Pilgrimage to Copacabana: A Celebration of Faith
Every August, over 50,000 people from Bolivia and Peru travel to Copacabana, located on the shores of Lake Titicaca, to honor Our Lady of Copacabana, the patron saint of Bolivia. This pilgrimage is a significant event for many, featuring a grand procession led by a replica of the Virgin Mary’s wooden-carved figure.
Although her true feast day is celebrated on February 2, coinciding with Candlemas, August 5 marks the anniversary of her coronation as Bolivia’s patron saint, a title given by Pope Pius XII in 1925. This year celebrates a century since that momentous event.
Elizabet Valdivia, who journeyed 12 hours from Arequipa, Peru, shared her faith: “She has granted me various miracles. She gave us our car and the chance to raise my son, and I always ask her to watch over our jobs.”
The Origins of a Beloved Icon
The figure of Our Lady of Copacabana has been treasured at her basilica since the late 16th century. It was created by Francisco Tito Yupanqui in 1583, who was inspired by a dream of the Virgin. After being dismissed by a chaplain, Yupanqui discovered a vision of the Virgin as an Inca maiden by the lake, leading him to carve the image from a maguey tree trunk in Potosí.
As he returned to Copacabana, Yupanqui witnessed the local Indigenous people, both Aymara and Quechua, welcome the Virgin with reverence at dawn on her festivity.
A Shrine of Devotion and Gratitude
The museum adjacent to the basilica showcases hundreds of offerings made by devotees over the centuries, including beautifully embroidered capes and silver crowns symbolizing Bolivian independence.
Fr. Itamar Pesoa, a Franciscan friar, emphasized that Our Lady of Copacabana embraces all her children: “Within Bolivia, she is the queen.” Pilgrims travel from across South America to express their gratitude—some for the gift of motherhood, others for healing from illness.
Starting August 4, several Masses are held in her honor, continuing a tradition passed down through generations. Although the original statue hasn’t participated in processions since 1925, its replicas are held in deep respect.
In a nearby chapel, parishioners light candles for their miraculous requests, patiently waiting for them to burn. Sandra Benavides from Cuzco shared her experience: “I prayed for good health after a near-fatal accident. Our Lady of Copacabana is miraculous. She feels like a mother to me.”
This annual pilgrimage is more than just a religious event; it is a heartfelt expression of faith, gratitude, and community that unites generations.
