(ZENIT News / Catamarca, 09.15.2024).- A monumental tribute to faith and tradition has been unveiled in Catamarca, Argentina, where the world’s largest statue of the Virgin Mary now stands. Towering at 48 meters high, this stunning sculpture of “Nuestra Señora del Valle” (Our Lady of the Valley) was inaugurated on September 7, marking the “Día del Milagro” (Day of the Miracle), a day of particular significance for the local community.
The grand statue, which includes a chapel inside and a 360º viewing platform, was unveiled by Bishop Luis Urbanc in a ceremony attended by local civil authorities, the project’s director Walter D’Agostini, and the workers who contributed to this awe-inspiring feat of architecture and devotion. Speaking at the event, Bishop Urbanc emphasized the spiritual meaning of the statue, asking God to inspire those who come to pray before it. He called for an outpouring of love among brothers and sisters, seeking the Virgin’s intercession for divine grace.
This giant statue is much more than a symbol of faith. It celebrates the deep-rooted devotion to “Nuestra Señora del Valle”, a tradition that began over 400 years ago. According to local lore, the Virgin was first discovered in 1618 in a remote grotto in Choya, by a worker who followed the mysterious sounds of young women singing and leaving offerings of flowers and lamps at a hidden niche in the mountainside. Inside this niche, he found a small, 42-centimeter statue of the Virgin Mary, her face dark-skinned, hands folded in prayer, and adorned with golden robes and a blue belt. Despite being exposed to the elements for years, the statue remained miraculously preserved, sparking widespread devotion across the region.
For centuries, “Nuestra Señora del Valle” has been revered as the protector of miners and farmers, and her miraculous interventions have become legend. One of the most notable occurred in 1694, when a devastating plague of locusts threatened to ruin local crops. After a fervent nine-day prayer, the swarm dispersed, which the faithful took as a divine sign of the Virgin’s protection.
This deep reverence culminated in the construction of a grand sanctuary in 1859, which was completed in 1875. The Virgin was declared the National Patroness of Tourism in 1974, and the faithful from across northern Argentina make regular pilgrimages to honor her. The newest statue, which dominates the skyline of Catamarca, serves as a striking and modern testament to this ongoing tradition.
The unveiling of the statue coincides with the remembrance of a significant event in local history— the 2004 earthquake, when the community credited “Nuestra Señora del Valle” with protecting them from the disaster’s worst effects. The date of the inauguration, September 7, holds particular meaning as it commemorates that miraculous moment.
The small original statue, now known as the «Virgen Morena,» was long ago moved from the mountain grotto to a chapel in Choya. However, the newly unveiled monument ensures that “Nuestra Señora del Valle” will continue to watch over her community for generations to come, from a vantage point that can be seen for miles around.
For the people of Catamarca and beyond, this statue is more than a work of art. It stands as a powerful reminder of the enduring faith that has defined the region for centuries.
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