6 MARIAN INVOCATIONS IN PERU - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The Marian devotions in Peru are part of the Christian religion in this South American country. Despite the fact that Peru has people who belong to different creeds and who carry out different practices, the predominant religion is Christianity.

The presence of Christianity has given rise to the development of Marian invocations, which are part of the predominant religion of that country of the country; In many Peruvian localities, regional representations of the Virgin Mary are worshiped.

Source: flickr.com

Some of the Marian avocations of Peru are: the Virgin of Perpetual Help, the Virgin of Chapi, Our Lady of Mercedes, the Virgin of the Door, the Virgin of Sapallanga and the Virgin of Chiquinquirá. Some are typical of Peruvian localities, while others are also worshiped in other countries of the world.

The festivities of these Marian representations are usually of great magnitude. Some have a pilgrimage process prior to the central date in which the image of the Virgin is honored.

Our Lady of Evangelization

Considered the Patroness of the Archdiocese of Lima, capital of Peru, Our Lady of Evangelization is the main Marian dedication of that state.

Its inhabitants honor the Virgin every May 14 with the celebration of a Eucharist and a massive procession through the streets.

The most important image in the country shows a sculpture of the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus in her arms. It is a piece of polychrome wood 1.70 meters high in the shape of the mother of Jesus.

The figure was carved by the flamenco artist Roque Balduque, who is considered "The imager of the Mother of God." Said representation is considered the oldest in both Peru and South America.

The metropolitan council maintained the tradition of honoring the Marian invocation with the celebration of a mass. At the ceremony, the faithful received the Eucharist and prayed the Rosary and the Marian litanies.

Some point out that the image of Our Lady of Evangelization corresponds to the invocation of the Virgin Mary Help of Christians; others suggest that it is from the Virgen del Rosario.

Virgin of Perpetual Help

The Virgin of Perpetual Help is the Patron Saint of the Rímac district of Lima and is venerated in different locations in Peru.

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, located in Piura (north of Peru), is one of the most common places where this invocation of the Virgin is venerated. In addition, she is known locally as "La Morena de Oro de Piura", due to the tone of her complexion.

This representation is celebrated in the last week of June; However, on the first Sunday in July, the image of the dedication is taken out in a float to travel the streets of the city.

On the other hand, the image is also venerated in the center of a town located in the Department of Junín; its festival takes place between June 26 and 28.

Virgin of Chapi

The Virgin of Chapi is one of the Marian invocations of Peru and its sanctuary is located about 90 kilometers away from the city of Arequipa, in a sparsely populated place that bears the same name as the Virgin: Chapi. Thousands of devotees come to the place after finishing their corresponding pilgrimage.

Alexvillegas, from Wikimedia Commons

This invocation is celebrated every February 2, on the Day of Purification. Despite this, the faithful also honor her on May 1, the month in which the celebration of Mary begins; and on September 8, when her nativity is celebrated.

Our Lady of the Mercedes

Our Lady of Mercedes, also known as the Virgin of Mercy, is a Marian invocation venerated in various countries of the world. Peru is the state with the largest number of parishioners in the entire American continent.

The celebration of the Virgen de la Merced is held in this country every September 24, specifically in the Paita region. In this town the largest fair in America is held in honor of the Virgin; her devotion takes place throughout the country.

Source: es.wikipedia.org

The origin of this dedication dates back to August 1218, when the image of the Virgin appeared separately to three people from Barcelona.

Ten days later, the men met and explained what had happened: they all assured that the Virgin Mary was asking them to found a religious order dedicated to the redemption of the captives.

Virgin of the Door

It is about the Marian invocation that has its main cult center in a sanctuary that is in the city of Otuzco, northeast of Trujillo, Peru.

This representation of the Virgin received the title of "Queen of Universal Peace" by Pope Pius XII; Years later, Pope Francis declared her "Mother of Mercy and Hope."

The celebrations of this Virgin take place on December 15. On this date, the faithful visit the image in its temple located in the Church of Otuzco. The date is preceded by a novena that takes place between December 4 and 12.

On the other hand, the image of the Virgen de la Puerta makes several pilgrimages from Otuzco to various regional districts. This act lasts approximately seven days, during which the figure is taken to the main Catholic churches in the city.

Virgin of Sapallanga

The Virgin of Sapallanga, another of Peru's Marian invocations, is named after the Peruvian town where she made her first appearance.

On one side of the chapel in which it is located there is a spring water source that, according to some local claims, flows for seven years without interruption and then has another seven years of drought. Some believers drink the water because it is said to be able to soothe various bodily pains.

Every September 7 there is a week-long party. More than 20,000 visitors, both local and foreign, visit the place in this period to be part of the celebration.

References

1. Religion in Peru, English Wikipedia, (nd). Taken from wikipedia.org
2. Devotions to the Blessed Virgin in Peru and in the world, Portal Peru needs Fatima, (nd). Taken from fatima.pe
3. 11 Marian invocations that perhaps you did not know, Portal Perú Católico, (2018). Taken from perucatolico.com
4. Virgen de Sapallanga, Spanish Wikipedia, (nd). Taken from en.wikipedia.org
5. Marian Invocations (Invocations Marian), Portal, (nd). Taken from.es