In a truly impressive event, the Virgin of Itatí saved the Jesuit missionary from the attack of the natives, the town witnessed how the stream opened in half as it happened in the biblical story of Moses. She is venerated in this place, she suffered a transfiguration and it is said that her face changed and became very beautiful.
History of the Virgin of Itatí
According to history, the image of the Virgin was found by a large group of Indians who were passing by the Paraná River. They were able to see the Virgin of Itatí surrounded by a very bright and radiant light, which was impressive when they saw it on a stone. It was ordered that the image of the Virgin of Itatí, which is an invocation more like the Virgin of Salta or the Virgin of the Three Hills of Salta, be taken to the reduction, but to their astonishment the image of Itatí disappeared the two times they tried to move it from the place where it appeared in the river.
The faithful understood what was happening and what the Virgin of Itati wanted, just as it had happened with the Virgin of Chiquinquira, and it was decided that the image would be venerated in the place that would later be called Itati. This was the Mother of God’s will, and so every year on 16 June the faithful visit this place to pay homage to the chaste Lady in her gigantic basilica near the Párana River.
The image of the Virgin of Itati, whose body is carved in timbo wood and whose face is carved in walnut wood, has been a source of great joy in this province for the appearance of this virgin in its town, creating a great devotion to the Virgin Mary, who has been the cause of moving the hearts of all Argentinians.
The bonds of love that this patron saint has spread have brought about unity between the people who live in this area, all based on the unity between the Indians and the Spaniards, and also between the inhabitants of this place and the colonisers, the Virgin of Itati has been responsible for uniting many people, just as she feels love for her Son, the only begotten Jesus Christ, and so it continues and will continue to happen in different cities.
It is said that this Marian devotion, like that of the Virgin of Aranzazu, was born out of a Jesuit tradition in which it was believed that the praying of a rosary had something to do with the salvation of the Jesuit missionary and the natives who accompanied him. According to their tradition, the passage of the Yaguari stream opened in the middle and those who wanted to damage everything in its path decided to retreat.
The people of Itati were saved from the attacks of these rebels who wanted to destroy everything and everything is attributed to the Virgin of Itati, the whole town was an eyewitness to this fact that left more than one perplexed because it was a supernatural act and it is related to what is told in the Holy Scriptures about Moses when God opened the river so that he and his people could pass and be saved from the attacks of their enemies, when they were safe the river returned to normal and ended with the attackers.
When we talk about Itatí, a town in the province of Corrientes, near the Paraná River, the beauty of the Virgin of Itatí is relevant, the love that she reflects and makes her people feel is a sign of spirituality and that she loves us as her children, as she loves her son Jesus. We can pray to the Virgin Mary with faith to obtain from her the favours we need, let us approach the throne of grace and be blessed.
Our Lady of Itati is now the patron saint of this province and the faithful have always been very devoted to her. She has a large basilica that was built with the help of the faithful, and today it is considered one of the most visited and also the centre of Catholic pilgrimage in the country. Watch this video.
The image of Our Lady of Itati and its origin
The image of Our Lady of Itati has a very striking brown skin, as well as the sweetness reflected in her beautiful eyes, accompanied by that sweet look that transmits companionship, hope and peace, like the Virgin of Fatima. These are sensations that are rarely experienced, the Virgin of Itati can do it, and according to those who have had the privilege of being close to her, they say that they feel this every time they look at her. She is an incomparable beauty and a glimpse of God on earth for the spiritual joy of mankind, especially for the people of Itati, Argentina.
The body of this precious image of the Virgin of Itatí was carved in timbo and her face in walnut, she is 1.26 metres high, her hair is black and she stands in a kind of crescent, her hands together in a prayer position and she has a rosary around her.
Her clothing is a very beautiful blue cloak with precious gold details on her head, a white tunic and on this a beautiful crown and on top of it in the shape of an arch she has twelve stars and who placed them was the bishop of Parana for the year 1900 Doctor Pendo Lastra and Pope Leon XIII gave her his blessing in the chapel of the Vatican.
