Marian Advocations of Cantabria
Cantabria, the "land of the Mountain," keeps its Marian faith between the Cantabrian Sea and the summits of the interior. His heart is Our Lady the Well Aparecida, patron of the whole region, but next to her they are the devotions of the sea of Santander and great Dominican sanctuaries - the Caldas of Besaya and the Royal Sanctuary of Montesclaras - where the Rosary is prayed every day. These are some of the most beloved Marian claims of Cantabria.
History of Marian devotion in Cantabria
Cantabria, the ancient Mountain, has an ancient and varied Marian tradition, marked by the presence of the Virgin in its mountains, valleys and coast. The Cantabrian geography, with its deep valleys, its high peaks and its cut-off coastal line, has determined the location of the Marian shrines: the well-known in the Hoz de Marron, the Virgin of the Peña in the mountains of Gracedo, the Virgin of the Sea in the Bay of Santander, Montesclaras in the Campoo Valley, each sanctuary is a spiritual milestone that verifies the territory.
The Marian Cantabrian tradition is characterized by the "apparitions" or "findings" of images by pastors, who find the size of the Virgin in caves, among pans or with sources. This pattern of "invention" or miraculous discovery is repeated in the Well Aparecida, in the Virgin of Latas, in the Virgin of the Peña and in so many other advocacy, reflecting the deep religiosity of the cantabrian rural world.
Cantabria is also the land of great Marian shrines who have been pilgrimage centers for centuries. The Well Aparecida, patron of the region since 1905; Montesclaras, linked to the Order of Predicators; Valvanuz, in the Carriedo valley; the Virgin of the Sea, protector of Santander; and the Virgin of the Barquera, the guardian of the western coast, are only some of the milestones of a rich spiritual heritage that deserves to be known and valued.
Special mention deserves the apparitions of Garabandal (1961-1965), in the municipality of San Sebastian de Garabandal, which attracted international attention and which, although they do not have definitive ecclesiastical approval, are part of the contemporary Marian history of Cantabria.
Main Marian Advocations of Cantabria
A detailed tour of the most important Marian claims of Cantabria, with its history, art and popular devotion.
Our Lady of the Sea
Gothic size of the XIII-XIV century in a hermitage on an islet in front of Santander; patron of the city, invoked against the seasons and the tabs, with rosemary on the Monday of Pentecost.
In front of the open sea, the Mother is a safe port.
"Our Lady of the Sea, pray for us."
Our Lady of the Caldas
Gothic image of the XIII-XIV centuries in a convention - Dominican sanctuary next to the Besaya, famous for its miracles and exvotes; lives within the spirituality of the Rosary of the Dominicans.
"Health and comfort, the Mother welcomes those who come with faith.
"Our Lady of the Caldas, pray for us.
Our Lady of Montesclaras
Ancient image in a Royal Dominican Sanctuary in the south of Cantabria, patron of the Merindad de Campoo; famous for the May "Festival of the Rose" and for the Rosary that the Dominicans pray there.
As a blessed rose, the Mother perfuses the faith of her people.
"Our Lady of Montesclaras, pray for us."
Our Lady the Great Virgin
Gothic image of the 15th century venerated as patron of Torrelavega, in a great temple of the 20th century; around it are the main festivals of the city, on August 15.
"Great is the Mother who embraces her whole city.
"Our Lady the Great Virgin, pray for us."
Our Lady of Valvanuz
Patroness of the Carriedo valley and of the passegos, crowned in 1990; the legend tells that from a rock on the Virgin's feet the fountain that still runs by the sanctuary sprang.
"Mother of the heathen, a source that does not stop manar.
"Our Lady of Valvanuz, pray for us."
Our Lady of Light
"La Santuca," an image of 22 cm alabaster, patron of Liébana; every 2 May stars the one considered the longest procession in Spain, to Santo Toribio and back.
"The smallest Mother kindles the longest light on the way.
"Our Lady of Light, pray for us.
