This year the Catholic town of Diriomo did not participate in the traditional procession of the image of its Virgin of Candelaria, which runs through the main streets of the municipality all morning and part of the night of February 2, because the police verbally informed to the authorities of the Diocesan Sanctuary, that the departure in procession of the revered image, was prohibited for a matter of “security”.
But that did not stop the expressions of faith of these people. After the liturgical celebration this Thursday, where the traditional bait candles are lit, which symbolize the light of Christ, the image was taken to the atrium of the temple, to be venerated by the faithful, who come every year to pay promises for favors received.
The members of the traditional folkloric dances were forced to make their artistic presentations in the atrium of the church, where the image remained for several hours, under the shade of the traditional coconut palm bower adorned with fruit. Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the temple, the merchants of the usual sweets from Santa Teresa, Carazo and the sellers of bait candles from the city of Masaya were stationed.
Related news: Parishioners in Diriomo, “forced” to suspend pilgrimage in honor of the Virgin of Candelaria
Despite the fact that the regime prohibited acts of religious piety, it was complacent with carnival activities, allowing the installation of platforms in the vicinity of the temple, for the realization of marimba rondallas and popular festivals, where the queens of the festivals were crowned. popular who were elected in the event promoted by the Ortega commune.
At 83 years old, Natalia Isabel Pérez came to visit the image of the Virgin of Candelaria, a tradition that was instilled by her mother, who already left this world more than 30 years ago. She is originally from the San Sebastián neighborhood of the city of Masaya and she says she feels very sad, because the image did not go out in procession this year.
“We have always accompanied the image to the line that is the border between Diría and Diriomo, I feel sad for not participating in this tour, but at the same time, I am filled with joy, because God allowed me one more year to participate in the festivities of our mother and thank her for her protection”, says the faithful devotee.
Fanny Sánchez is another of the devotees of the Virgin of Candelaria who participates every year in the festivity in honor of the image, which recalls the presentation of Christ in the temple, when he was 40 days old, according to the gospels.
“When the mass ended, the image would go out to walk the streets of the city and enter the temple at night, and immediately afterwards there would be an alborada, but this year it only went out to the main door to greet the salve and then He returned to his altar. For me, this situation is not sad, because Christians who have a lot of faith know that where faith is, there is our joy, because faith is in us”, highlighted the devotee.
Monsignor Jorge Solórzano, prudent
In his homily with a temple packed with Catholic faithful, the bishop of the Diocese of Granada, Monsignor Jorge Solórzano, avoided referring to the decision of the Ortega regime to prevent the image of the Virgin of Candelaria from leaving the temple to tour the avenues of the town of Diriomo, since his descent from the altar on January 21.
“Today we have blessed the candles that give light and that are a symbol of another light that is precisely Christ, who began to be, from the moment of his birth,” highlighted the head of the Catholic Church.
By United Voices
