THE VIRGIN OF THE ANGELS
On the morning of August 2, 1635, in a place called “Puebla de los Pardos”, in the province of Cartago, a young mestizo named Juana Pereira was looking for firewood to cook food, when she found on a stone where a spring of crystal clear water, a stone “doll” with a child in her arms. In the afternoon of that same day, when she goes to the forest again, she is surprised to find on the same stone the same little image of the morning. Believing that it was another “doll”, she very happy takes it to her house. However, when she arrives at her home, she notices that the other image of her is not in the place where she had left it.
The next day, the same thing happened to her, so frightened, she went to the house of the local priest, Father Alonso de Sandoval, to notify him of what had happened. The father keeps the image in a box and ignores the matter. However, the next day when he went to look for her, he was no longer in the box. Juana, going back to collect firewood, finds the image again and she runs to look for Father Sandoval. He decides to take the image and take it to the local church and keep it in the tabernacle. The next day, when he opens the tabernacle he notices that the image is not there, so he immediately goes to the stone and there he found it. She then understood that the Virgin Mary was represented in that image and that She wanted to be in that place, that she wanted a church to be built on that site.
The image measures around 20 centimeters, it is made of a combination of different materials such as volcanic rock, graphite and jade. Its color is black, hence why it is affectionately called “La Negrita”. She has a round face, slanted eyes, a small nose and mouth. In her left arm she has the Child Jesus, who rests on her chest with his right hand raised in an attitude of blessing. They both look at each other. Today, she is displayed to the faithful for their veneration in a beautiful monstrance set with precious stones. At the base of this “monstrance” there is a fleur-de-lys surmounted by the angel holding the stone image.
On September 24, 1824, by decree of the highest political authorities in the country, the Virgin of the Angels was declared the official patron saint of Costa Rica. The name was given because on August 2, the day of the discovery, the Franciscan order venerates its patron saint, Santa María de los Ángeles. Every year, in Cartago (Costa Rica), what is called “the pilgrimage” is carried out, in where a constant pilgrimage of devotees arrives to visit their Heavenly Mother. Many enter her basilica on their knees, as an act of humility and thanksgiving, and then go to pray before the rock where the image was found.
Relevant dates related to Our Lady of the Angels
August 2, 1635 Finding of the Image
April 1782 Proclamation as Patroness of Carthage
August 1824 First theft of the Image of the Virgin. Returned 4 days later
September 1824 Declared by the Constituent Assembly as Official Patron of Costa Rica
Year of 1833 On the occasion of the Civil War of the League she was called: “Princess of Peace”
March 1862 Pope Pius IX grants plenary indulgence in perpetuity to whoever visits the Sanctuary of the Angels
November 1888 Second theft of all the Image’s outfits and vestments
Year of 1912 The construction of the current Sanctuary of Los Angeles begins
April 1926 Solemn Coronation of the Image of the Virgin as Queen of Costa Rica
Year of 1935: Celebration of the Tercentenary of the Discovery of the Image
July 1935 His Holiness Pius XI raises the Sanctuary to the rank of Basilica.
April 1944 Election of the Sanctuary as «Parish of Our Lady of the Angels».
April 1944 The “Altar Mayor” is declared a privileged altar
May 1950 Third theft of the Image of the Virgin. She is found eight days later.
Year of 1956 Coronation of the Image of the Virgin as «Queen of the Workers».
May 1960 The Venerable Image of the Virgin is brought for the conclusion of the “Great
National Mission» and the Episcopal Consecration of Bishop Carlos Humberto Rodríguez Quirós, IV Archbishop of San José.
August 1976 Celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Solemn Coronation of the Image of the Virgin.
August 1979 Inauguration of Mons. Román Arrieta Villalobos as V Archbishop of San José
Year 1985 Solemn Celebration of the 350th anniversary of the Discovery of the Image.
INDULGENCE OF THE PORCIUNCULA
It is called the Porziuncola -“little portion”- a word that refers to its small size, to a little chapel that Saint Francis of Assisi repaired, and to which he was very fond, for being dedicated to Saint Mary of the Angels. Around her, he started his Order, and around her he wanted to pass from this world to eternal life.
On August 2, the feast of Santa María de los Ángeles is celebrated. And on this date and already from the previous noon, the indulgence of the Porziuncula can be obtained in all the Franciscan temples of the world, in all the parishes and in all the cathedrals.
In July 1216, Francis of Assisi asked Honorius III in Perugia that anyone who, contrite and confessed, entered the little church of the Portiuncula, would gain a plenary indulgence free of charge. Hence the name Indulgence of the Porziuncula, Forgiveness of Assisi, Indulgence or Forgiveness of the Roses (because of the prodigy that mediated in its confirmation according to some late tradition) or other similar ones.
Jesus and Mary confirmed their approval of the Great Forgiveness of the Porziuncola. The Virgin appeared to the Franciscan friar, Blessed Conrad of Ofida, enveloped in a ray of light, with the Child Jesus in her arms, blessing all the pilgrims at the Portiuncula door.
The Church has continued, to this day, granting and expanding this extraordinary grace. At present, this Indulgence can be obtained not only in Santa Maria de los Angeles or the Porziuncula, but in all Franciscan churches, and also in the cathedral and parish churches, from noon on August 1 to midnight on August 2. , day of the Dedication of the little church, only once, with the following conditions: 1) visit one of the churches mentioned, praying the Lord’s prayer and the Symbol of faith (Our Father and Creed); 2) confess, take communion and pray for the Pope’s intentions, for example, an Our Father with Hail Mary and Glory Be.
The aforementioned indulgences are already included in the Apostolic Constitution Indulgentiarum doctrina, Norma 15; here the wishes expressed up to now to the Sacred Penitentiary have been taken into account. In this pious visit, in accordance with Rule 16 of the same Apostolic Constitution, the Lord’s Prayer and the symbol of faith (Our Father and Creed) are prayed.
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