The whole process of the apparition was documented by Juan Sanchez. In 1738 a reliquary was ordered to be built to keep the Sacred Relic of Our Lady of Coromoto. It was adorned with pearls of various sizes. It was kept there until 1948, when a new one was brought from Madrid, Spain, made of gilded silver.

In 1784 the Hierarchy of the Church in the person of Bishop Mariano Marti made an official chronicle edited by the Venezuelan Academy of History.

Subsequent studies and investigations were carried out by many historians, such as  Mons. Pedro Pablo Tenreiro, Bishop Omar Ramos Cordero and above all by Brother Nectario María.

The first official recognition of the Hierarchy to the Coromotan fact, of which there is written evidence, was made by Bishop Mariano Marti in his official chronicle of 1784, later edited by the Venezuelan Academy of History. On page 499 of Volume I of his famous Pastoral Visit, when he speaks about Guanare, he textually says:  

"In the last century Our Lady appeared in different places of these vicinities, and in the Creek named Coromoto, distant from the place where the Church of the old town and of this new town is located, about one league - from each of these old and new towns.  In the year 1652, according to this priest, Our Lady of Coromoto appeared in the place where the church of the old town is today".

Brother Nectario María published a book titled "The History of the Apparition of the Virgin of Coromoto" after studying for years how it happened. But he did not stop there.  He continued his work showing the importance of this apparition.

Brother Nectario María in 1922 publisBrother Nectario María in 1922 published in the magazine "Excelsior" of the La Salle Literary Society the first research on the apparition of the Virgin of Coromoto under the title: "The Wonderful History of Our Lady of Coromoto" and wrote the first booklet on the Virgin of Coromoto in 1944. He not only investigated about the apparition of Coromoto and other aspects of religious history of Venezuela, but also spent many years researching in the Archive of the Indies about Venezuela, its origin and its history. As a result of these studies he published the book:

"Historia de la Aparición de la Virgen de Coromoto".

Several generations of Venezuelans used the text of History of Venezuela by Brother Nectario María during elementary school.

In 1928 he proposed in the II National Marian Congress that the Virgin of Coromoto be recognized and proclaimed Patroness of Venezuela, for being the only true Apparition. 

On May 1, 1942, the eight Bishops of the Venezuelan Episcopate met. After invoking the Holy Spirit and each one in personal prayer, they voted in secret for the title they would choose to declare the Virgin as Patroness of the Country. The decision was unanimous and by means of a document, they declared the VIRGIN OF COROMOTO as PATRONESS OF VENEZUELA.

The Bishops informed both the Pope and the National Government of this decision, as representatives of the people.  For this, they relied on the studies carried out by Brother. Nectario María and in the devotion of so many thousands of faithful followers, demonstrated in the pilgrimages, pilgrimages, pious monuments built to the Virgin of Coromoto in dioceses, parishes, churches throughout Venezuela ... As one speaker said in Guanare: The Bishops did not consult the archives to declare her Patroness, they consulted the hearts of the Venezuelan people ... But fortunately there was a perfect harmony between the hearts and the archives.

On October 7, 1944, Pope Pius XII, declared the Virgin of Coromoto. "Celestial and Principal Patroness of the entire Republic of Venezuela".

Virgin of Coromoto Jaculatory