Commemoration of the 200th Anniversary of the Virgin of the Angels, Patroness of Costa Rica
At the invitation of the Ambassador of Costa Rica in Japan, H.E. Alexander Salas, Dr. Ritter Díaz, Representative Director of JAPOLAC, participated in a solemn religious ceremony to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Virgin of the Angels, Patroness of Costa Rica, held at the Chapel of the Apostolic Nunciature in Tokyo, Japan.
The religious ceremony was presided over by the Apostolic Nuncio and Ambassador of the Vatican to Japan, Monsignor Francisco Escalante Molina, who bestowed a blessing upon an image of “La Negrita,” as the Virgin of the Angels is affectionately known by the faithful.
The Virgin of the Angels, also known as “La Negrita,” was declared the Patroness of Costa Rica in 1824. The dedication occurred after the miraculous discovery of the small statue of the Virgin by a young girl named Juana Pereira on August 2, 1635, near Cartago. The statue repeatedly returned to its original location after being moved, which was interpreted as a sign that a shrine should be built there.
Following this event, devotion to La Negrita grew significantly among the people of Costa Rica. In 1824, the first president of Costa Rica, Juan Mora Fernández, officially declared the Virgin of the Angels as the Patroness of Costa Rica, further solidifying her importance in the religious and cultural identity of the nation.
The event was graced by the devout participation of Japanese citizens, members of the Catholic communities of Mizonokuchi in Kawasaki City and Tsuzuki in Yokohama City, who offered prayers and sang the hymn in honor of the Virgin of the Angels.
Dr. Díaz expressed his gratitude to Ambassador Salas for the kind invitation and took the opportunity to greet and welcome the new Ambassador of the Vatican, affirming JAPOLAC’s strong commitment to collaborating in the activities of the Apostolic Nunciature.
