When the city of Guanare (capital of Portuguesa state) was founded in 1591, the Indian tribe who inhabited the region, the Cospes, fled to the northern jungle.

[1][2][3] The Venezuelan episcopate declared her as Patroness of Venezuela on 1 May 1942, which was ratified by Pope Pius XII on 7 October 1944.

The church of Our Lady of Coromoto, in Guanare, was consecrated as National Shrine on 7 January 1996.

[4] Pope Benedict XVI elevated the National Shrine of Our Lady of Coromoto to the rank of Minor Basilica.

Pope John Paul II reiterated an imposed solemn coronation of Papal decree via Cardinal Agostino Casaroli on 10 February 1985.