In 1918, on the 23rd of April, Our Lady of Itati was proclaimed the patron saint of the Diocese of Corrientes, Argentina. As if that were not enough, the image arrived in Santa Ana, and when Fray Luis de Bolaños and Fray Alonso de San Buenaventura left the missions they had to carry out in Guaira, they took it with them, thus spreading their devotion among the inhabitants of Yaguaron. Watch this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2ZiwaC0q98
The Transfiguration of the Virgin of Itatí
In 1624, during Holy Week, the first transfiguration of the Virgin of Itatí took place. The parish priest at the time was Fray Luis de Gamarra, who said that “the face of the Virgin of Itatí underwent a magnificent transformation, and she was so beautiful that I had never seen her like this before”.
The transfiguration of the Virgin of Itati lasted several days, and the most amazing thing is that it was repeated several times over the next few years, and the native music of the Indians could be heard in the jungle when they found this image. It is said that these are the most amazing transformations ever seen, the face of the Virgin of Itati radiates beauty and splendour, she transmits purity and peace, which is what man needs.
Miracles of the Virgin of Itati
The miracles and healings performed by the Virgin of Itati are innumerable, but it is said that there is one that is one of the most talked about in these years, and it happened in 1748, when it turned out that there was a Malon who wanted to destroy everything in his path. When the Indians arrived at Itatí, a very deep ditch was opened in front of them, preventing them from passing.
When this happened, the attackers of the town fled in astonishment and fear, and once again it was the patron saint who protected and liberated the town from the attacks of its enemies, as in the case of Santa Clara de Asis, and the whole town went to the chapel to thank the Virgin of Itatí and offer her devotion for this new miracle.
There is another story about another miracle performed by the Virgin of Itatí, and it is a pleasant custom to teach the devotion to this Virgin to all the inhabitants of the town, and this is passed on from generation to generation, parents teaching their children, and so on, and so on. The story goes that a woman from Laguna Brava was blind and asked the Virgin of Itati for a miracle, promising to give her all her jewels if she regained her sight.
The woman regained her sight and set off to give the Virgin all her jewels, as she had promised, but on her way back she thought that the Virgin of Itati was only interested in her because she had given her sight back for her jewels. After that night, the woman from Laguna Brava awoke to find that she was blind again and that her jewels were under her pillow. At that moment, the sky was overcast and it was about to rain, so the woman told her driver to hurry home.
The car in which the woman was travelling was heading towards the Laguna Brava and the driver’s hat flew off at that moment, so he decided to stop, but they went on down and in the end they sank without any help, only the driver was saved, that is how the woman ended up and after being cured she judged the Virgin of Itatí, it was a miracle and the woman had to fulfil what she had promised, it was not in the Virgin’s interest to take material things from you for favours granted.
The Virgin of Itati and the Virgin of Macarena only want our good, they only ask for our devotion and sacrifice, our penance and prayer for the forgiveness of our sins. The spiritual life must be our daily bread to give peace to our soul and to live fully.
One of the most amazing miracles performed by this patron saint occurred around 1748, when the town of Itatí was threatened by an Indian invasion, and the inhabitants went to the temple to pray to the Virgin of Itatí for immediate help. As the Indians advanced to destroy the town, they approached an old shortcut, not knowing that they would be surprised by a deep riverbed.
When the Indians saw this, they knew that they could not overcome the force of nature, and so they decided to leave, terrified and frightened, the victory was once again attributed to the patron saint of this town, who saved them from the attack of the Indians who only wanted to destroy them. It was another miracle performed by the Mother of the Son of God.
Another story that fills all the devotees of the Virgin of Itati with wonder is that of 1990, when a group of pilgrims were taking the image of the Virgin to Lujan to participate in the May celebrations, but the driver got lost and they could not find their way, they stopped to ask a lady.
