Your faith is great. The 'coach' of pitchers from Bocas del Toro and his love for the 'brown virgin'

On December 12, the apparition of the Virgin of Guadalupe was commemorated, according to Catholic tradition, a date that brings together millions of devotees to venerate the "brown virgin".

The Virgin of Guadalupe has always been linked to the faith of athletes and that is why we spoke with Jorge Cortés, current pitching coach for the Bocas del Toro teams and devotee of the “Morenita del Tepeyac”.

How was his devotion to the Virgin of Guadalupe born?

"When I went to Mexico and asked him a lot for the illnesses that some relatives suffered from and just on that trip I had a daughter in that country."

Who was Jorge Cortés before that?

"He was a tremendous child who never bought a toy, I made the toys myself or invented them, I even went swimming when the river was high."

When he played in Mexico was he able to go to the basilica?

"Yes, and it was a very nice experience."

He has a brunette tattoo. What led you to make that decision to mark his skin with his image?

“My dad had an image of him in his room and I saw it since I was little, he was also devoted to the Virgin and I began to see the miracles that he was gradually doing in my family and friends. A friend had evicted her daughter and I told her if she wanted to go to my house to ask the Virgin with faith for the health of her daughter and that's how it was, today the girl is 11 years old ".

Has that tattoo been his best investment?

“Of course I do, and I don't regret it; what's more, I thought about tattooing myself again, but on my chest. The first tattoo is on the left leg and I see it as a protection, since I was a pitcher and pitchers always protect themselves from their legs and their arms.

His acquaintances classify him as a man of strong character.

Has he asked Our Lady to make him change?

“Every day I ask Our Lady to give me the strength to continue dealing with my character, since it is not easy to live with the boys I see today, since some misbehave, but they are minors and you have to know how to cope with them” .

When someone English was told that story, he said, "then, God loves us more because it rains here a lot! 😂" and thi… https://t.co/QyXjeVUACB

— Emey Emarled 🕊💖⚖️ Mon May 13 14:17:51 +0000 2019

You caught covid-19 and had a bad time, do you think the Virgin interceded in her recovery?

“Of course yes, for me it is a miracle that I am alive today because those were very difficult times that I and my family went through. Being hospitalized he spoke with her (the Virgin). All of us who were hospitalized in the same room, none died. I was able to get out alive on December 8, 2020 from the modular hospital in Albrook and on the 12th I returned to that place to distribute images of the Virgin to those who were there and I made a toast to the doctors.”

Does it fulfill any ritual or command the 12th of December?

"Every December 12 I make a toast, shoot fireworks and sing his mornings."

Do you already have your request to the Virgin for this coming year?

“Of course, being champion with the Bocas del Toro Youth team, the boys have worked hard and I love them as if they were my children. I have been in this province since August 19 and every day I ask Our Lady to give me the strength to continue with them here, work hard and bring that championship to Bocas, which is in such great need”.

What is your opinion of unbelievers?

“I am not one to get into the beliefs of others, but I think they should seek God. The one who says that he does not believe in anything, in the end when he sees himself bedridden he is always looking for God and he forgives him”.

Profile

Jorge Cortés Cañizales is 49 years old.

For many years he was a pitcher for the national team.

In the national championships he played for Panama Metro and Panama Oeste.

At the professional level he played with the Cincinnati Reds.

He also pitched in Mexico, Nicaragua and Chinese Taipei.

He is currently the pitching coach for the Bocas del Toro teams.