The Madonna Morena continues to work miracles, here is the beautiful story
The Shrine of Our Lady of Copacabana, located in the city of Copacabana, Bolivia, enshrines the revered Madonna Morena, a ceramic statue of the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus in her arms. The statue is dark in color, hence the name "Morena", which means "dark" or "black" in Spanish.
The origins of the cult of the Madonna Morena
To understand its origins, one must go back in time to the moment when i passengers on a ship they dispersed near Rio de Janeiro. Among these, some were returning from a visit to the shrine of the Virgin of Copacabana, in Bolivia.
Before the ship sank, the passengers desperate and scared, they asked Our Lady to intercede for them and to save them. Our Lady there I listen and he made sure that the ship was not wrecked and that they could land safely on the coast of Brazil.
the sanctuary
Il Bolivian shrine it is located in a truly privileged position, among the splendid and enchanting mountains that rise majestically on the banks of the grande Lake Titicaca. This wonderful natural setting gives the place a unique and surreal charm, conveying a feeling of peace and serenity.
Copacabana cove, or Sepa-cabana as it is called locally, it is located right at the foot of these majestic mountains. Its name, which comes from the Aymara language, means "place of peace“. And that's exactly how you feel when you're here: immersed in deep peace and wrapped in breathtaking beauty.
The cult of the Bolivian Madonna was born thanks to a young Indian, Francisco, who had a burning desire for his hometown to be dedicated to the Madonna. So in the 1581 began to build a statue of the Virgin and Child. His intent was to present it to the villagers once it was finished.
After a year the big day arrives, but unfortunately things don't go as the boy had hoped. The inhabitants of the village, in front of the statue, begin to to laugh. Francisco does not give up and with other boys begins to tour the major cities of Bolivia, to learn the specifications and be able to improve the image of his statue.
After months, the statue is finally finished and beautifully depicts Our Lady of Copacabana. Mary has the same somatic traits of the locals and in her arms she has a child very similar to other Indian children. The statue is praised by all and the proud boy heads towards the house, where, however, he finds people who intend to drive him out of his home. At that moment he opens the box containing the statue and Maria she smiles at him.
In that instant, the quarrelsome attitude of the men changes when they see the splendor of this wonderful Madonna full of love. Soon the Virgin begins to work great miracles on all the inhabitants of Copacabana.