World’s largest Marian statue unveiled in Bolivia

Catholic News Agency ^ | February - 4 - 2013

[Alex Murphy]

La Paz, Bolivia, Feb 4, 2013 / 12:09 pm (CNA).- The largest statue of the Virgin Mary in the world, dedicated to Our Lady of Socavon, was inaugurated at a Feb. 1 ceremony in the city of Oruro, Bolivia.

Rolando Rocha, the lead sculptor for the project, told reporters that more than simply “a work of engineering and art,” the monument “is an act of faith that strengthens our traditions.”

Towering at 149 feet, the statue is located on a 12,000-foot mountain south of La Paz, the country’s second largest city. It stands 22 feet taller than the Christ the Redeemer statue atop Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The statue’s unveiling ceremony was attended by both Bolivian president Evo Morales and Oruro mayor Rossio Pimentel.

Our Lady of Socavon is the patroness of miners. The original statue is kept at the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Socavon in the city of Oruro.

The presentation of the $1.2 million statue also marked the beginning of Carnaval in Orugo. The city’s festival is the only Carnaval celebration that includes a dance in honor of the Virgin Mary.

As residents of Oruro prepared for the annual candlelight procession to the Shrine of Socavon, Bishop Cristobal Bialasik issued a letter inviting those along the procession route to decorate their homes with sacred images and to listen to the diocesan broadcast of the event.

The closing procession, which took place on the evening of Feb. 3, featured nearly 50 dancers making their way to the shrine, where they asked the Virgin Mary for her intercession.

[Alex Murphy]

Towering at 149 feet, the statue is located on a 12,000-foot mountain south of La Paz, the country’s second largest city. It stands 22 feet taller than the Christ the Redeemer statue atop Rio de Janeiro, Brazil....The presentation of the $1.2 million statue also marked the beginning of Carnaval in Orugo. The city’s festival is the only Carnaval celebration that includes a dance in honor of the Virgin Mary....The closing procession, which took place on the evening of Feb. 3, featured nearly 50 dancers making their way to the shrine, where they asked the Virgin Mary for her intercession.

[BipolarBob]

Just the way Jesus said to do it. Everything in His life shows that is how He wanted it. Big statues of people. People worshiping people.

/sarc

[jobim]

There's opinion, and there's fact. Fact here is that Catholics
do not worship Mary, but yes, they do worship the Child Jesus
she holds. Are you impressed with Mount Rushmore? The Lincoln
Memorial? The statue that adorns the rapids in Concord made famous
by Emerson's poem that goes: "By the rude bridge that arched the
flood"? How about the bust of Churchill that the ghettoprez sent
back to 10 Downing Street?

[The KG9 Kid]

There's dozens of Buddhas all over Asia which dwarf that statue.

Nice try though.

[D-fendr]

Shh.. you’re not supposed to reveal that we worship Mt. Rushmore..

[RoosterRedux]

Fact here is that Catholics do not worship Mary, but yes, they do worship the Child Jesus she holds.Not necessarily true.

My family's dearest friend is a devout Catholic and her devotion to the Virgin is front and center of her faith.

If I say, as I did recently, that humans would be astounded at the overwhelming love that God has for us, she immediately inserts...and that of the Holy Mother.

Many Catholics may make the proper distinction about Mary...but many accept the syncretistic insertion of goddess worship (be that Diana, Semiramis, Artemis, Astarte...) into the Catholic faith.

Tell me the Rosary isn't about Mary front and center?

Flame if you must, but why can't we have an honest discussion of this detail.

[BipolarBob]

"The city’s festival is the only Carnaval celebration that includes a dance in honor of the Virgin Mary."

I just don't see Jesus and the disciples doing the twist or celebrating in the manner these participants do. Too much Mary and too little God.

[BipolarBob]

why can't we have an honest discussion of this detail.

It might lead to someone suggesting that Mary had other children (Jesus had half-brothers and possibly half-sisters), was impure and needed the Sacrifice on the cross just like the rest of us and should receive no worship, adoration or special attention from the rest of us. Just like I don't pray to or adore Lazarus or Nicodemus or any of the other characters in Jesus' life. So NO to any honest discussion or they may get sad.

[narses]

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[narses]

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Add me / Remove me

Please ping me to note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of general interest.

[RoosterRedux]

I would like to respond to your post, particularly as it pertains to the beloved Mary's sinlessness, but it would cloud the issue.

But the question does arise...if beloved Mary (and she is by everyone who is Christian) is spotless...why do we need Jesus?

