Peru's popular religious devotions take on special meaning this year

Published: 2007-10-25

ICA, Peru (CNS) -- October is a month of outpouring of religious devotion in Peru, as tens of thousands of people throng the streets of this city and more than 100,000 converge on Lima for feasts centering on images of the crucified Christ. A magnitude 8 earthquake that struck Peru Aug. 15 gave the celebrations extra meaning this year. Both the Lord of Luren, which centers on a statue brought to Peru from Europe in the 16th century, and the Lord of the Miracles, Peru's largest religious devotion, are associated with protection from earthquakes. The feasts are preceded by novenas and other preparations, but the central element is always a traffic-snarling procession in which tens of thousands of pilgrims, some barefoot or on their knees, accompany the images through city streets, praying and singing.

Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .