Las Lajas: Apparitions, Miracles, Sanctuary, Prayers
Located in the heart of the Colombian Andes, the Sanctuary of Las Lajas (meaning "Sanctuary of the Rocks") is built into a cliff face. The Virgin Mary appeared here in the 18th century to a deaf-mute girl accompanied by her mother. During the apparitions, the child regained her speech and hearing—a first miracle. When the child was near death, she was miraculously healed in the cave itself through her mother's prayers to the Virgin of Las Lajas. In September 1754, during a pilgrimage, local residents witnessed the image of the Virgin imprinting itself directly onto the rock. To this day, this image remains a scientific enigma. The sanctuary is now one of South America's most important pilgrimage sites.
Discover other apparitions of the Virgin Mary in the Americas, such as the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico!
History of the Apparitions
In 1754, a woman named Maria Mueses de Quiñones traveled through the Nariño region in southern Colombia, South America. One day, a storm broke out, and Maria took shelter in a cave within a canyon near the Las Lajas bridge. This place had a bad reputation, as locals claimed the devil could appear there. Maria invoked the Virgin Mary when suddenly she felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning around and seeing no one, she fled in fear.
Days later, Maria walked to the nearby town of Ipiales, carrying her deaf-mute daughter Rosa on her shoulders. Passing the cave, they paused. Suddenly, little Rosa cried out: "Mom, look at that mestiza woman who fell from the cliff with her son in her arms and two other mestizas beside her!" Maria heard her daughter speak for the first time but saw no one nearby. When they returned, Maria told her employers what happened, but they did not believe her.
When Maria and Rosa journeyed home, they passed the cave again. Rosa exclaimed: "Mom! The mestiza woman is calling me!" They continued, the mother wary of the place. Later, the girl disappeared. Following her intuition, Maria ran to the cave and found her daughter playing with the mestiza woman's little boy at the woman's feet.
These events went unnoticed until Maria brought Rosa—now near death—to the Virgin in the cave. Praying fervently for her child's life, she emerged with her daughter healed and rushed to alert Ipiales residents and the priest. On September 15, 1754, they all went to the cave and witnessed the truth of the apparitions: the Virgin's image was imprinted on the rock. The image depicts Our Lady of the Rosary and is miraculously engraved on the rock. It is "painted" on a flat stone, standing about 1.40 meters tall. She wears a rose tunic with golden flowers and a white mantle adorned with stars. The Virgin holds a rosary in her right hand, extending it to Saint Dominic, kneeling at her right. The Child Jesus, in His Mother's arms, gives a cord to Saint Francis, kneeling at Mary's left. Rays of light surround the Child and Virgin. The image contains no paint pigments or dyes; the color permeates up to 3 meters deep behind the stone—inexplicably. Despite the rock's humidity, the image remains perfectly preserved since 1754.
At diocesan and Roman levels, the Church has always supported the pilgrimage through successive constructions of worship sites. Public devotion was approved in 1951; the statue of Our Lady of the Rosary was crowned in 1952; the church was elevated to a minor basilica in 1954.
Miracles of the Virgin of Las Lajas
The Sanctuary of Las Lajas today houses over 7,000 miracle plaques thanking the Holy Virgin, along with hundreds of wheelchairs and crutches left by miraculously healed pilgrims.
Beautiful healing testimonies are shared on the sanctuary's official site: "Years ago, Maria Martha's sister suffered leg paralysis and was brought to the sanctuary. As soon as she was placed there, she felt warm water bathing her leg and was instantly healed."
The Sanctuary of Las Lajas in Colombia
From the 1754 apparitions to today, the sanctuary has undergone many changes. First, a wooden hut with a thatched roof was replaced by a modest church in 1754. Fifteen years later, a brick chapel with a dome was built. By the late 19th century, the sanctuary expanded, overlooking the valley and becoming a pilgrimage destination. In 1916, the cornerstone of the current neo-Gothic structure was laid, extending over a bridge whose arches majestically span the canyon. Completed in 1949, this architectural marvel was built by local farmers who learned construction techniques as they worked.
The sanctuary now hosts 6 daily Masses, including Sundays. Pilgrims flock from everywhere to give thanks to Our Lady of Las Lajas.
Prayers to the Virgin of Las Lajas
Prayer to the Virgin of Las Lajas
"Our Mother of Las Lajas, with greatest trust and purest love, we kneel at your feet. We know that in the tenderness of your bosom, the afflicted find comfort, the helpless find aid, the sick find relief, the poor find hope, and sinners find forgiveness. Virgin of Las Lajas, answer the requests and prayers we address to you from the depths of our hearts.
Guard us from dangers, assist us in trials, help us in our needs. Obtain for us from your most holy Son the graces and blessings to lead a good life and attain a holy death. Amen."
Consecration of the Home to Our Lady of Las Lajas
"Holy Lady of Las Lajas, declared Helper of Christians, blessing and protecting homes where your sacred image is honored,
We choose you today and forever: Lady and Mistress of this home. We implore you to manifest your powerful aid here, preserving it from illness, fire, lightning, floods, earthquakes, thieves, discord, and war.
Bless and protect those who dwell here. Grant them peace, deep faith, true love for God and neighbor, patience in sorrows, hope in life, joy in work, employment, and study. Shield them from bad examples of vice, sin, eternal damnation, and all misfortunes and accidents.
O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you."
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