A mysterious image of a woman and child was engraved on it. Understanding the significance of this, the priest petitioned Church officials and they authorized the building of a church over the boulder where the statue was found.
From the beginning, La Negrita was believed to have great healing powers and there are countless testimonies of miracles performed through her intercession.
Visitors from throughout Costa Rica and beyond come daily to see and pray before La Negrita,venerating the relic and petitioning her for miracles. Each year — on August 2, the feast day of Our Lady of the Angels — a celebration is held and more than a million faithful pilgrimage to the Basilica, many walking for miles and miles to get there.
I traveled to Costa Rica recently to attend an international meeting of marriage educators for the Apostolic Movement of Schoenstatt. The Basilica is indeed marvelous — colorful, inviting, and filled with beautiful artwork throughout. By their postures and expressions, the other visitors that day could feel her, too. As I knelt before our Lord, I thought about how perfect the arrangement. Our Blessed Mother rests so near to her Son, and as she always does, she points to Jesus and beckons her children to seek only Him.
After a time, I wandered down to the basement of the Basilica. Frankly, I did it because I saw other people going there and I was curious. Before you let yourself get creeped-out I was at first glance , read on. When a miracle is granted, the person or family purchases the appropriate charm and deposits it at the Basilica as a symbol of their love and gratitude. I never cease to marvel at the ways in which Mary reaches out to her children and makes her desires known. What an astounding act of humility!
