Copacabana Patroness of Bolivia

by Zsolt Aradi

For many worldly people, the word "Copacabana" evokes a most secular meaning. Many of the flashiest cities of the world have at least one nightclub called by that name. This name they assume derives from the famous beach of Brazil's Rio de Janeiro, the fashionable Copacabana, the "Lido," on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. But the original title was quite different: the name of Copacabana was carried away by Brazilian fishermen from the Lake Titicaca where they had been saved from one of those violent storms that rage on the treacherous mountain lakes. They attributed their escape to the Virgen of Copacabana on the Bolivian side of Lake Titicaca. This Indian word has two meanings: one is "beholder of the blue horizon" and the other, "beholder of the precious stone." The present site of this great shrine was founded by the Incas and used to be a port from which many boats sailed out to the sacred islands of the Sun and Moon in the Lake. The place, it is said, had an Inca shrine, the Temple to the Sun.

Indian, and especially, Inca, customs are not only colorful but have deep significance. The Indios never deserted completely their tradition and carried it into their Christian faith. Thus, Copacabana is one of the most interesting shrines in South America, closely connected with the life of the population and affecting their daily existence.

But to return to our story, it was around 1576 that the Inca fishermen were caught in a terrifying storm on Lake Titicaca. They thought they would perish instantly. And while they prayed, assuming that death was near, the Blessed Virgin appeared to them and led them to safety. In their gratitude, they decided to build a shrine and to place a statue of the Madonna in it. Francisco Yupanquie, a descendant of the Inca nobility, was entrusted with the task of carving the statue. He certainly was neither a painter nor sculptor, but he created a four-foot-high statue of Our Lady made of maguey, wood and stucco. The face and hands are of plaster. The features of the Madonna and the Holy Child are distinctly Indian, as are the colors of the statue. For feast days, however, the image is dressed in shining costly robes, decorated with very precious jewels. The statue was completed in 1576, the chapel was built in 1583. The shrine soon became very famous, and one of the Peruvian viceroys, since the territory at that time belonged to Peru, ordered the construction of the present church. Thousands and thousands have flocked there ever since; people come from all over the country and in August the feasts and celebrations last more than ten days.

Since 1940, the church has been elevated to the rank of a Basilica. The original image is never taken out of its sanctuary because, according to the popular belief, "she does not want to be outside." Old tales insist that when the statue was carried into the open, great storms and unexpected calamities ensued. The veneration of the people to this Indian Inca Madonna is so great that those who come into the church leave walking backward in order not to turn their backs on her.

The feasts in August are the most popular in the region. Groups constantly perform Indian war and agricultural dances, accompanied by the primitive music of drums, flutes and pipes. There are dances, which re-enact many events from the history of South America and Bolivia. In colorful costumes, many characters from the period of the discovery of America are portrayed: Pizarro, Atahualpa, the Inca King, Inca divinities, Spanish devils. One of the most interesting dance performances re-enacts Pizarro's death sentence upon Atahualpa. As the spectators follow the tragic story they reach such an emotional pitch that the entire crowd breaks into an outburst of wild dancing.

Every day processions wind their way along the shores of the Lake into the church, and there are also processions in boats on the Lake to bless the waters. In these processions, a replica of the original image is carried by the priests.

The Bolivian peasant of Indian ancestry, bearer of a once glorious tradition, reasserts his ancient heritage during these feasts and processions.

This item 3180 digitally provided courtesy of CatholicCulture.org