Our Lady
of Cuapa

Then, she told him that she would return no more. In reply, Bernardo began to shout, “Do not leave us, my Mother! Do not leave us, my Mother! Do not leave us, my Mother!” Our Lady calmed him with her words: “Do not be troubled. I am with you, even though you can’t see me. I am the mother of all of you sinners. Love one another. Forgive one another. Make peace, because if you all do not make peace, there will be no peace. Do not resort to violence. Never resort to violence. Nicaragua has suffered much since the earthquake and it will continue suffering if you all do not change. If you all do not change, the third world war will arrive sooner than anticipated. Pray, pray to my Son for the entire world. The world is threatened by serious dangers. A mother never forgets her children and I have not forgotten what you suffer. I am the mother of all of you sinners. Call upon me with these words: “Blessed Virgin, you are my Mother, the Mother of all of us sinners.”

These were Our Lady of Cuapa’s last words. Her message was a very simple one, yet one we so urgently need to live: spread peace and forgiveness, carry out our duties, accept our cross each day, love one another, and pray from our hearts, living out the Word of God. We know that she is always with us.

The apparition site of Our Lady of Cuapa was declared a Diocesan Shrine on January 13, 2013 by His Excellency Socrates Rene Sandigo, Bishop of Juigalpa and President of the Nicaraguan Bishops’ Conference. Bishop Sandigo celebrated Mass on the site, accompanied by Bishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, Apostolic Nuncio of Nicaragua, and His Eminence Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, Archbishop of Managua, on May 8 of the same year.