Notes

Annabella Iurman
Ms. Gomez
American history
December 10, 2015
Our Lady of Coromoto
Each Latin American country has an image of the Virgin Mary it worships as its patron saint. Our Lady of Coromoto is the patron saint of Venezuela. In Guanare, Venezuela there was a group of Indians of the Cospes tribe headed by their leader, Coromoto. Coromoto and his tribe decided to abandon their land in order to avoid the invading white people and their religious beliefs. Soon after an apparition came to the chief and asks for him to be baptized in the Catholic Church. The chief refuses, threatens her, and tries to grab her, but when he grabs her the only thing left was a picture of the apparition. After Coromoto realizes it was Our lady of Coromoto he decides to be baptized. She appears in Guanare, Venezuela, she also influences her country and they make her their patron saint, and she says a very important message. These are all reasons for why she is important in Venezuela.
Our Lady of Coromoto appears in Guanare, Venezuela in 1651. The chief of the Cospes tribe and his family were the only ones that saw her. She was seen the first time by Coromoto in the Tucupido river, and the second time she was seen was in the Chiefs hut on September 8, 1652 by Coromoto and his family. The feast day of Our Lady of Coromoto is on February 2, September 8 and 11. This is celebrated in Venezuela every year because of what a big impact she made on the people.
The people in Venezuela are influenced by The Virgin of Coromoto because of the beautiful legend played in Guanare, Venezuela. The Virgin of Coromoto plays a big role in Guanare because she achieved for a whole tribe to get baptized and learn from their mistakes. She is their patron saint because they feel like she is someone who is generous and helps them in difficult times. Most of the people in Venezuela are devoted to her because of her confidence and kindness.
Our Lady of Coromoto once said something to Coromoto that had a big impact on the whole village and Venezuela. She said to Coromoto "go to the house of the white men and ask them to pour water on your heads, so as to be able to enter heaven." ("Angelfire"). This quote explains how The Virgin of Coromoto wants the chief to be baptized and it also explains the importance of going to the white men in the village. Some unique qualities about Our Lady of Coromoto are that her second appearance she appears to the Chiefs family, and she is the only saint who has shown herself to a persons family. This quote is important because it was the beginning of uniting the whole tribe and village.
In conclusion, The Virgin of Coromoto is a very important saint to Venezuela because She appears in Guanare, Venezuela. She influences her country and they made her their patron saint. And she tells the people a very important message. After her 2 appearances Coromoto got his tribe and him to be baptized. She influences her country by being confident and open minded. And the message she shared affects the village and Venezuela.