An important work of Catholic Colombian art is being recreated as a mosaic. The piece, known as Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá, is a culturally influential artwork with a miraculous history. The mosaic replica will be presented at the Vatican today.
According to Crux, the original oil painting, c. 1577-1586, was saved from obscurity by a devout woman named Maria Ramos. The painting was housed in a small chapel, but it became weathered and ruined over time. In fact, at one point the hole-laden cotton canvas was used as a wheat sifter.
Ramos discovered the image and placed the ruined painting in a small chapel. It was then, as tradition holds, that the unexpected occurred; the image miraculously restored itself. Gradually, the damaged parts of the painting reformed and soon the image was brightly colored once more. The image has reportedly appeared to illuminate an additional three times since the 16th century.
The mosaic replica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá was commissioned by the Dominican order, which runs the shrine that houses the original. The monks financed it, but it is officially counted as a gift from the Colombian government to the Vatican. Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá is the patron saint of Colombia.
Of the donation, Jorge Mario Eastman, Colombia’s ambassador to the Holy See, said:
Pope Francis had originally intended to attend the presentation, but was forced to decline due to his recent intestinal surgery. The procedure went well, but the pontiff will be in recovery for at least seven days. In 2017, during his papal visit to Colombia, Pope Francis became the second pope to venerate the original painting.