[narses]

It might lead to someone suggesting that Mary had other children (Jesus had half-brothers and possibly half-sisters)...

Such famous children of such a famous mother have names, right? Tell us there names, can you? And their descendants, they must all be very proud of their lineage, you must know the names of some of the descendants of these so famous children, right?

[RoosterRedux]

James and Jude...brothers of Jesus. There are others...

[mgist]

May she magnify the lord Jesus. Thank you God.

[RoosterRedux]

If they were just cousins...then why is John the Baptist so clearly defined as a cousin? And if they were close...why were not John the beloved and later Paul...not called brothers?

Your faith is rigid...is it alive or just a formula?

I say this out of love.

[narses]

Really, brothers? Or cousins? What about those “others”, where do you get this stuff?

[RoosterRedux]

How can a human magnify the creator of all humans...how can a pot magnify the potter?

[narses]

“I say this out of love.”

Right. Or ignorance. Or maybe even both.

So how many of the children are documented, and what happened to them and their line?

[narses]

My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden,
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm:
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich He has sent empty away.
He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy;
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His posterity forever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

Magníficat ánima mea Dóminum,
et exsultávit spíritus meus
in Deo salvatóre meo,
quia respéxit humilitátem
ancíllæ suæ.

Ecce enim ex hoc beátam
me dicent omnes generatiónes,
quia fecit mihi magna,
qui potens est,
et sanctum nomen eius,
et misericórdia eius in progénies
et progénies timéntibus eum.
Fecit poténtiam in bráchio suo,
dispérsit supérbos mente cordis sui;
depósuit poténtes de sede
et exaltávit húmiles.
Esuriéntes implévit bonis
et dívites dimísit inánes.
Suscépit Ísrael púerum suum,
recordátus misericórdiæ,
sicut locútus est ad patres nostros,
Ábraham et sémini eius in sæcula.

Glória Patri et Fílio
et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio,
et nunc et semper,
et in sæcula sæculórum.

Amen.

She became the Mother of God, in which work so many and such great good things are bestowed on her as pass man’s understanding. For on this there follows all honor, all blessedness, and her unique place in the whole of mankind, among which she has no equal, namely, that she had a child by the Father in heaven, and such a Child . . . Hence men have crowded all her glory into a single word, calling her the Mother of God . . . None can say of her nor announce to her greater things, even though he had as many tongues as the earth possesses flowers and blades of grass: the sky, stars; and the sea, grains of sand. It needs to be pondered in the heart what it means to be the Mother of God.

(Commentary on the Magnificat, 1521; in Luther’s Works, Pelikan et al, vol. 21, 326)

[Delta 21]

I’m suprised they dont have her inside the worlds largest discarded ceramic bathtub.

[RoosterRedux]

Mark 6:3

[annalex]

We praise Thee o Lord and we adore Thee.

[Cicero]

Beautiful statue of Mary and the Child Jesus. Thanks for calling it to our attention.

[RoosterRedux]

So how many of the children are documented, and what happened to them and their line?

You are obfuscating just as the Muslims do.

The question here is the deification of Mary among Catholics...not the bloodline of her offspring.

I was not there, I cannot answer the bloodline question.

But there is no doubt that syncretism has invaded many Catholic believers (i.e. the worship of goddesses over the Christ...in the name of the virgin mother).

Is Mary to be venerated...absolutely.

Is she a god...absolutely NOT.

[narses]

“The question here is the deification of Mary among Catholics.”

Really? Then there is NO question, Mary is venerated, not deified.

“I was not there, I cannot answer the bloodline question.”

And yet the bloodline of her Son is clear as a bell. Odd how that works.

“But there is no doubt that syncretism has invaded many Catholic believers (i.e. the worship of goddesses over the Christ...in the name of the virgin mother).”

Well, only in your mind and the minds of bigots who refuse the truth.

“Is Mary to be venerated...absolutely.”

Yep.

“Is she a god...absolutely NOT.”

You are right and that is exactly what the Catholic Church teaches.

[RoosterRedux]

You and I believe the same...but my close family friend (devout Catholic) believes in the Holy Mother first and foremost.

Would you be willing to speak to her (I will type for her...she is a good saint, very giving...but her faith might be misguided).

Thank you for your patience.

Rooster!

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***The city’s festival is the only Carnaval celebration that includes a dance in honor of the Virgin Mary. ****

Wonder if the women will dress like those in New Orleans or Rio! WOW! Wouldn’t Mary be pleased!

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***I’m suprised they dont have her inside the worlds largest discarded ceramic bathtub.***

I saw one of those out in Colorado. There is another just a couple of miles from me.

