Our Lady of Good Help

Marian Advocation of Bonsecours (Normandy)

It does not include, in accessible and verifiable sources, a specific documented history de la advocación de Our Lady of Good Help directly and explicitly linked to the New Gothic Basilica of Bonsecours, near Ruan (Normandy, France) with official projection or implantation in Bonsecours (Department of Normandy), Colombia. The main sources that treat this advocation refer to sanctuaries of United States (Wisconsin) y Canadá (Montreal)as well as other devotional presence in Europe and Latin America without detailing a specific Colombian sanctuary.

Main data

Origin and history

It does not include, in accessible and verifiable sources, a specific documented history de la advocación de Our Lady of Good Help directly and explicitly linked to the New Gothic Basilica of Bonsecours, near Ruan (Normandy, France) with official projection or implantation in Bonsecours (Department of Normandy), Colombia. The main sources that treat this advocation refer to sanctuaries of United States (Wisconsin) y Canadá (Montreal)as well as other devotional presence in Europe and Latin America without detailing a specific Colombian sanctuary.

Various traditions about Note--Give me Bon-Secours / Our Lady of Good Help they speak, in general, of the Virgin invoked as assistance in danger, disease and travelwith roots in French areas (title "Bon Secours") and its subsequent dissemination to other countries. These narrations, though pious, are more linked to Montreal (Canada) Champion, Wisconsin (United States) to a Colombian focus directly associated with the Bonsecours Basilica in Normandy.

Therefore, for the specific case of Bonsecours (Normandy, Colombia), it can only be said rigorously that it is a Marian devotion under the title of Good Help / Bon- Secoursinspired by French-speaking tradition and linked, at least by the name, to the famous European vocation. It does not contain, in the documentation consulted, a detailed historical chain of foundation, local sanctuary erection dates or diocesan official recognition.

The image and the sanctuary

The sources available on Our Lady of Good Relief describe, elsewhere, images of the Virgin Mary standing, with the Child Jesus in her arms, Western classic, without extraordinary iconographic features: a Mother who offers help and protection, often with the Child blessing or holding symbols of grace and help. However, does not contain a precise description, with verifiable data, of the concrete image venerated in Bonsecours (Normandy, Colombia): their material (wood, plaster, stone), size and iconographic details of the Colombian sanctuary are not clearly indicated.

There are also no firm data on the official name of the temple de Bonsecours (Normandy, Colombia), not on a possible canonical title as minor basilica, national sanctuary or diocesan sanctuaryor about its architectural style. The reference to the "Bonsecours' Neogotic Basilica" it refers, historically, to the church of Bonsecours near Ruan, in Normandy, France, whose architecture and character as a sanctuary are well documented at European level, but this information cannot be applied without any more to a temple of the same name in Colombian territory, of which no detailed official record in the sources consulted.

Therefore, for this fact sheet it can only be said that local devotion in Bonsecours (Normandy, Colombia) is a cult of the Virgin under the title of Our Lady of Good Help / Note- Give me of Bon- Secourswithout a technical and safe description of the image and the concrete building where it is venerated.

Sponsorship and coronation

The documentation consulted on Our Lady of Good Relief's patronings clearly mentions, agricultural communities, fishermen and travellerswho invoke it as a protector against storms, droughts and accidents. However, no consta in these sources that the advocation of Bonsecours (Normandy, Colombia) has been proclaimed official employer of a city, municipality, diocese or a specific national reality.

On the canonical coronationthe sources on other sanctuaries of Our Lady of Good Relief (for example, the National Shrine of Champion, Wisconsin, recognized by the Episcopal Conference of the United States) do not mention a formal coronation linked to the advocation on Colombian territory. For Bonsecours (Normandy, Colombia) does not contain a documented canonical coronation given by delegation of the Holy See or by recognized episcopal decree.

Party and devotion

The party of Our Lady of Good Help in various places, the September 8, coinciding with the liturgical feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Relief in the United States points to September 8 as a festive day of the advocation. It is reasonable to assume that, by devotional affinity, the celebration around the September 8 has also spread where it is venerated under this title; however, for Bonsecours (Normandy, Colombia), does not contain in verified sources an explicit confirmation of the local date of the party, beyond this general coincidence with the Nativity of Mary.

As regards pilgrimages, inflow of the faithful and specific popular traditions in Bonsecours (Normandy, Colombia), the sources consulted do not provide specific data. In other Good Relief shrines, such as the one in Champion (United States), there are processions, novies and annual pilgrimages, with numerous participation of the faithful; in the same way, in Montreal devotion to Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours is associated with the history of the city and popular practices of Marian piety. By pastoral analogy, it can be thought that devotion in Bonsecours (Normandy, Colombia) includes Novias, solemn eucharisties around 8 September and acts of consecration to the VirginHowever, they do not contain, with documentary certainty, attendance figures or their own customs of this particular sanctuary.

Link to the Rosary

The specific sources on Our Lady of Good Help available online focus, above all, on the history of the shrines of Wisconsin y Montreal, not describing a particular or exclusive link with the Rosary prayerThere are no specific data on Bonsecours (Normandy, Colombia) in relation to the Rosary, the aurora rosaries or other concrete initiatives. Therefore, does not contain a historical relationship of its own and documented between this advocation, in its Colombian sanctuary, and a practice of the distinctive Rosary in front of other Marian devotions.

From Marian theology and spirituality, the title of “Buen Socorro / Bon-Secours” highlights Mary as assistance and early help in the temporal and spiritual needs. The Rosary is presented, in the tradition of the Church, as a contemplative prayer that introduces in the mysteries of Christ's life with the Virginand is a privileged way to live that "relief" of Mary in the concrete history of the faithful. In any Marian sanctuary - also in one dedicated to the Good Socrates - the Rosary accompanies devotion as:

– Sectoral confidence school, al repetir la súplica «ruega por nosotros ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte». – Contemplative memory de la Encarnación, la Pasión y la Gloria, que la Virgen presenta al Padre en favor de quienes buscan su auxilio. – Prayer of pilgrims, easily reachable on the way, in family and in community, especially at the holidays of the Virgin.

Thus, even without a specific historical data, it can be said that the Rosary fully harmonizes with the spirituality of Our Lady of Good Help, offering the faithful a simple and profound way to welcome Mary's maternal amparo.