Our Lady of Azambuja

Marian Invocation of Brussels (Santa Catarina)

La devotion to Nossa Senhora de Azambuja is connected al Santuary of Our Lady of Azambuja, located in the district of Azambuja, municipality of Brussels, in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. There is no reliable evidence of a Marian shrine in Azambuja in Brussels (department of Santa Catarina, Colombia), so the correct geographical reference corresponds to the Brazilian sanctuary.

Main data

Origin and history

La devotion to Nossa Senhora de Azambuja is connected al Santuary of Our Lady of Azambuja, located in the district of Azambuja, municipality of Brussels, in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. There is no reliable evidence of a Marian shrine in Azambuja in Brussels (department of Santa Catarina, Colombia), so the correct geographical reference corresponds to the Brazilian sanctuary.

The documented story indicates that the sanctuary arose around a gruta y a una Marian image who attracted the devotion of immigrants, especially Italian and German, settled in that region of southern Brazil since the late 19th century. Various tourist and devotional testimonies describe the place as an important point of regional pilgrimage, but do not offer precise dates of foundation or concrete authors of the initiative. Therefore, beyond placing its origins in the context of the European colonization of Santa Catarina in the 19th century, there is no precise chronology.

As regards traditions or foundational legends (apparitions, concrete miracles in the grotto, etc.), in the sources consulted there are no specific narrations consolidated or officially approved; therefore, no consta a precise foundation legend or recognized by the local Church in the available documentation.

The image and the sanctuary

Accessible sources offer mainly photographic images of the place, without detailed official descriptions of the iconography of the headline image. The photographs show that this is a image of the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus in her armsin a contemporary devotional style, located in a grotto atmosphere and at the same time linked to the main temple of the sanctuary. The material (wood, plaster, stone or other), nor an official technical description of its iconography; therefore, such data cannot be strictly stated.

The place of worship is known as “Sanctuary Our Lady of Azambuja”, in the district of Azambuja, Brussels (Santa Catarina, Brazil). The descriptions of visitors highlight a good size church with rich interior details and beautiful panoramic view, integrated into a set that includes the grotto and pilgrimage areas. It is not recorded in the documentation consulted that the temple has been elevated to minor basilicaor having the official title of National sanctuary; if it presents simple com local Marian shrine/diocesan, without other documented higher canonical category.

Sponsorship and coronation

In the sources consulted no consta that Our Lady of Azambuja haya was officially proclaimed patron of a city, diocese or national level by a pontifical or episcopal decree publicly disseminated. Devotion, however, has a clear character of spiritual reference for the region of Brussels and its immigrantsbut this belongs to the field of popular piety and not to a formally documented canonical patronage.

With regard to a possible canonical coronationthere is no safe reference to a decree of the Holy See or to an officially recognized canonical coronation ceremony; it should therefore be stated: does not contain a documented canonical coronation.

Party and devotion

La main party of Our Lady of Azambuja is celebrated August 15, coinciding with the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, according to the local tradition indicated in devotion to the Shrine of Brussels. This date is usually indicated in devotional materials and in the programming of pilgrimages; no sources have been found to contradict it.

The sanctuary is described as a place of great pilgrimage, especially families of Italian and German immigrantswho come to the grotto and the temple to ask for the intercession of the Virgin and to thank the favors received. The testimonies speak of an environment of prayer, of Masses, confessions, processions and visits to the Grottobut no official flow figures are provided; therefore, no constant fiable numerical data. Popular religiosity is expressed in simple gestures: on candles, personal prayers before the image, promises and devotional walks to the sanctuary.

Link to the Rosary

In the specific documentation on Nossa Senhora de Azambuja no consta a particular historical relationship of this advocation with a fellowship of the Rosary, a miracle linked to the prayer of the Rosary or explicit official titles related to this prayer.

However, as in most Marian shrines, the Holy Rosary It is a regular part of the spiritual life of the pilgrims: it is prayed before or after the Mass, in processions and vigil, and accompanies the contemplation of the mysteries of Christ's life with Mary. The tradition of the Church presents the Rosary as a "Marian crown" which helps to meditate on the incarnation, passion and resurrection of the Lord with Mary, under any of her claims. In this way, even if there is no unique historical link documented, the Rosario integrates in a natural way in devotion to Nossa Senhora of Azambuja, joining the outer pilgrimage to the sanctuary with an inner pilgrimage of faith and conversion.