Our Lady of Guadalupe of Ayquina, popular patron of Calama and of the religious dances of El Loa

Marian vocation of Calama (Antofagasta)

Tradition / Legend

Main data

Origin and history

Tradition / Legend

The popular tradition places the origin of devotion in the small village of Ayquina, in the Alto Loa, where the Virgin would have been found in a broken or in the midst of extraordinary circumstances, associated with the care of the inhabitants of the place. In stories of local piety, it refers to a miraculous intervention by the Virgin in favour of a humble family of the broken, which would have motivated the entronization of the image and the growth of the Marian cult in that place. These elements fall within the scope of Pious tradition and are not included in verifiable historical documents.

Documented history

On the verifiable historical plane, the Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe of Ayquina is well documented as one of the main religious celebrations of northern Chile, which is incorporated into the culture of the original peoples and the religious dances of the Atacama desert. Ayquina is located in the commune of Calama, Region of Antofagasta, and is part of the tourist and religious destination "Calama - Alto El Loa." Several contemporary sources (Church of Calama, institutional portals of tourism and press) describe a festive tradition already consolidated in the 20th century, with a progressive organization of religious dances and mass pilgrimages to the sanctuary, especially from Calama.

The Church of Calama, in her recent information, shows a fully integrated devotion to diocesan life, with Jubilee visits of the image to the city, novies, penitential celebrations and a strong emphasis on reconciliation and mission. No precise academic data on the exact date of original enronization of the image or on an old founding document of the party have been found online; therefore, no consta with precision the year of historical beginning of devotion.

The image and the sanctuary

The available sources describe the figure of the Virgin of Guadalupe of Ayquina as a Marian image venerated in the temple of the people of Ayquina, recognized and loved by the faithful who pilgrim from all the region of Antofagasta and other areas of the north. Some graphic testimonies make it possible to recognize it as an image of a traditional Andean type, dressed in mantle and tunic richly decorated and bearing the Child Jesus, in tune with the Marian iconography spread in the sanctuaries of the Atacama desert; however, in the sources consulted is not explicitly and officially recorded the exact material of the size or a detailed iconographic description issued by the diocese or by the sanctuary. Therefore, the data on support (wood, plaster, etc.) and authorship no constan.

The main place of worship is the village and sanctuary of Ayquinain the Alto Loa, belonging to the Diocese of Saint John the Baptist of Calama. Devotion is strongly associated with the pastoral life of the Church of Calama, which organizes visits of the "pilgrim image" to the city, especially to the cathedral, in contexts such as the Jubilee Year and days of prayer and reconciliation. The accessible information does not mention a special canonical title (as a minor basilica or national sanctuary), but its character as a Marian sanctuary or temple with mainly diocesan and regional scope; a formal declaration of "national sanctuary" does not appear in the sources, so no consta such recognition.

Sponsorship and coronation

The diocesan and civil sources show the Virgin of Guadalupe of Ayquina as popular patron of Calama and the religious dances of the Loa, being a central spiritual reference for the religious and cultural identity of the area. The party is also considered a milestone of the "Calama - Alto El Loa" destination, which confirms the regional roots of its patronage. Although in many texts she is invoked as a protector of Calama and the High Loa, no consta online an explicit canonical decree that proclaims the main patron of the city or of the diocese; the patronage that is recognized to it is above all of character popular and devotionalespecially on Calama and the religious dances of the Loa River.

In relation to a possible canonical coronationthe sources consulted (sites of the Church in Chile, diocesan news and devotional portals) do not mention at all any act of canonical coronation decreed by the Holy See or by a pontifical delegate for this advocation. No dates or names of bishops or delegates are indicated in this regard. It should therefore be stated that: does not contain a documented canonical coronation.

Party and devotion

La main party of the Virgin of Guadalupe of Ayquina is celebrated around the September 7thin the framework of a great holiday that extends several days. Various sources point out that the celebrations take place approximately 31 August-8 Septemberat a time marked by mass, processions, vigil and intense activity of religious dances. This feast is part of the most significant popular religious calendar in northern Chile, along with other great Marian desert celebrations.

Devotion is expressed with a mass pilgrimage to the people of Ayquina: there is talk of an influx near the 70,000 pilgrims, many of which walk near 74 km from Calama as a sign of faith and promise fulfilled. The religious dances - with traditional costumes, music and choreographies - are protagonists of the party, as they accompany the processions, dance in front of the image and maintain a discipline of prayer and sacrifice throughout the holidays. The rite also includes confessions, daily eucharisties and moments of worship, so that the penitential and sacramental dimension is linked to cultural and community expression.

Beyond the holidays, the image occasionally makes pilgrim visits a Calama, where it is hosted in the cathedral and in different communities, especially at significant times such as the Jubilee Year and other diocesan initiatives of mission and reconciliation. These visits reinforce the spiritual link between the Ayquina shrine and the city, and allow those who cannot pilgrim until the break to receive the presence of the Virgin in her parishes and neighborhoods.

Link to the Rosary

In the sources consulted there is no specific and unique link of the Virgin of Guadalupe of Ayquina with some brotherhood of the Rosary, it is not mentioned that the feast is explicitly turned around a "Rosario of Ayquina" or other Marian practice differentiated of this type. They also do not contain documents that indicate that this advocation has arisen directly from a rosarian fellowship or brotherhood. It should therefore be clearly noted: there is no particular documented link between this advocation and the Rosary, beyond the ordinary use of the Rosary in Marian piety.

However, as in most Marian shrines, the rezo of the Holy Rosary It is a regular part of devotional life: it is integrated into novies, vigil, pilgrimages and moments of prayer of religious dances and pilgrims. The Rosary, by contemplating the mysteries of Christ's life together with Mary, offers a marc