Barquisimeto welcomes its own and visitors to venerate the Divine Shepherdess

Published at: 06/01/2025 08:33 AM

The Basilica of Santa Rosa, located in the city of Barquisimeto in the state of Lara, is preparing to welcome its own and visitors who will venerate the Divine Shepherdess, a celebration that takes place every January 14th, and which is part of the religion and culture, not only of the people of Larense but also of the entire Venezuelan people.

Every January 14th, parishioners from the state of Lara gather around a Marian devotion to which they consider their protector: Our Lady of the Divine Shepherdess. Devotees from other states also travel to Barquisimeto to accompany her in the procession through the streets of the city and to ask or thank her for her intercession before God.

This is one of the largest Marian demonstrations in Latin America, bringing together more than three million believers on the route that starts from the homonymous basilica located in the town of Santa Rosa to the Cathedral of Barquisimeto.

It is about seven hours of walking through several parishes in Barquisimetan, in which some faithful carry on their shoulders the Virgin of the Divine Shepherdess who wears a different dress every year, with her typical hat, the Child Jesus on her legs and in her left hand a shepherd's crow and a lamb (from these last details her name comes from).

The devotion to the Divine Shepherdess began in the streets of Seville, Spain, in 1703. The Capuchin friar Fray Isidoro took the opportunity to preach in honor of this virgin in one of the prayers.

VTV