The Virgin of Chapi, patron saint of the Peruvians and especially of the city of Arequipa, is venerated and worshipped by her faithful followers. An earthquake that struck the city in 1868 completely covered the image of the Virgin, but it was left unharmed and placed in a thatched-roof sanctuary so that a temple worthy of this chaste lady could be built.
History of the Virgin of Chapi
It is said that the image of the Virgin of Chapi was found on a hill adjacent to Churajon, but due to an earthquake that this town suffered, it had to be moved to the old valley of Chapi, about 4.6 kilometres from where the sanctuary is currently located.
The Virgin of Chapi is a Marian invocation, like the Virgin of Salta or the Virgin of the Three Little Hills, and when it was decided to move this image to a town called Sogay in 1793, on the orders of a parish priest, a storm suddenly appeared that was nothing but sand, with very strong winds that prevented those carrying the Virgin of Chapi from continuing on their way.
In order to continue, they had to wait for the winds and the storm to calm down so that they could continue on their way and move the Virgin of Chapi to the new place, when this happened, although they tried a thousand times to continue with the image on their backs, they could not, because the Virgin of Chapi became so heavy that they could not move it, the same thing happened with the Virgin of Chiquinquira, at that moment they could understand that the will of the patron saint was to stay in that place.
Although it was a desert place, it was the will of the Virgin of Chapi to establish this place for her devotion and worship, so a small temple was built there for her devotion. Today her sanctuary is visited by many devotees from all over the world. It is located about 90 kilometres from the city of Arequipa in this historic and deserted place called Chapi. Watch this video
Origin of the name of the Virgin of Chapi
The Virgin of Chapi, an image that appeared on a hill near Churajon, is considered to be of great importance to the inhabitants of these lands. They are worthy of and share in the fraternal love they receive from the Most Holy Mother of God, the Virgin Mary, who chose the place where the Shrine, now visited by thousands of believers, would be built.
According to history, the image of the Virgin of Chapi could have been brought from Spain around the XVIII century, as we know it is an invocation to the Mother of God and our mother, showing us her purity and maternal love, like the Virgin of Fatima, it is said that this devotion is thousands of years old and history tells us that she herself gave her name when she was transferred to a town near Arequipa, where she was to be placed for veneration in a church of the town.
The Virgin of Chapi was carried by a retinue that crossed the coasts and from there they had to go through the dry forests to finally arrive at the place where the Virgin of Chapi was to be placed, and as they travelled through these places with the Virgin of Chapi on their backs they could hear these words that they said came from the image of the Virgin of Chapi Chaypi, Chaypi, others said they heard Chajchay llallapi, and many others heard Chaj llallapi, and those who know languages say that they come from Quechua and Aymara, languages that are still spoken in Peru.
Those who understood were able to explain that all the words meant the same thing: “Aquicito nomás”, “aquí, aquí”, “aquí nomás”, she herself said that the Virgin of Chapi wanted to say that this was the place where she wanted to stay and that she also gave herself this name. The sanctuary where the Virgin of Chapi is venerated today is built in the middle of the desert hills of the same town of Chapi, about 60 kilometres from the city of Arequipa.
Since then, we have known this invocation to the Mother of God as the Virgin of Chapi, who the people of Arequipa affectionately call the Little Mother of Chapi, and this has to do with the fact that Mary gives us all, as her children, this maternal warmth and loves us as she loved her Son Jesus Christ. The Virgin of Chapi had the honour of being crowned as the Virgin of Las Mercedes by Pope John Paul II on 2 February 1985 in the same city of Arequipa.
It was a day of great pride and joy for the people who came to worship and venerate the Virgin of Chapi on the occasion of her coronation by the Pope, who, after kissing the Child Jesus and Mary, left a rosary in the hands of the Virgin of Chapi as a symbol of his stay in this place and of the commemorative date of her coronation. This image is very venerated and it can be said that the arrival and permanence of the Virgin of Chapi is fundamental and important for this town and has naturally brought a breath of peace and comfort to everyone.