[RoosterRedux]

When I was a teenager, I felt called to the priesthood. Very strange since I was not a Catholic, but a Methodist (who none-the-less respected the priesthood).

God is mysterious of course...and (in all due respect) rather cute.

At midlife, I had a powerful calling (I thought) to monastic life. Was He testing me? I don't know.

I was willing to follow his direction...but they changed.

I felt I was called to look after my elderly parents...I did so and continue to do so.

Dad passed last year. I was there as he passed...talking him though it. It was a very peaceful passing (he was a strong believer)...but he needed to be talked into it...he was worried about my Mom).

I am still here and will do as He tells me.

Hope to illicit your help re: my friend/sister.

[jobim]

Flame if you must, but why can't we have an honest discussion of this detail.

I'm not a flame-thrower; I maintain an old-fashioned
adherence to civilized discourse as if my opponent were a
fine person slightly mistaken.

I don't think you mean to characterize the Catholic faith
based on anecdotal evidence of a family friend?

The Catholic faith is found in its Catechism, as it has been
for 1500 years, and there one will find that Mary is venerated,
but not worshipped, as Catholics worship only the Trinitarian God.
The Angel Gabriel, for the record, addressed her as "Full of Grace"
(Hail, Full of Grace...), which the Church interprets
as without Original Sin.

The 4 Mysteries of the Rosary run through the life of Jesus:
The Joyful Mysteries cover Christ's birth up until his parents
found him in the temple discussing with the elders. The
Luminous Mysteries cover Christ's Baptism, Wedding Feast at
Cana, declaration of the Kingdom, the Transfiguration, and
the Last Supper. The Sorrowful Mysteries cover His Passion
and Death. And the Glorious Mysteries cover His Resurrection,
Ascension, Descent of the Holy Spirit, and then 2 you might take
exception to, the Assumption and Queen of Heaven. But other than
those final 2, all Christians would see them as simply the life
of Christ as written in Holy Scripture.

And the first half of the Hail Mary is a direct quote from the Angel Gabriel.

I know form over 10 years of reading in apologetics that my
brother Christians who do not profess Catholicism have great
difficulty with our view of Mary. Those points have been
covered since Luther.

What I might ask you is:
Do you know anything of apparitions of Mary? For example
at Fatima, and the miracle of the sun witnessed by many thousands
and recorded in the newspapers? Or the apparition at Guadalupe
to Juan Diego, whose Tilma still defies scientific understanding?
Or the apparition at Lourdes, where countless miracles are recorded
these 150+ years at that spring? And many more? and the incorruptible
saints? And the documented miracles that attend each and every declaration of sainthood?

I ask my brother in Christ to be unafraid of this devotion
that we Catholics partake in. It detracts not a whit from our
worship of the One Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who redeems
us with unmerited grace.

Son, behold your mother; Mother, behold your son.
At the Cross, Jesus gave all of us
the special help and protection of His mother. Call on her!

[sasportas]

Good posts, Rooster. In my opinion, the Papists have placed a stigma upon Christianity, that is downright embarrasing.

In witnessing to Jews or Muslims, invariably they try to lump me and all Christians with the Papists. I get so tired of telling them that I actually agree with them, I view RCC statues of Mary as idolatrous as they do.

It is blatantly obvious to the rest of the world that Catholics do indeed worship Mary. Yet they deny it with a straight face, obfuscating the obvious...repeating the official line they must be getting from their priests.

No wonder the Reformers spoke of it as a whorish form of Christianity, a syncretism of Christianity and paganism.

Their idolatry is responsible for no telling how many Jews and Muslims being lost. A major stumbling block trying to witness to them.

[narses]

My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden,
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm:
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich He has sent empty away.
He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy;
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His posterity forever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

Magníficat ánima mea Dóminum,
et exsultávit spíritus meus
in Deo salvatóre meo,
quia respéxit humilitátem
ancíllæ suæ.

Ecce enim ex hoc beátam
me dicent omnes generatiónes,
quia fecit mihi magna,
qui potens est,
et sanctum nomen eius,
et misericórdia eius in progénies
et progénies timéntibus eum.
Fecit poténtiam in bráchio suo,
dispérsit supérbos mente cordis sui;
depósuit poténtes de sede
et exaltávit húmiles.
Esuriéntes implévit bonis
et dívites dimísit inánes.
Suscépit Ísrael púerum suum,
recordátus misericórdiæ,
sicut locútus est ad patres nostros,
Ábraham et sémini eius in sæcula.

