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Citation – Marian Library Postcard Collection ML.006
Country
Paraguay
Description
In the sixteenth century, a convert Guaraní Native carved a small image of the Virgin to show his gratitude for having saved his life from a Mbayáe Indian assault. Upon praying to the Virgin, he felt he had been led to a thick tree trunk within which he was able to hide and not be found. When the danger had passed, he used the wood of this tree to carve two statuettes, a larger one that he dedicated to the Church at Tobati, and a smaller one for his personal devotions. This image of Mary came to bear the name Our Lady of the Miracles of Caacupé.
A few years later in 1603, Tapaicuá Lake flooded the entire Pirayú valley taking everything in its wake, including the image of the Virgin. The Franciscan friars along with the people that lived in the area began to pray for the calming of the water. Father Luis de Bolaños blessed the waters and the missing statuette reappeared. It was taken as a sign and since then has been referred to as la Virgen de los Milagros (the Virgin of Miracles).
Our Lady of Caacupé is a beautiful wood carving with a gentle oval face and blue eyes. Similar to the lmmaculate, her hands are joined together and lay on her chest in prayer. Her blond hair lays on her shoulders. The small image measures about 50 centimeters. She wears a white tunic and has a beautiful blue cloak over her shoulders, both embroidered with gold thread. She is housed today in her own church which was constructed in 1945. Her feast day is December 8.
References:
Santoro, Nicholas Joseph. Mary in Our Life: Atlas of the Names and Titles of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Bloomington: iUniverse, 2011.
University of Dayton. “Latin American Titles of Mary.” Accessed April 12, 2024.
Researched by Anne E. Keefe
Popular Devotions
December 8th. The great feast of “Maria de Caacupé.” On this day thousands of pilgrims congregate at the Virgin’s sanctuary. Many come walking or on bicycles or however they can get there to show their love and gratitude toward their “Mother.” Her feast is celebrated on the same day as the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Hail Mary
Dios te salve, María. Llena eres de gracia: El Señor es contigo.
Bendita tú eres entre todas las mujeres.
Y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre: Jesús.
Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros pecadores,
ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte.
Amen.
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