The Virgin of Chapi has become its patron saint and is visited daily in her sanctuary to be adored and venerated, always remembering the importance of God above all things, without Him nothing is possible, we must always be attentive and not take our eyes off Him, vain things are of no use to us, we have only the satisfaction of the heart and the peace that passes all understanding comes only from the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Let us draw near to the throne of grace and give honour to the One who deserves honour, the One who died for us on the cross, crucified to pay for our sins. Watch this video.
The Virgin of Chapi survives an earthquake
The Virgin of Chapi, who is venerated in this town, became more than just an image when she appeared 
on this hill and gave the merciful light that the Virgin of Itati gives to all its inhabitants.
When the Virgin of Itati appeared on the hill and gave this merciful light to all the inhabitants, the invocation of the Virgin has for many years made the people venerate her and participate in her celebrations, this Virgin with her supernatural power has been a source of joy to those who have witnessed her miracles.
In 1868, a terrible earthquake devastated the town.
Houses collapsed and were destroyed by the force of the natural disaster.
The temple that housed the image of the Virgin of Chapi was completely destroyed by the earthquake, and despite this natural disaster that affected everyone, the image of the Virgin of Chapi was miraculously found unscathed and undamaged.
After this terrible earthquake, the people of the town set out to help build a new place to venerate the Virgin of Chapi. At first, only a small chapel was built, with stone and adobe walls and a thatched roof.
Over the years, however, the number of devotees to this place increased, and in 1893 the foundations were laid for the construction of the new Sanctuary of the Virgin of Chapi, which still belongs to this devout population. Watch this video.
Prayer to the Virgin of Chapi
Prayer is an intimate conversation with our Creator and with His allies, such as the advocates He has given us for His service on earth, through it we can obtain what we desire with our hearts, even in the most difficult situation, we only have to have faith, pray and be patient.
Through prayer the doors of heaven are opened and the benefits are innumerable, the Virgin of Chapi is a representation on earth of the Mother of God, the Virgin Mary, as is the Virgin of Aranzazu, they came to bring hope, peace, love and this can only be achieved through prayer, in this article we give you several prayers so you can open your heart.
Prayer to the Virgin of Chapi
My mother, Virgin of Chapi, give us your eyes so that we know how to look, when I look with your eyes I will not dare to sin, holy mother, give me your lips so that I know how to pray, when I pray with your lips our Lord will listen to me, holy mother and mother of all, give me the joy of having your hands so that I can work, when I do my work will have a reward for eternity.
Mother, most holy Virgin Mary, give me your mantle so that I can cover evil, when I am covered with your mantle I know that I will reach heaven, blessed mother, give me your son so that I may learn to love and so that I may be happy for all eternity.
Another prayer to Our Lady of Chapi
Lord our God, we are gathered here as children of Our Lady of Chapi to seek together the good of our brothers and faithful followers.
Holy Father, enlighten our minds so that we may have discernment, so that we may discover the truth and thus find the best way.
Purify our hearts from all vanity, pride, self-love and selfishness. Help us always to understand, respect and love one another. Give us the faith and courage to work together, so that our sacrifice may be pleasing to you and made with joy, and so that we may build a better world. We pray to you, most high God, through our most holy Virgin of Chapi, who is your mother and our mother, amen.
Prayer to the Virgin of Chapi
Oh Mother of Jesus and our Mother, Virgin of Chapi, your children have come to visit you today, we are here today, my Mother, 
because we have come to implore you to have mercy as we contemplate and see your beautiful face.
We have come to implore you to have mercy when we contemplate and see your beautiful and loving face. When we see you, our soul feels much consolation, we ask you holy mother to alleviate our anguish and allow us to have peace, your children come here to be consoled.
My Mother, dear Mother, never forget your children who always trust in you, we ask you, Mother of pilgrims, that for the love of your Son you grant us forgiveness, we promise you, blessed Mother, that we will repent for our sins, oh beautiful Mother Virgin of Chapi, your devout and dear children repent. Watch this video.
Novena to the Virgin of Chapi
The prayer of St Bernard should be made every day.
Remember, O beautiful and merciful Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, it has never been heard that one of those who came to ask for your protection was left unprotected.
I confess that I am a sinner and trusting in you, I dare to seek you, Mother, you are the virgin of virgins, I come to you, before you I present myself with a humbled heart, O most holy Mother, for the love of your Son Jesus Christ, do not despise my words, but listen to me with compassion and fulfil them according to the will of the Father. Amen.