Glória Patri et Fílio
et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio,
et nunc et semper,
et in sæcula sæculórum.

Amen.

She became the Mother of God, in which work so many and such great good things are bestowed on her as pass man’s understanding. For on this there follows all honor, all blessedness, and her unique place in the whole of mankind, among which she has no equal, namely, that she had a child by the Father in heaven, and such a Child . . . Hence men have crowded all her glory into a single word, calling her the Mother of God . . . None can say of her nor announce to her greater things, even though he had as many tongues as the earth possesses flowers and blades of grass: the sky, stars; and the sea, grains of sand. It needs to be pondered in the heart what it means to be the Mother of God.

(Commentary on the Magnificat, 1521; in Luther’s Works, Pelikan et al, vol. 21, 326)

[NotTallTex]

I don’t pray to or adore Lazarus or Nicodemus or any of the other characters in Jesus’ life.
_________________________________________________________

Mary was not just another character in Jesus’ life. She was the mother of God. Get it? The mother of our Lord. Not only that, but the faithful from the 1st Century forward considered her very special, and not “just another character in Jesus’ life”.

[RoosterRedux]

Very kind of you...I will consider this most sincerely.

I of course love the Mother of Jesus very much...but I am also on guard to the syncretism that is wont to slip in and defoul my worship.

Like all of us, I have had an ongoing battle with the enemy (Satan, Shaytan, Shemyaza, etc)...After a lifetime, I am only now learning his ways...but I am on my toes. All this said, I do not characterize the Catholic faith based on that of my friend...but I do worry about the religious error of my Catholic friend.

Would you be willing to speak with her online (I will write for her) and set her straight.

God is God...and His Mother is venerated above all women (of course) but she is not a god.

[BipolarBob]

But the question does arise...if beloved Mary (and she is by everyone who is Christian) is spotless...why do we need Jesus?

That is a most pertinent question.

[PeevedPatriot]

if beloved Mary (and she is by everyone who is Christian) is spotless...why do we need Jesus?

I have difficulty believing you two cannot answer your own question. As you know, Catholics believe Jesus died to atone for our sins. Mary did not. She required a savior every bit as much as we do.

Now back to your regularly scheduled antiCatholic commentary ...

[LearnsFromMistakes]

Such famous children of such a famous mother have names, right? Tell us there names, can you? And their descendants, they must all be very proud of their lineage, you must know the names of some of the descendants of these so famous children, right?

Can you imagine how these lines, if records had been kept, would be 'venerated' or whatever by some today? By the grace of God we don't know their names and their history (if any great...great nieces/nephews of Jesus are alive). Obviously first century Christians knew that it was all about Jesus, the fact that some were 'mother/brother/sisters' meant nothing special to them - they needed a savior.

[PeevedPatriot]

Obviously first century Christians knew that it was all about Jesus, the fact that some were 'mother/brother/sisters' meant nothing special to them

This is not what sacred scripture tells us. Jesus thought it was important enough to bind John and Mary as mother and son that this was the last of his actions from the cross before the following verses tell us all was now complete. That might not mean anything special to you, but undoubtedly these words from a nearly dead Jesus were incredibly moving to John and Mary. And anyone else in earshot. Do we not cherish the last words and wishes of our dying loved ones? [And as an aside, if there were other children, isn't it interesting that Jesus chose to have an apostle care for her, not one of his siblings? Jesus CHOSE to place her among those founding his church.]

Does anything in the New Testament negate the commandment to honor father and mother? It seems obvious that the apostles honored her to some extent as evidenced by her presence when the Holy Spirit descended upon them and by mention of this in scripture. We know John honored her as scripture tells us that he took her into his home. And in his Revelation he describes her appearance in heaven.

Furthermore Luke (chapter 1) draws parallels between Mary and the ark of the covenant (2 Sam 6). You can see some in this table.

Also early art in the catacombs (earliest typically dated about 120-150) depicts Mary. This tells us that by the end of Christianity's first century or at the beginning of its second, clearly some thought Mary was special, contrary to your assertion.

[johngrace]

Great Page!

[dupree]

I have been in many Catholic churches in my lifetime and have never witnessed “idol worship” of a statue of Mary or any other statue. In fact, one of the things I like about a Catholic church is that they have beautiful paintings, stain-glass windows, and statues.

I’m curious-—do you have photographs of family members or paintings in your house? Wood carvings or ceramic figures or dolls? Christmas ornaments? Do you visit museums? I’m sure the answer is ‘no’ since you are anti-idol worship.

[RoosterRedux]

And in his Revelation he describes her appearance in heaven.