When they explained that they were carrying the Virgin of Itati, she told them that her husband was suffering from a painful illness that made it impossible for him to walk, and that for financial reasons they had not been able to go to the Virgin, they showed her the Virgin and the man died.
It is a miracle, the Mother of God allowed all of this to happen just to get to the house of her son, in this case the man with the painful illness who could not fulfil his last wish, but the Virgin of Itati fulfilled it and he could rest in peace after what had happened. Watch this video.
Day of the Virgin of Itati
The Day of the Virgin of Itatí is celebrated every year on the 16th of July, and is considered one of the most pious celebrations, awakening the faith of all the families in the area.
The story goes that this virgin was found by the Guarani settlers themselves on a stone near the river, which shone with a very bright light.
Although the bishop ordered her to be moved twice, the Virgin inexplicably returned to the same place where she was first seen, indicating that the Virgin of Itatí did not want to be moved from this place and that it was there that she had to be built.
And it was there that a temple had to be built to venerate and worship her.
This is how the faithful and spiritual people understood it and agreed to what the chaste lady wanted. This image is carved in wood, her body in timbo and her face in walnut, an image of monumental beauty that radiates warmth, sweetness and peace to those who have the privilege of seeing it.
The village is located about 73 kilometres from Argentina, very close to the banks of the Paraná River, and it is here that the Virgin of Itatí has not only performed countless miracles, but with her motherly love she has united the people and created an enormous peace between them.
That is why on this special day, from the smallest to the largest, they all contribute to the celebration of the day of the Virgin of Itati, which is of the utmost importance to them, because on this day they crown the Virgin Mary Mother of All, they do it every year and they have been doing it for many years, gathering hundreds of followers and devotees of this Virgin who come from all over the world, this begins just between the 12th and 17th of July, dates that are also the festivities of the Virgin of Carmen.
The place where the faithful come to meditate and ask for the favours and protection of the Virgin of Itatí is a small chapel, which although small is ideal for prayer, on its sides are kept the objects that the faithful bring for promises fulfilled and is located on the first floor and to get there you must climb the stairs that are on the sides. Watch this video
Our Lady of Itatí Corrientes
Our Lady of Itati is the patron saint of the city of Corrientes in Argentina, and since her arrival in this city she has brought peace, tranquillity and countless miracles that have saved the city from enemy attacks and restored the lives of many people who believe in her and are faithful to her.
This virgin also arrived in Yaguari through the explorers and the evangelisations that took place in the place, this happened almost a hundred years later and we can describe the virgin with a beautiful face and the colour of her hair was black, everyone was very surprised by her size since her height reached approximately 1.26 metres, besides she was carved in two types of wood, her body in timbo, a wood very well known to the natives and the face carved in walnut, a wood that is only obtained in Europe.
The clothes worn by this patron saint of the rivers, the Virgin Itatí, come from the old continent, as we know this virgin is an invocation of the Virgin Mary and this time her skin is a little brown, she is standing and mounted on what is a crescent moon, her hands are together in the form of prayer and on top of them we can see a holy rosary. She is also covered by a blue cloak and wears a white tunic on her head.
The Indians felt more and more devotion to this Virgin who came to stay and bring them the peace they needed so much, the image was taken to a Guarani chapel but the Virgin disappeared, the same thing happened the second time she was taken to the chapel she disappeared again and to everyone’s amazement she reappeared in the same place where she had been found, on the stone that was on the river bank, everyone was amazed and confused by such a situation.
When they saw that it was the second time that the Virgin appeared in the same place, they understood that the Virgin Itati’s will was to stay there, that they had to build a place where they could worship her, and it was in this place that a sanctuary for her devotion was built, in this place where today millions of people come to visit and ask favours of the Virgin. Watch this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gWO6vhWkfw
Prayer to the Virgin of Itati
Holy and beautiful Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, through the invocation of the chaste and pure Virgin of Itatí, your holy Mother, who has looked at us all with your eyes of mercy for more than three centuries, to all those who have implored you, do not leave us nor abandon us.
