Christopher Columbus arrived in Trujillo (Honduras) in 1502. He named this land Honduras because when he arrived, he had just come out of a storm, and he exclaimed "Gracias a Dios, salimos de estas honduras! ('Thanks be to God, we have come out of these deep waters.') The cape received the name of "Gracias a Dios" and the country "Honduras." Afterwards Honduras was colonized by the Spaniards, beginning in 1524.
Many churches are dedicated to Mary under these names:
- the Immaculate Conception,
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- Our Lady of Guadalupe, etc.
The main Marian shrine is the Basilica of Our Lady of Suyapa in Tegucigalpa, the country’s capital.
Feast Day: February 3rd.
In 1953 Our Lady of Suyapa she was declared patroness of Honduras.
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According to Attilio GALLI, Madre della Chiesa dei Cinque Continenti, Ed Segno, Udine, 1997