Blessings,
As you know Costa Rica is a very devout catholic nation, recognizing the authority of priests for marriage, funerals, baptisms etc. As of yet Pastors are not given this authority to perform any ceremonies. It is the tradition of the Catholic church in Costa Rica to celebrate the "day of the virgin" in homage to the appearance of the virgin Mary to a little girl on a farm in Cartago. Currently the Basilica stands where the appearance took place, every year August 2ND, tens-of-thousands of Costa Ricans make a pilgrimage to the Basilica. Many people walk, months, weeks, days from the very borders of Nicaragua and Panama to Cartago. People believe that by paying with a physical penance, promising the Virgin Mary they will serve her better, she will them return the favor with a miracle. The sight of 30,000+ is quit impressive, many are crippled, in wheel chairs, stretchers, mothers with new Born's, children, and elderly people all walking or crawling to perform penance for a miracle. We decided this time to go offer free water, take vital signs, and announce that the debt has been paid. Every year people pass out from exhaustion and dehydration, and we were very privileged to be there to offer a helping hand, and announce to our Catholic brethren, that the debt has been paid.
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