Could you provide a Scriptural reference for that description?

[mgist]

We are all called to be lights of the world. “The Blessed Mother” as God’s messenger called her, is in spirit, fighting the good fight. She is the Ark of the Covenant, as prophecized in the Old Testament. Before you go on a rant, bad mouthing the woman that God chose to be our savior’s mother, please have a conversation with God and ask for His enlightenment and that of others.

She is our role model of a woman. A reminder that sacrifice, humility, and obedience to God, is what we are called to do. In an age where girls are sexualized by 10, and women are all about me, it is a very necessary gift from God, don’t you think?

[RoosterRedux]

Before you go on a rant, bad mouthing the woman that God chose to be our savior’s mother

That's rather mean spirited for a self-professed Christian. Where have I shown any inclination to do that?

[mgist]

I apologize, I didn’t mean it in a mean spirited way. I have simply seen too many, probably well intentioned people, say very disrespectful things about Jesus’ mother in order to prove their point. I simply pray for them (sometimes), because I know that quarreling and ugly discourse, in God’s name would be offensive to Him. I decided I would simply ask other Christians to pray as well, because that it what we are called to do, and avoid needless bickering. You would be surprised how some “Christians” feel perfectly entitled to get UGLY when it comes to Catholics. They seem to think Mary is an idol that needs to be bashed? To me it is sadly disrespectful to God and I try to avoid those situations. Sorry.

[RoosterRedux]

Thx for that.:-)

[LearnsFromMistakes]

clearly some thought Mary was special

That is exactly my point. Jesus honored his mother before death by asking a friend to make sure she was taken care of (my understanding of a Jewish 'first born' responsibility). But he was quite clear that he was all about his father's business, he only did what he saw the father do and only said what he heard the father say.

The bible talks about those that 'stick closer than a brother' - it doesn't surprise me that he gave the charge of his mother's care to his closest friend. I am not sure what his culture/tradition dictates. And her presence in the upper room - I believe she was there as a follower of Jesus, one of 120 in need of a savior, and following the teaching of the master to wait upon the holy spirit. To my knowledge, none of the 120 she was with wrote anything outlining any special treatment for her.

[PeevedPatriot]

Could you provide a Scriptural reference for that description?

Sure. The 12th chapter of Revelation. And the verse immediately preceding it (Rev 11:19) which refers to the ark of the covenant, which is the Catholic view of Mary. The 12th chapter shows us Mary as mother of Christ and symbol of the church. We see her crowned as queen mother (1 Kg 2:19) of the royal son (Ps 2:9; Hb 1:8). We read in the last verse that she is mother of all who keep God's commandments and bear testimony to Jesus.

[PeevedPatriot]

But he was quite clear that he was all about his father's business, he only did what he saw the father do and only said what he heard the father say.

Then it was clearly his Father's will that the 12 year old Jesus, about his Father's work in the temple, return home with his earthly parents in obedience. If Jesus' willingness to submit to human parents isn't "special treatment" recorded in writing, I'm not sure what is!

To my knowledge, none of the 120 she was with wrote anything outlining any special treatment for her.

Most of those 120 probably didn't write ANYTHING since teaching at that time was for the most part transmitted orally. Even so, there is enough written to see that Mary had a special place in God's plan and Jesus himself revered her for it.

First, God didn't need a human parent but CHOSE to come to us this way. Second, as I noted above, we see Jesus honoring Mary with obedience. Third, we see Jesus honoring her request at a wedding despite his differing opinion. Fourth, we see Jesus providing for her in his agony. Surely he could have made arrangements before his death. But he chose to honor John the beloved with his most cherished one, and to commend his most cherished one to his beloved apostle. Fifth, we see Mary as the only non-apostle who the Holy Spirit inspired Luke to name in Acts 1:12-14.

I believe she was there as a follower of Jesus, one of 120 in need of a savior, and following the teaching of the master to wait upon the holy spirit.

I believe what scripture says in Lk 1:35 that Mary was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and subsequently filled with divine life (Jesus in her womb). Why wouldn't she want to witness John (given to her as son at the cross) and the other apostles receive the same Holy Spirit? And unless the apostles were unaware of Jesus' holy conception, why wouldn't they want one overshadowed by the Holy Spirit praying with and for them?

[mgist]

That is a beautiful story about your calling. You are obviously a very special person. I do think that those of us who know God, can manage to respect each other, despite differences of opinion. God Bless.

[RoosterRedux]

Thx Mgist...

My prayers are with you and know with eternal confidence that His Power is moving in your life.

Thx again for your kindness and support.

Rooster