Virgin of Itatí, your holy Mother, who has looked upon us all with her eyes of mercy for more than three centuries, to all those who have implored you, do not abandon us nor reject our petitions to you, your children, who have turned to you in humility.
Virgin of Itati, in this moment we ask you to listen to us, who can know us better than you, and above all, admirable Mother, give me your great love, divine and merciful, create in me a pure heart for the great love you have for your Son Jesus, give me patience, humility, prudence to walk in life, give me the necessary strength to face temptations and give me much consolation when death comes. Amen. Watch this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQk6j2T8sb8
Novena to the Virgin of Itati
Each day, before beginning the novena to the Virgin of Itati, it is necessary to pray the opening prayer, asking her to give us the peace we need through our beloved Lord Jesus Christ. This novena must be prayed with faith and trust.
First prayer to the Virgin of Itati
Beautiful and holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, under the invocation of the chaste and pure Virgin Patroness of Itati, your holy Mother, who for more than three centuries has looked upon us all with your eyes of mercy, to all those who have implored you, do not abandon us nor reject our petitions, your children who have turned to you out of humility.
Virgin of Itati, in this moment we ask you to listen to us, who can know us better than you, and above all, admirable Mother, give me your great love, divine and merciful, create in me a pure heart for the great love you have for your Son Jesus, give me patience, humility, prudence to walk in life, give me the necessary strength to face temptations and give me much consolation when death comes. Amen.
DAY ONE
Most Holy Virgin of Itati, we invoke you with great faith, so that you may increase in us an unshakeable faith, the hope of eternal salvation with Jesus.
Give us perseverance in our love for God and the ability to spread His message to all who need it. Amen.
SECOND DAY
Our Mother and Mother of God, with your tenderness you embrace us in your womb, and the divine child Jesus, we ask you to protect and bless our family and all the children of the world.
Bless our family and all the children of the world, young people, and protect them from the dangers to which they are exposed, so that they may grow and walk safely in this life. amen.
THIRD DAY
Our Lady of Itati, we pray that you may create in our souls a deep sense of truly Christian love,
in which only the spirit of service, humility and dedication to our brothers and sisters in misfortune will oblige us to reach out with our fraternal hand to the bereaved, seeking that peace in your gaze. Amen.
FOURTH DAY
O most holy Virgin of Itati, Mother, hear our prayers so that, with the sweetness of your love and the promise of the Beatitudes, you may be the one who consoles us in the moments of pain and powerlessness that we live, may your Mother fill our hearts with the spiritual and salvific remedy. Amen.
FIFTH DAY
Little Virgin of Itati, our Mother, Helper and Protector of all, make us participants in the need to love Jesus, our Lord, to fully understand His teachings and to be able to explain them to all those who do not know Him and are ignorant of them, so that they may know His love and His power and live in happiness and in the truth of the Gospel. Amen.
SIXTH DAY
Our Mother, Blessed Virgin, help us to be pure of heart, so that sin and temptation may not overtake us, so that we may be worthy of Your Kingdom and remove from our lives the vanity and selfishness that always lie in wait, so that our relationship with You may always be pure, clean and sincere, and so that our hearts may be sheltered under Your mantle. Amen.
SEVENTH DAY
Little Virgin of Itati, you who are the refuge and hope of the most needy and sinners, give us your motherly protection, you who intercede for us before God, you who makes no distinction between races and even less between religions, we want to live under your protection as one big family. Amen.
EIGHTH DAY
Blessed Virgin Itati, we pray for all the children of the world, that you will protect them with the same love that you have for your Son Jesus Christ, that ignorance, exploitation and neglect will be kept away from them, so that they will not be involved. Children are hope and they always need the protection that only you can give them; we pray that they may grow in the love that your Son taught.
NINTH DAY
Mother of Our Lady of Itati, we pray that from our city you will always radiate your heavenly light to the whole country, for the consolation of those who need you most, the helpless, the sick, the unemployed, the desolate, Virgin, protect us always.
