(ZENIT News / Barquisimeto, 01.17.2024).- On January 14th, in the state of Lara, Venezuela, over 2.7 million people filled the streets of Barquisimeto in an impressive procession in honor of the Divine Shepherdess. Pilgrims from across the country covered more than 7.5 kilometers on the feast day of the Virgin. The state governor, Adolfo Pereira, shared on his social media that during the procession, «peace, calmness, and the religiosity of the people prevailed.»
The devotion to the Divine Shepherdess originated from a dream of Friar Isidoro in Seville, Spain, in 1703. The dream depicted a virgin dressed in white and blue surrounded by sheep. By 1736, the parish priest of the Basilica of Santa Rosa commissioned a statue of the Immaculate Conception, but by mistake, the sent statue was that of the Divine Shepherdess. Despite attempts to return it, the incident was interpreted by the people as a sign that the Divine Shepherdess should stay and become the patroness.
Every January 14th, a procession of the image of the Divine Shepherdess takes place, where the faithful carry the statue from its church in the town of Santa Rosa to the metropolitan cathedral of Barquisimeto. During the return journey, they visit 44 churches in various parishes of the state. The sanctuary of the Divine Shepherdess is the second most important pilgrimage site in the Americas, after the sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
This year, upon reaching the cathedral, the Archbishop Emeritus of Coro, Mariano Parra, celebrated Mass and noted in his homily: «It is not a coincidence that this procession has been celebrated 166 times, and each time the number of people accompanying the Divine Shepherdess increases, making it one of the largest manifestations [of Marian devotion] in the world.»
The procession coincided with the conclusion of the 121st Ordinary Plenary Assembly of the Venezuelan bishops, where they addressed the country’s major problems. In a pastoral statement, the bishops called for working towards peace, justice, and solidarity, urging the opening of doors and the construction of bridges for understanding and coexistence. They also highlighted urgent issues in areas such as the economy, humanitarian crisis, immigration, education, and corruption.
In a notable development, political leader María Corina Machado, winner of the opposition primaries in October 2023, participated in this year’s procession, emphasizing the importance of unity and hope in challenging times.
