The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sarapiquí, Queen of Love, is located in the canton of Sarapiquí, in the province of Heredia. Its origins are linked to a series of reported Marian apparitions that began in the early 1990s and led to the establishment of a pilgrimage site visited by faithful from different parts of Costa Rica.

Although the apparitions have not been officially recognized by the Catholic Church as supernatural in origin, the site continues to serve as a place of prayer and pilgrimage for many believers.

The Beginning of the Apparitions

According to the testimony of Jorge Arturo Céspedes Segura, on December 31, 1990, when he was 14 years old, he reported seeing a woman surrounded by light. According to his account, the experience lasted only a few seconds, and he decided not to mention it because he believed it had been a product of his imagination.

On January 1, 1992, Jorge Arturo claimed to have heard a voice calling his name. When he returned to the same location, he reported seeing the same woman. He described her wearing a white dress, a blue mantle, a gray sash, a crown of twelve stars, and a golden scepter. According to his testimony, when he asked her if she was the Virgin Mary, she entrusted him with a message to transmit to the world and told him she would continue appearing on the first day of each month.

The Message of the Queen of Love

The apparitions became public on January 1, 1993, when the first message attributed to the Virgin Mary was made public. In that message, the figure identified herself as the Queen of Love and invited the faithful to live love and peace, understand God’s plan, and become advocates of these values. She also stated that people were free to accept or reject this invitation.

After the apparitions were publicized, pilgrims began to arrive at the site where, according to the account, the apparitions took place. According to information from the sanctuary, the apparitions initially took place on Tuesdays of each week and on the first day of each month, in addition to some religious dates. During these gatherings, religious objects and a spring near the site of the apparitions were also blessed.

The so-called Miracle of the Sun

Among the testimonies of the pilgrims is the observation of the so-called Miracle of the Sun or Dance of the Sun.

Those who claim to have witnessed this phenomenon indicate the sun appeared to change size, emit an unusual glow, and move across the sky. Some also reported observing figures and colors during the event. In the messages attributed to the Virgin, it was indicated that these phenomena should not be the foundation of faith, but that faith should be maintained independently of them.

Since March 1, 1995, the messages attributed to the apparitions have no longer been released publicly.

Over the years, a chapel was built at the location of the tree trunk associated with the first apparition. Trails, areas for celebrating Mass, parking facilities, and other visitor amenities were also added. In addition, a forest near the spring, used by pilgrims for prayer and reflection, was preserved.

Sensorial Sunsets