This information is provided thanks to the efforts of the Puntarenas Chamber of Merchants and Businessmen, in their endeavor to promote all events in Puntarenas. This documentation is authorized by the Vicar General of the Diocese of Puntarenas, Father Emilio.
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE VIRGEN DEL MAR (Virgin of the Sea)
In the year 1913, the terrible news spread through the small city of Puntarenas: “El Galileo,” a pearl-shell boat, with its entire crew aboard, had shipwrecked near Caño Island. Don Hermenegildo Cruz Ayala, a Panamanian man, who, like so many others in that era, had come to test his luck in the young Costa Rican port, owned the wrecked vessel.
Don Hermenegildo, moved by the sorrow of the crew’s families, and faced with the consternation of the townspeople, went to the city Temple to pray to the Virgin of Carmen for his workers.
The Catholic community, led by Father Carmona, the local parish priest, prayed for the men whose whereabouts were unknown.
The miracle occurred a few days later when the great news arrived: the crew of the Galileo were transferred to Puntarenas by a boat that had rescued them on dry land.
Amid the joyous commotion of the citizens, those men arrived at the “Port” for whom prayers had been offered. To the surprise of all the faithful, they spoke of a woman who, amidst the tempest and tragedy, had nourished them and accompanied them in such a way that they had enough strength to swim to the shore where they were rescued.
Don Hermenegildo, a man of faith, upon hearing their account, told them to go to Father Carmona: “We must go thank the Virgin.”
That same day, they presented themselves at the Temple, accompanied by their family and friends, and while kneeling, the Church reached the spot where the Virgin of Carmen was located.
In the presence of the priest, one of them said to Don Hermenegildo: “It is this Lady who fed us and accompanied us; she carried the bread that sustained us in her apron (he was referring to the scapular).” Silvano Nieto, captain of the Galileo, recounted: “The gigantic waves presented themselves with the roar of the storm… The Galileo swayed between the whirlwinds of the wind and the sea, while a sound of wood hitting wood seemed to tell me that the vessel was in danger of breaking into many pieces; thousands of fleeting ideas came to my mind, and the fear of drowning seized me. My crew rushed here and there whimpering. They did not ignore the danger and felt powerless against the adversity. For a moment, I felt fear of God, and with tears in my eyes, while the knuckles of my hands seemed to break from the force with which I tried to hold the rudder, I began to raise a prayer. I am no great Christian, Father, but at that moment, an infinite faith drew me close to God. I remembered my mother’s words that in any danger I found myself, I must invoke the help and protection of the Virgin Mary, and so I did. I believe that what was a matter of minutes seemed like centuries, but suddenly I seemed to see a great white light before the boat; the sea instantly lost all its rage, and it seemed to me that as if a divine force pulled us with an invisible rope, I understood that the Little Virgin had been very close to me, and great joy filled my heart.”
Don Hermenegildo told the priest: “I promise, Father, that from this day forward, every year during the month of July, we will celebrate a festival at sea for Our Mother.”
Since then, the townspeople call her the Virgin of the Sea, and all fishermen, great and small, like one family, sail out into the Nicoya Gulf to pay her homage. They thank her for the fruit of their labor and ask her reliably to protect them every time they eagerly venture out to sea to earn a living for their children.
In 1958, Friar Casiano of Madrid wrote: “The Costa Ricans, and especially the Puntarenans, must be grateful to have received the blessing of the Virgin Mary, who intervened to save a group of men whose lives were in danger at sea, demonstrating her immense affection.”
Every year, during the month of July, siblings and sisters from all parts of the country come to thank the Queen of the Sea.
LONG LIVE THE VIRGEN DEL CARMEN, THE VIRGEN DEL MAR!