Cartago, Costa Rica:
La Negrita (The Black Madonna) in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels
About La Negrita:
The history of the Black Madonna here in Costa Rica dates back to 1635, when a young girl looking for firewood saw a black rock that was shaped like a doll, with a mysterious image on it, sitting on top of a large boulder. The image appeared to be the Blessed Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus.
She took the rock home, but somehow it was found the next day back where it was originally discovered!
Again, she brought it home and, again, it was found back in its original place. After this happened a third time, she confided in her Parish Priest. He took the stone into the church, but again, the rock was found back in its original place. Realizing the significance of this, Church officials authorized the building of a church over the rock where the statue was found.
It is important to note that the apparition of La Negrita occurred during a period when Spanish colonial authorities enforced strict racial hierarchies. That the Virgin appeared as a dark-skinned figure and chose to manifest to a mestiza woman—of mixed indigenous and European heritage—carried profound theological significance. The statue’s refusal to be moved from the spring symbolized Mary’s preferential presence among the marginalized.
By 1639, a small chapel stood at the site of the finding. The spring became a place of healing, and pilgrims began arriving from across Central America. This church still remains but the statue was later moved to a new Basilica, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, where it can be seen today.
About the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels in Cartago, Costa Rica:
Many miraculous healings have been attributed to the statue, which is now kept in the Basilica in Cartago that was built to honor Our Lady.
The Basilica, built in 1639, was partially destroyed during a powerful earthquake and was subsequently restored. The Basilica is open daily with opportunity to attend one of several Masses each day, view the miracle and opportunities for Confession every day as well.
The highlight of the year is on August 2, when almost one million people (almost a quarter of the total population of the country) make a pilgrimage to the shrine. Many walk for miles and often on their knees as a sign of faith.
La Negrita became the Patron Saint of Costa Rica in the year 1824. The Basilica was visited by Pope John Paul II in 1983.
The Feast Day of Our Lady of the Angels (La Negrita) is celebrated on August 2 and is a national holiday in Costa Rica.
Traveling to La Negrita Shrine in Cartago, Costa Rica:
Cartago sits in the Central Valley, 15 miles (22 kilometers) southeast of San José, at the foot of Irazú Volcano.
Address: Avenida 1, Cartago
GPS coordinates: 9° 51′ 50.8176” N, 83° 54′ 45.6552” W
Tel: (+506) 2551 0465
email: info@santuarionacional.org
Visit the official website of Our Lady of Angels in Cartago, Costa Rica (in Spanish)
Photo courtesy of La Negrita Shrine.