Our Lady of Soto
The old Franciscan monastery of the Toranzo Valley, with the image of the 13th century; its devotion passes through the valley and the whole is today the Diocesan House of Spirituality.
Ο In the broth of the valley, the Mother welcomes those who seek silence.
"Our Lady of Soto, pray for us."
Our Lady of the Well Appeared
Patrona de Cantabria, whose image miraculously appeared in 1605 to some shepherds in the Hoz de Marron, a throat of the Ason River. The size, a small Gothic image of the 14th century of 21 centimetres, was found among the pits in the place where today the hermitage is raised. The devotion quickly spread throughout the Mountain and in 1905 was declared patron of the province by Pope Saint Pius X. Its sanctuary, built in the 17th century and expanded in the 18th century, is a pilgrimage goal on September 15. The image represents the Virgin with the Child on the lap, offering her an apple, a symbol of the Remention.
O Well Aparecida, Mother of Cantabria, who you appeared in the Hoz of Marron to be light and protection of our land, protect all the cantons and grant us the grace of always living under your cloak. Amen.
Our Lady of the Barquera
Venerated in the convent of San Luis, founded in the 13th century by the Franciscans on the ancient hermitage of the Barquera. The tradition tells us that the image came by sea on a small boat, hence its name "de la Barquera." She is the patron of the village of San Vicente de la Barquera and of the sailors of all the Cantabrian coast. The image is a 14th century Gothic size, sitting with the Child on the left knee. Its festivity is celebrated on September 8 with a solemn maritia procession for the river and the port.
O Virgin of the Barquera, who came by sea to be guide and protection of the sailors, blesses the fishermen and their families, and leads us all to the safe port of salvation. Amen.
Our Lady of the Limp Consolation
Also known as the Virgin of the Consolation of Limpees, it is one of the most loved and visited asvocations of Cantabria. In the Church of San Pedro de Limpees, an 18th-century image was venerated and witnessed by the well-known "events of Limpees" in 1919- 1920, when thousands of pilgrims came to the place before the extraordinary phenomens that were reported (eye movements of the image). The sanctuary is today one of the most important Marian pilgrimage centers in northern Spain.
O Virgin of the Consolation of Limpees, Mother who comfort the afflicted, turn your merciful eyes to us and grant us the peace and comfort we so need. Amen.
Our Lady of Latas
Marian Sanctuary located in the Soba Valley, in the heart of the Ason@-@ Aguera region. Tradition tells that the image was miraculously found among some cans (hence his name) by a pastor in the 16th century. The present temple is baroque from the 18th century, with an image of the Virgin of the 16th century. The Romeria of 8 September is one of the most popular in the eastern region of Cantabria and brings together faithful from all over the Soba Valley.
O Virgin of Latas, who chose this valley to manifest your love, protect the inhabitants of Shoba and all who visit you, and grant us the joy of serving your Son. Amen.
Our Lady of the Snow Fans
High mountain sanctuary located in Pas Natural Park, at the foot of Pico Castillo. The hermitage, of medieval origin, was rebuilt in the 17th century. The image is a Gothic size of the 15th century. The devotion to the Virgin of the Snow is deeply rooted in the Passegos valleys, and its August 5 holiday brings together the passegos throughout the valley in a rosemary of great traditional taste.
O Virgin of the Snow, white as the snow that covers these mountains, intercede for us before your Son and protect the pastors and people from these valleys. Amen.
Our Lady of the Carmen of Santona
The Virgin of Carmen is the patron of the sailors of Santona, one of the most important fishing ports of Cantabria. The image is venerated in the Church of Santa María del Puerto, a Gothic building of the 13th century. The feast of July 16 is the most important of the villa: the gilded ships accompany the Virgin in procession through the bahia, in one of the most emotional manifestations of butterfly piety on the Cantabrian coast.
O Virgin of Carmen de Santona, a sea star that illuminates the fishermen in their work, protects the men of the sea and their families, and grant us the gift of perseverance in faith. Amen.
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