La Negrita
Makes Historic Journey Going To The People
Despite the call by the ministra de Salud,
Mariá Luisa Avila, tens of thousands of
faithful were out yesterday to pay homage to
the the patron saint of Costa Rica, La
Virgen de Los Angeles or "La Negrita" as she
is called in adoration.
"Que viva la patrona de Costa Rica" were the
shouts of many when La Negrita passed by
their community.
Since health officials suspended the
traditional yearly "romeria" or walk to
Cartago, breaking a more than 200 year old
tradition, organizer decided to take La
Negrita on the road.
Riding in a glass
enclosure, similar to that used by Pope John
Paul II, La Negrita made her way to
communities in San José, Alajuela and
Heredia.
The trip by La Negrita is a first, history
in the making, as it is the first that she
is not in the Basilica de Los Angeles, in
Cartago, on August 1st. And the first that
that she has gone to the people and not the
people to her.
La Negrita left the Basilica at 6am Saturday
under heavy police guard and a caravan of
faithful.
But before she left on her journey, the
sound of fireworks woke up the residents of
Cartago at 5am, announcing that La Negrita
was ready to begin her historic journey.
Some of the communities that were blessed
with her presence were San Pedro, Guadalupe,
Tibás, Santo Domingo, San Pablo, San Rafael,
Heredia centro, San Joaquín de Flores,
Desamparados de Alajuela, San Antonio de
Belén, Santa Ana, Escazú, Alajuelita,
Hatillo and finally San José.
La Negrita was greeted by many along the way
and at each planned stop.
The Bishop of Cartago, José Francisco Ulloa,
said that many asked for La Negrita to stop
the AH1N1 virus pandemic.
"In the history of Costa Rica there have
always been difficult times, let us hope
that, this time, the Virgen María will
protect us and stop this", said Ulloa.
Today (Sunday), La Negrita will travel by
helicopter to visit the communities of
Tilarán, Los Ángeles de La Fortuna de San
Carlos and Puntarenas.
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