Heaven-Sent: Miraculous Images of Mary: Our Lady of Coromoto
The following is adapted from a research report I wrote in 2019:
Christ said, “Woman, behold thy son; son, behold thy mother.” Nearly 2,000 years have passed since He gave His Mother to all mankind. Mary, as the most perfect woman ever to live, is the most perfect mother ever to live. As the Mediatrix of All Graces, she does all in her power to turn mankind fully towards the Divine Light of her Son. One example of this motherly love is seen in her miraculous portraits, found throughout the world, through which God has granted many graces.
Although there are many miraculous images sparkling like heavenly gems throughout South America, one unusual image is that of Our Lady of Coromoto, located in Guanare, Venezuela. The story of the miracle began in the last decade of the 16th century, when fear of evangelization by the Spanish led natives to retreat to a place near the Tucupido River.1 It was the year 1651, and the natives continued to refuse Christianity. At the time, the area “was a very isolated place”; but they were not out of the reach of the Queen of Heaven, who descended to give a motherly message to the chief.2
Mary told the tribe that they should move to the Spanish town and be baptized “so as to be able to enter heaven”. This was enough to convince the natives to accept Christianity, but the chief reverted and left the town.3 Despite the fact that he lacked faith, this was not the end of Our Lady's appearances. On the morning of September 8th, 1652, the chief received a second visit from Our Lady, in which he tried to attack her - but instead of punishing him, the good Mother “embraced him, and the bow fell from his hand”. When she took her leave, the chief found that he was holding the portrait which has been honored ever since.4
This portrait of Our Lady of Coromoto still exists. Astonishingly, it measures less than one square inch, and it looks to be made out of “parchment or tissue paper”. Perhaps the most unusual thing about this miraculous gift is that the image “seems to have been drawn with a fine pen”.5
Furthermore, a restoration made several new discoveries: despite the fact that Our Lady's eyes are “less than one millimeter” in size, there is a similarity between the eyes of Our Lady of Coromoto and Our Lady of Guadalupe: “with microscopic observation” one can see the iris in the tiny image. Moreover, in the left eye, one can even see a “luminous point” which “seems to form a human figure”.6
One cannot help but meditate upon the significance of these discoveries. One thing is for certain, however: the image is meant to help man to realize more strongly the love of God and His Mother. Through this unique image, devotion has brought blessings upon many. At the church of “'Our Lady of the Jungle,' . . . phenomenal healings and miracles are continuously” recorded.7 Our Lady of Coromoto is only one example of the devotion shown to her by the people of South America.
This is possibly the most unusual miraculous Marian image I know of, certainly the smallest! What I especially like about it is the nature of the image, being more of a sketch or illustration, rather than the paintings or statues we’ve come to expect. It’s colorless, outside of the staining which creates the image, and what could be a red ink on the Christ Child’s robes. Sadly, I can’t make out His Face, due to the fading appearing across the image.
You may have seen on Notes some weeks ago that I posted a character sketch I drew, prompted by
’s character sketch of Lady Radiance, where I mentioned that I used to love sketching with a single color pen, and shading with lines, which is called hatching. We see this technique used here, and in its surprising simplicity, it’s hard not to ask “who drew this?” I almost expect there to have been an earthly artist behind it, but I still want to know who draws the images, if it’s God, or angels, or someone like St. Luke perhaps? I also happen to love tiny things, while not having patience for details or fine work, so for me, the fact that this image is so small only gives me greater appreciation; perhaps we can also take it as a reminder to love the little things, and to be content with being little if God asks it of us.What do you think? Are you surprised by the medium or the size? Are there any aspects of the image which you find to be significant, and do you have any ideas as to why it might have been created in this style?
Sources:
“Our Lady of Coromoto.” www.marypages.com. 2019. Foundation Marypages. 12 Feb. 2019. <https://www.marypages.com/coromoto,-lady-(venezuela)-en.html>
The Marian Apparitions. N.A. Association of the Friends of Carlos Acutis. 12 Feb. 2019.<http://www.themarianapparitions.org/en/avm >
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Coromoto.
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Marian Apparitions.
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Really lovely. I'd never even heard of this image. Thank you!