Didn’t Felipa de Rivas promise to build a chapel? She lived here in La Victoria. Now known as the Santuario Capilla de San Jose. It is a testament to faith. It is a story etched in colonial architecture.
This temple is more than a building. It is a magical place. It sits on the outskirts of La Victoria. Felipa de Rivas built it. She commemorated a favor received. San Jose is the patron saint of spouses. He is also the guardian of the sacred family.
Do you see its colonial style? Its beauty makes it perfect. Tourists appreciate Colombian history here. Inside, beautiful ornaments and decorations complement the architecture. On special dates, the church dresses up. It is surrounded by lanterns. In the moonlight, they worship San Jose. It composes an admirable landscape.
Let’s step back in time. Before La Victoria was a town, it was a settlement. Colonists led by Miguel Maria Davila and Antonio Maria Delgado lived here. A wealthy Spanish family also settled here. Fernando Rivas and his wife built the Hacienda Las Arditas.
Years later, a government order arrived. It condemned Mr. Rivas to hanging. His wife heard the town crier. She ran to her hacienda’s oratory. She prayed to Jose of Nazareth. He is the patron of a good death. She begged him to save her husband. She didn’t want him to die in disgrace. She asked that he die naturally. She promised to spend her wealth building a chapel. She would bring a fine wooden statue from her homeland.
The day before his execution, Fernando Rivas died. He had a very high fever. Mrs. Rivas saw her prayer answered. After the funeral, she gathered her slaves. She put them to work building the chapel. She wrote to Barcelona. She requested the statue of the saint. She also asked for people with Spanish architectural knowledge. They would help build and decorate the chapel.
On March 19, 1832, the chapel was inaugurated. It was the feast day of San Jose. Later, on May 6, 1838, the Bishop of Popayan Salvador Jimenez Enciso ordered indulgences. Anyone visiting the sanctuary could receive them. They had to confess. They had to take communion. They had to pray for the Holy Father. They also had to desire to avoid all sin.
Look at the temple. It stands out. It has Spanish colonial architecture. Notice the espadaña style on the front. The Santuario Capilla de San Jose stands as a beacon of hope. It is a reminder of faith’s power. It is a beautiful testament to a promise kept.