The Virgin of Chiquinquirá is a Marian devotion highly venerated in Colombia, whose main festivity is celebrated in the municipality of Chiquinquirá, in Boyacá. Pope Pius VII proclaimed her patron saint of Colombia in 1829, and she was crowned Queen of the country on July 9, 1919.
Thousands of pilgrims flock to her Basilica every July 9th. It is a Virgin that preserves a special story since 1585 in Chiquinquirá, where an original canvas with the image of the Virgin arrived in very bad condition. Some time later it was miraculously restored with its original colors and brightness. You can consult more details here o here.
– Supernatural celebration The main event on the 9th is a Mass in the Plaza de la Libertad. The Eucharist will be attended by bishops and priests, and is part of the festive program organized by the community of Dominican friars of the Basilica.
Among the special events of the day is the Jubilee of the Clergy of the Diocese of Chiquinquira and the Episcopal Conference of Colombia, which will be celebrated on Saturday, July 12 in the Basilica.
Martyrs of Gorcum (The Netherlands)
The July 9 saints' calendar includes St. Nicholas Pick and companions, known as the martyrs of Gorcum (Holland). In 1572, the Calvinists seized Gorcum (Holland) and arrested the Franciscan friars of the convent and other religious and priests, explains the directory Franciscan.
After taking them through towns and villages subjected to mockery and ridicule, they tried to force them to deny the Catholic faith. In particular of the Eucharist and the primacy of the Roman Pontiff. By remaining firm in the faith, they were hanged on July 9, 1572 in Brielle. The group of martyrs consisted of a Dominican, two Premonstratensians, a regular canon of St. Augustine, four secular priests and eleven Franciscans.
Blessed Marie Anne Madeleine de Guilhermier and Marie Anne-Marguerite de Rocher are also in the saints' calendar of the day. They were two nuns of the Order of St. Ursula guillotined in Orange (France), during the French Revolution, on July 9, 1794.
