, and Aymara and Incas bowed to welcome it,” Cruz said.

The shrine of faith, gratitude and generations of prayer

The Museum named YuPanqui displays hundreds of gifts that worshipers gave over the centuries. These embroidered heads include golden threads, vowel shows, messages in Braille and silver crowns that resemble those who melted Simon Bolivar to secure Bolivian independence in 1825.

“The lady of Kobacabana is the mother who welcomes all her children regardless of their race or culture,” said Itamar Bezua, a Franciscan monk residing in the monastery next to Bazilica. “Inside Bolivia, she is the Queen.”

According to Bezoa, pilgrims travel from all over South America to make offers. Some women who were unable to have children who thanked them for enabling them to become mothers. Others praise them to help them recover from serious diseases.

Several fans are celebrated in honor daily, starting from August 4.

“This sincerity continues to move from generation to generation and inspires many to follow Christ,” Paisois said.

The original YuPanqui character has not left the church to hold since the coronation in 1925, but the fans repeat its copies of the same.

In a nearby church, the parish sons light up candles – one for each miracle – and they waited with patience to burn before leaving.

Sandra Benefides, who traveled from Cosko in Peru, lit a candle and prayed for good health. A few years ago she said that she had fallen and an accident killed her almost, but the Virgin interfered.

“Lady of Kobacabana is a miracle,” said Benefids. “She is as if it were my mother, which I haven’t had before.”

____

The Associated Press’s religion coverage is supported by AP’s support cooperation With our conversation, with funding from Lilly Endment Inc. , The AP is only responsible for this content.