Final prayer to be said each day.
O most holy Mother, most holy Lady, most excellent Mother of God and our Mother, most holy Mother of us all, we know that first there is God, but only after him, only you are the only hope of all sinners living on earth and the confidence of the righteous. The Church always calls you Life, Sweetness and Hope of all; people have their eyes fixed on you, waiting for your mercy and grace.
We come before you, our sweet Advocate, we turn to you alone in these days and ask you to hear us and to grant us the graces we are asking for; give us, my Lady, always first and foremost a sincere love for your Son Jesus Christ, always guided by his holy Christian law; give us, my Mother, always health in our bodies and give us serenity in our minds, peace in our families and what we need to live; give us, our Mother, a holy death in our holy Catholic Church; give us, my Lady, a holy death in our holy Catholic Church; give us, my Lady, health in our bodies and give us serenity in our minds, peace in our families and what we need to live; give us, my Lady, a holy death in our holy Catholic Church.
O Holy Virgin of Chapi, whom we praise and bless, everything you want you can obtain before God, whose loving Mother you are, and although we are sinners you are our intercessor and advocate, you are the Mother of the Redeemer, of the One who died for us, you are our sweet Mother.
You can always intercede for all of us before God, in your name the doors open, in your hands you have all the treasures of divine mercy, listen to us, O pious Virgin of Chapi, Mother of God and our Mother, and if it is the Father’s will, grant us the petitions that we express. amen.
Petitions to the Holy Mother of God, Virgin of Chapi, we ask you to help those who are helpless.
help the fainthearted, give courage to those who weep and suffer, pray for your people, chaste lady, intercede for the clergy, may you intercede for the consecrated women, may all those who will celebrate your holy feast day feel your prompt help.
Pray always for us, Holy Mother of God and our Mother, that we may always be worthy to attain and enjoy the promises of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Grant us, O chaste Lady, through your intercession with God, that we, your servants, may have the opportunity to enjoy long life and good health in the body, and through the glorious intercession of the blessed ever-virgin Mary, our mother, that we may be free from the sorrows of this life and enjoy the joys of eternal life.
Day One
O most loving Mother, Queen of Heaven, we pray that the fear and love of Your Son Jesus Christ, who died for us on the cross of Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins, may never leave my heart, not because of my merits but because of His mercy.
May I never tire of praising and glorifying Him because His name is holy, may I always glorify Him with humble acts of grace, may I always have a sincere and loyal confession and a firm repentance for the innumerable faults I have committed, and may I finally succeed in meriting His grace and His blessed mercy.
I beseech you, Holy Mother, you who are the gate of heaven and the intercessor for sinners, do not allow me to turn away, much less to deviate from your faithful servant of faith who is my weapon of defence; I beseech you, Mother, that in the last hour, even when the enemy attacks me, you keep me united with faith, that your mercy and your compassion never abandon me.
For the trust I have in you, may your Son Jesus Christ forgive me all my sins and may I enjoy the joys of your holy love even when I die. Amen.
Second day
O chaste and humble Mother Lady, it is always fitting for you, even though you are also the slave of our Lord, Mother of God, Queen, even though the Lord has made you his Mother, never to avert your gaze from us, because you have to present us before the Sovereign and Great Lord God, who, even though we are afraid of Him, is very kind to you, Lady, and always grants you the graces that you ask of Him.
Graces that you ask of him.
You are your Lady, called full of graces and much joy, because the Holy Spirit has come upon you; for this and much more, even the rich who are in the nation, those who are favoured even in justice and holiness, always cry out to you, Mother, invoking your holy protection.
Never close to us the doors of your consolation, and let the Mother of Graces, whom you have always had, flow over us. Amen.
Day three
They are not to be counted, O most gracious and most merciful Queen, those who,
having invoked your holy name, have obtained eternal salvation.Salvation, my Lady, my Mother, do you want me to be disappointed in my hopes when I seek you? Perhaps you do not hear my cries because of my wickedness.
But even so, I will not cease to insist, to seek you and to express myself with all my soul and with all my being, because I know that you are noble and good-hearted, you always listen to those who knock at your doors and you do not neglect them in their problems.
