The Virgin of the Clouds is a Marian dedication that is based in Ecuador and Peru, that is why we want to invite you to know the history of this Latin American dedication that is full of great devotion and also why it is paid tribute in these countries, so continue reading this article, we know you will like it.
The Virgin of the Clouds
It is a Marian invocation of Ecuador where the Virgin Mary is represented, as a true queen, carrying a scepter in her right hand, with a lily as a breastplate and an olive branch as a fruit that is the link that unites her to Israel, In his left arm he carries the Child Jesus who has a work in his hands, and as a pedestal he has a cloud and a moon.
This story dates back to the year 1696, where Bishop Sancho de Andrade y Figueroa, being in Quito, sick and on his deathbed, his people who felt great devotion to the Virgin Mary decided to make a novena so that her health would heal, they took out a procession of the Rosary through the cathedral on December 30 and there the Virgin Mary appeared surrounded by nines, there are more than 500 people who served as witnesses to the event and the bishop was miraculously healed.
The event happened at 4:45 in the afternoon and when they were finishing the second decade of the Rosary, the signal was made with a bell, so that all the faithful would kneel and sing the Gloria Patri, when clouds were seen from the sky large luminous that were heading towards the village of Guápulo. The priest José de Ulloa y la Cadena was the first to see the Virgin, when everyone turns their eyes from her and sees her on an altar in the clouds.
She had enough time for all those present to see her and once the procession was over, the respective record was made, where the statement was made by the President of the Court, who was the highest authority of the town, and by all the witnesses. of the apparition, a record that is preserved today in the Archbishop's Archive of the city of Quito.
Our Lady of the Clouds in Peru
In Peru, devotion is also made to the Virgin of the Clouds, since Sister Antonia Lucía of the Holy Spirit was born there, and this homage is paid to her, on the day of the Lord of Miracles a canvas of the Virgin is placed next to it behind the saint since 1747, and both go out in a procession that attracts many visitors and devotees in the city of Lima in the month of October. This canvas shows Bishop Sancho de Andrade y Figueroa kneeling at the feet of the Virgin in an attitude of prayer, and in the background there is a small church that corresponds to the Guápulo or Nazarene Sanctuary.
The belief of the people places the Virgin of the Clouds as a cult since the year 1800, where Mother María Antonia, who founded the Monastery of the Nazarenas, who was born in Ecuador but lived in Peru, brought this devotion to this country. In XVII century.
The Virgin of the Clouds gathers the Migrants
Every year on January XNUMX, thousands of people who are faithful devotees of the Virgin in Ecuador come to the city of Azogues, including their own and foreign visitors, to worship the Virgin of the Clouds, to be part of the festivities that the Franciscan monks do and for the respective procession of the virgin. This devotion has passed to other borders, since there are many foreigners who have benefited from their favors.
Outside of Ecuador pilgrimages are made by Ecuadorians to give thanks to the Virgin for the favors she has granted them and this tradition dates back to 1912. That day the churches and confessionals are also filled, which seek to obtain the forgiveness of their sins and do their penance.
There is also another procession in his honor on May 31, where more than 40 people can attend, including faithful and visitors. On January 1 of each year, groups of priests from all the convents in the country come to help people in a moment of brotherhood, to give them support in their spiritual needs, especially the caravans of people and pilgrims who come to the sanctuary.
Prayer to the Virgin of the Clouds
This prayer to the Virgin of the Clouds is that it has become very popular over the years, and the one they do on the day of the virgin in Ecuador, we leave it to you so that you know it and you can learn it.
Oh Miraculous Virgin of the Clouds! You who are the mother of Jesus and our Mother, we welcome you so that this is your home, today we salute you and venerate you, with all our hearts, that on this sacred day none of our acts and actions may be to your displeasure, since we only want to honor you in the same way as the heavenly angels do in heaven, today we praise and bless you, so that your hand rests on all the people who are full of justice, and so that we can serve you with faith and devotion as your true children, Amen.
Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Clouds
The most famous sanctuary is the Franciscan Sanctuary of the Diocese of Azogues, which is located in the eastern part of the city of the same name, in the capital of Cañari, this building was built between 1912 and 1954. It is a beautiful church that has some stairways made of carved stone from the Abuga hill. Its main altar is made of a very fine wood that is covered in gold leaf and in the central part is the image of the Virgin.
The Abuga hill was a volcano in the Mesozoic and Quaternary stages, so it has a volcanic origin, it is at 3077 meters of altitude and two kilometers away from the city of Azogues. This construction has a religious architectural stone front where most of the pilgrims gather when they make the pilgrimage to the Virgin. The construction is of mingas bases. The virgin of the sanctuary was made by Don Daniel Alvarado Bermeo in 1899, so that her devotion would increase, the choirs of the virgin were created.
In the year 1965, the canonization of the virgin was requested, so that her cult would be public and to be able to ask for the intercession of God, this act was carried out on January 1, 1967. In addition, in 2010 a new construction project was created. of a virgin that will measure 25 meters high, with a weight of 35 tons and that will be covered by 500 pieces of aluminum, with a cost of more than one million dollars. This will be located on the Abuga hill, and will also consist of several images of the passion of Jesus along the way to it, so that the parishioners pray the rosary.
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