Our Lady of Birkenstein

Marian vocation of Fischbachau (Bavaria)

La local tradition places the origin of Birkenstein's devotion in a venerated Marian image in a small Alpine shrine in Fischbachau, in Alta Bavaria. The documentation available from the sources consulted confirms that this is a Pilgrimage chapel very frequented, dedicated to Maria Birkensteinbut it does not at this time offer a complete and homogeneous historical narrative of the primitive origin of the cult.

Main data

Origin and history

La local tradition places the origin of Birkenstein's devotion in a venerated Marian image in a small Alpine shrine in Fischbachau, in Alta Bavaria. The documentation available from the sources consulted confirms that this is a Pilgrimage chapel very frequented, dedicated to Maria Birkensteinbut it does not at this time offer a complete and homogeneous historical narrative of the primitive origin of the cult.

In the verifiable information available here, no con seguridad the exact date of foundation of the sanctuary and a detailed chronology sufficiently established to distinguish, without the risk of error, between the first implantation of devotion and the subsequent stages of expansion or reconstruction. It can be said with certainty that the advocation belongs to the Bavarian Marian area and that it is part of the whole of the pilgrimage places of the region.

The image and the sanctuary

The venerated image is a representation of the Immaculate Conception, that is, of the Virgin Mary in her purity without original sin; however, in the sources accessible to this fact sheet are not accurately recorded the material of the size or painting, nor a complete technical iconographic description.

The temple is the Sanctuary of María Birkenstein en Fischbachau, Alta Baviera, Alemania, una church of pilgrimage of a local and regional nature. Not included in the sources consulted minor basilica, National sanctuary o diocesan sanctuary; rather it is identified as a much visited Marian pilgrimage place within Bavaria.

Sponsorship and coronation

No consta un Official patronage clearly documented in the sources consulted for city, municipality, diocese or nation.

It also does not contain a documented canonical coronation of the image of Our Lady of Birkenstein in the verified documentation used here.

Party and devotion

La main party is not safe in the sources consulted. In this type of Bavarian sanctuaries devotion is often articulated around the Marian celebrations of the liturgical calendar and local pilgrimages, but for Birkenstein a specific, sufficiently documented holiday date is not available here.

It is clear that this is a very visited sanctuary and of strong devotional roots in the Alpine region of Bavaria. Accessible sources do not provide reliable flow figures or solid details on specific popular traditions; therefore, these data no constan In this file.

Link to the Rosary

In the sources consulted does not contain a specific and exclusive historical link between Our Lady of Birkenstein and a particular rosarian fellowship, promise or title. His relationship with the Rosary must therefore be understood in the general framework of Marian piety: the Rosary naturally accompanies the contemplation of Christ with Mary and fits with the spirituality of a pilgrimage sanctuary dedicated to the Immaculate.

As in other Bavarian Marian shrines, the visit to Mary Birkenstein can be well integrated into a rosarian devotion: pilgrimage, silence, meditation of the mysteries of Christ and supplication to the Virgin converge into the same spiritual logic, though here no conste a documented rosarian tradition of its own.