Divine Pastor

Marian Advocation of Divine Pastor (Sergipe)

La advocación de la Divine Pastor has its general origin in Seville (Spain), in the early 18th century, linked to the preaching of the cappuccino Fra Isidoro of Seville and to a Marian iconography that represents the Virgin as a pastoralist surrounded by sheep, symbol of the people of God. This way of representing Mary was spread mainly through the Franciscans and capuchin in various countries of Europe and Latin America.

Main data

Origin and history

La advocación de la Divine Pastor has its general origin in Seville (Spain), in the early 18th century, linked to the preaching of the cappuccino Fra Isidoro of Seville and to a Marian iconography that represents the Virgin as a pastoralist surrounded by sheep, symbol of the people of God. This way of representing Mary was spread mainly through the Franciscans and capuchin in various countries of Europe and Latin America.

In the specific case of Our Lady Divine Pastor, patrona del municipio de Divina Pastora (State of Sergipe, Brazil)The devotion is part of this very pastoral current, introduced into the region by Franciscan missionaries, as the sources of the expansion of the Divine Pastor in Brazil point out. However, the information available does not contain with certainty detailed documents on the exact date of arrival of the image, the name of the first missionary or the precise circumstances of the entronisation of the image on the site; therefore, these specific data no constan documentedly.

It is known from the local tradition (generally mentioned in pastoral notes and social networks of diocesan field) that since the 19th century is celebrated in honor of the Divine Pastor a novena preparatoria y una rosemary annual to the sanctuary, consolidating devotion as Marian reference of the municipality and the region. These elements (ninth, Romeria, growing influx of pilgrims) are mainly in the field of popular traditionand no detailed chronology or published historical documents are available to make it possible to specify year of beginning, decree of erection of the sanctuary or similar data; therefore, for these ends no consta accessible historical documentation.

(In the initial report, "department of Sergipe, Colombia" is mentioned by mistake; the available historical and iconographic data confirm that this is the case with the State of Sergipe, Braziland not from Colombia.)

The image and the sanctuary

La image of Our Divine Shepherd Lady in Sergipe belongs to the iconographic type of the Virgin Pastora from Seville: Mary appears as Pasta, con Campestre, acompañada de lambs who represent the faithful, and sometimes with a bed and a pastoral hat, symbols of their maternal request for the flock of Christ. The general sources on the advocation describe this model as a style image baroque or late baroque, polychrome, sitting or standing, medium-sized, with a serene and youthful face. However, for the concrete image of Divine Pastor (Sergipe) no consta in the sources consulted a precise technical description (exact height, author, date of size, type of wood or other materials), nor a report of restorations, so these specific details no constan.

The image is venerated in the Santuary of Our Divine Lady Pastor, in the municipality of Divina Pastora, state of Sergipe (Brazil). The canonical title of the temple (for example, if it has been formally erected as a diocesan or Marian sanctuary by episcopal decree, or if it has a lower basilica rank); therefore, that information no consta documented. It is recognized, however, that the temple is the main center of local Marian devotion linked to the patron of the municipality and point of arrival of the annual rosemary, according to pastoral testimonies and religious press notes on devotion to the Divine Pastora in Brazil.

Sponsorship and coronation

La Divine Pastor is recognized as patron of the municipality of Divina Pastora, in the Brazilian state of Sergipe, according to the local tradition and religious configuration of the municipality, which takes its name precisely from this Marian advocation. No documented references have been found indicating a broader diocesan patronage (for example, from a whole diocese) or recognition as a patron at the state or national level; therefore, these broader patronings no constan.

In relation to a possible canonical coronation of the image of Nossa Senhora Divina Pastora de Divina Pastora (Sergipe), the sources consulted on coronations of images of the Divina Pastora in the world mention coronations in other places (for example, in Gapan, Philippines, in 1964, and other images of the Divina Pastora coronados in different countries). However, for the concrete image of the sanctuary of Divine Pastor (Sergipe) does not contain a documented canonical coronation (ni fecha, ni decree, ni delegado pontificio).

Party and devotion

La main party of Nossa Senhora Divina Pastora in the municipality of Divina Pastora (Sergipe, Brazil) is celebrated the first Sunday of October, according to the local tradition described in pastoral and devotional materials, where the practice of novena preparatoria followed by rosemary to the sanctuary on that day. This scheme (ninth + Romeria) is characteristic of other great devotions to the Divine Pastor in Latin America and is inserted into a markedly Marian and popular spirituality.

La rosemary It brings together the faithful of the municipality itself and of other places in the state of Sergipe, who come to the sanctuary to participate in the Eucharist, processions and devotional acts. Available sources do not offer exact flow figures (number of pilgrims, annual statistics) for Divine Pastor (Sergipe); therefore, these specific data no constan. Devotion is expressed in signs of popular piety: promises, offerings, participation in the ninth, processions with the image of the Virgin Pastor and community Marian prayers, as observed in other manifestations of the same advocation in the Latin American context.

Link to the Rosary

In the sources consulted on Nossa Senhora Divina Pastora in the municipality of Divina Pastora (Sergipe, Brazil) no consta a specific and documented relationship between this specific invocation and a particular practice of Rosary (for example, canonically erected in the sanctuary, specific indulgences linked to the prayer of the Rosary before the image or official programs that explicitly associate the rosemary with the prayer of the Rosary).

However, from the point of view of the Marian spirituality of the Church, the figure of Mary as Pastor of the flock of Christ deeply harmonizes with the prayer of Holy Rosary. The Rosary contemplates the mysteries of Christ's life from the hand of Mary, and the Divine Pastor appears precisely as a Mother who guides, protects and leads the faithful to her Son. In devotional life, the Rosary thus becomes a simple and constant way to "walk with the Pastor," allowing Mary to lead the believer's heart to the listening of the Word of God, to the imitation of the virtues of Christ and to fraternal charity, symbolically represented in the care of the flock.

In this way, although there is no documented legal or historical link between the advocation of Nossa Senhora Divina Pastora (Sergipe) and a specific practice of the Rosary, the Rezo cotidiano del Rosario is presented as a privileged means of living this devotion: by contemplating the mysteries, the faithful is recognized as "sheep" of the flock of Christ, entrusted to the maternal request of Mary, Divine Pastor of souls.