La Virgen del Carmen is widely celebrated in Guatemala. The devotion to the Virgin of Carmen is especially widespread throughout the Capital City. There are several temples dedicated to La Virgen del Carmen, the main one being the Shrine of Cerrito del Carmen. In the Seventeenth Century, the hermit, Juan Corz, brought the image of La Virgen del Carmen to Guatemala City during its fourth transfer. A legend tells that Saint Teresa wanted this image to be taken to the Americas, and at the feet of La Virgen del Carmen a great city would emerge. The hermitage of Cerro del Carmen, one of many temples dedicated to the Virgin of Carmen, was built following Juan Corz’s trip to the Americas just as Saint Teresa predicted. During Corz’s trip, the Virgin came to him and told him that he wanted to rest in the Valley of the Cows. La Virgen del Carmen is now patron saint of the Valley, which was renamed “Valley of the Virgin.” In 1813, another temple, The Temple of Our Lady of Carmen, was built commemorating La Virgen del Carmen. One year later, on September 11, 1814, the temple was blessed and dedicated the heir of the Brotherhood of the Holy Scapular. The earthquakes of 1917 and 1976 heavily affected the temple, but after restoration, the temple still stands today.

Citations:

“La Presencia De La Virgen Del Carmen En La Capital.” Prensa Libre, www.prensalibre.com/hemeroteca/la-virgen-del-carmen-en-el-centro-historico.

“Virgen Del Carmen.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Feb. 2018, es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgen_del_Carmen.

Researched by Thomas R. Clontz

Popular Devotions

Feast Day: July 16

“La Presencia De La Virgen Del Carmen En La Capital.” Prensa Libre, www.prensalibre.com/hemeroteca/la-virgen-del-carmen-en-el-centro-historico.

Hail Mary