Mother, do not abandon us in our distress, much less leave us without words of forgiveness in the midst of our sins, heal with your medicine the deep wounds that I carry in my soul and that are open, free me from the bonds that bind me to the flesh and that imprison me to the earth and always cover me with your mato de gloria, Amen, repeat the final prayer.
Fourth day
Come, we ask you, oh glorious and holy Virgin of Chapi, come to us, visit us, give light to our souls that are in deep pain, allow us to live in healing. Atudanos Lady, give health to the whole world, help us to wash away so many stains that harm us, to dispel the darkness that surrounds us.
Come chaste Lady, O Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Mother of us and of the peoples, and extinguish the flames of darkness
that want to embrace us.
And always show us the sure path that will always lead us to the port.
We ask you to visit the sick, to strengthen the weak, to give firmness to those who waver amidst many doubts; come, my Mother, you who are the star of light on the seas, fill us with peace, joy and much devotion.
Come, O you who are the sceptre of kings and the power of all nations, and bring back to the bosom of faith, love, life, unity, the people who are lost, who do not know or know of you and of your beloved Son. Come to us and take in your hands the gifts of your chaste one who will always be your eternal spouse, the Holy Spirit of God, so that we may always live in his light and warmth. Amen, repeat the closing prayer.
Fifth day
Merciful Virgin of Chapi, you who are merciful and kind, please calm the waves of sadness that beat my heart, extinguish the enemy flames that threaten me, neutralise
the hands of those who want to attack me. 
against me. O Joy, O Peace, we invoke Your serenity, Holy Mother, Your strength, we Your faithful followers, stretch Your hand over our wounds and over the troubles that torment us, soothe and give peace to my soul and my understanding.
we return holy mother in a great shower of graces, the praises that we direct to you, we do not want to live nights of fear nor of uncertainty, we invoke you and we will be debtors of your praises, we want to magnify your holy name and sing your praises forever. amen repeat final prayer.
Sixth day
O merciful Virgin Mary, you who with a precious hand give life to the living dead, you who give health to all the sick, 
you who give light to the blind, you who comfort the despairing and the weeping.
give light to the blind, comfort the despairing and the mourning.
We ask You to draw from the treasures of Your mercy a little refreshment for my broken soul and courage; give joy to my heart and flames of charity to this hardened breast.
Give life and health to my soul, sweetness and peace to my heart, gentleness and much joy to my spirit. You are and always will be a star that lights the seas, sweetness and peace for the afflicted of heart, you are a Mother full of compassion, may you be the straightening of my steps, defend me, Holy Mother, from the attacks of the enemy. Amen, repeat the final prayer.
Seventh day
Holy Mother, no one is closer to heaven than you, you are seated on the summit of the aya with the cherubim and above all with the armies of the beautiful seraphim, therefore I firmly believe that your intercession is heard and your petitions are always answered.
We pray that we may never lack for Your prompt help and assistance while we are in this perishable world, extend Your hand to us and help us to do good, to help the sick and to do works of kindness, so that we may gain divine favour and take safe steps on the path to eternity that the Lord has promised us. Amen Repeat final prayer.
Eighth day
O most beautiful and chaste Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, Queen of all creation, have mercy on us. 
You are glorious and more than the cherubim, You are holy and more than the seraphim, You are the hope of the patriarchs.
You are holy and more than the seraphim, you are the hope of the patriarchs, the glory of the prophets, the hope of all, you are the crown of virgins, the princess and guide of all, you are the virgin, through you, our Mother, we are reconciled to Christ, our Lord, keep us under your wings. amen repeat the final prayer.
Ninth day
No one is saved except through you, O most holy virgin, no one is delivered from evil except through you, O most holy mother, you are a most pure virgin, no one receives the graces of the Lord except through you, O most chaste virgin. No one will receive mercy except through you, O chaste and merciful virgin.
chaste and merciful virgin, through fear of your prayers, which our lord so much hears, may the ecclesiastical things be handled in the right way and may you be the one who governs them, may you be the one who dresses the priests with immense justice, may you be the one who directs the sceptres of the sovereigns, may your hand guide them in everything, we want to celebrate your holy name with joy and happiness. amen repeat the final prayer. watch this video.
