Our Lady of Brezje's Relief

Marian vocation of Brezje (Alta Carniola)

As for the tradition, various popular sources point out that the small Alpine town of Brezje already had in the Middle Ages a church dedicated to San Vito, where the Virgin was venerated. It is also stated that the painter Leopold Layer, imprisoned during the Napoleonic wars, would have painted the current image of Mary Auxiliadora in 1814 in prison, and that the Virgin would have released him from death in relation to this painting; this story is transmitted as pious beliefwithout fully verifiable legal or historical details.

Main data

Origin and history

As for the tradition, various popular sources point out that the small Alpine town of Brezje already had in the Middle Ages a church dedicated to San Vito, where the Virgin was venerated. It is also stated that the painter Leopold Layer, imprisoned during the Napoleonic wars, would have painted the current image of Mary Auxiliadora in 1814 in prison, and that the Virgin would have released him from death in relation to this painting; this story is transmitted as pious beliefwithout fully verifiable legal or historical details.

La documented history indicates that Brezje has been in historical records since the 11th century, linked to the parish of Mošnje. In the place there was a church dedicated to San Vito, which eventually became an important center of Marian pilgrimages. The present basilica was raised at the beginning of the 20th century at the site of the old sacrous building, to welcome the growing flow of pilgrims who came to venerate the image of Marija Pomagaj. From the end of the 19th century and, above all, throughout the 20th century, the Brezje shrine was consolidated as main Marian pilgrimage center in Sloveniawith a strong national dimension.

The image and the sanctuary

La image of Our Lady of Brezje's Relief (Marija Pomagaj) is a painting of Mary Helper with the Child Jesus, work of the Slovenian painter Leopold Layerin the early 19th century (the year 1814 is usually indicated). This is a altar painting, installed in the main altarpiece of the sanctuary, which represents the Virgin as a Mother to help, bearing the Child and receiving the pleas of the faithful. The image has become one of the more recognizable symbols of Marian devotion in Slovenia.

The place of worship is the Basilica of Mary Helper in Brezje (in Slovenian, Marija Pomagaj Basilica), located in Brezje, in the region of Alta Carniola, Slovenia. Although devotion is focused on the Virgin Mary, the church also retains the historic dedication to San Vito. The temple was elevated to the dignity of minor basilica by John Paul II the 5 October 1988. Then, at the initiative of the Franciscan custodians of the place, the church was recognized as Marian National Sanctuary of Slovenia: the Slovenian Episcopal Conference proclaimed it in the year 2000. The whole has an explanade of pilgrims and is the largest pilgrimage center in Slovenia, receiving around 400,000 pilgrims per year.

Sponsorship and coronation

Our Lady of Brezje's Relief, Maria Pomagaj, is recognized as Maria Auxiliadora de los Slovenoswith a clear spiritual patron of the Slovenian people. The country was officially dedicated to Marija Pomagaj August 15, 1992in the solemnity of the Assumption, consecration that is renewed every year at that same feast. Various ecclesial acts of a national nature have taken place in the face of this image, strengthening its Marian reference role for Slovenia.

On the canonical coronation of the image, the sources consulted (sanctuary, devotional chronicles in Spanish and historical notes) do not offer a clear mention or a precise date or the name of the pontiff or of the delegate who made it. The documentation available in Spanish speaks of the national importance of the image and its proclamation as a national sanctuary, but does not contain a documented canonical coronation with verifiable data.

Party and devotion

La advocación de Maria Auxiliadora has as traditional date the May 24and this date is explicitly indicated as fiesta de Marija Pomagaj in Brezje. In addition, August 15the Solemnity of the Assumption is of particular importance, since on that date the consecration of the Slovenian people to Marija Pomagaj in 1992and this consecration is renewed annually. Many pilgrimages are held throughout the year, especially in the Marian months and in the great solemnities of the Virgin.

The Shrine of Brezje is characterized by an intense devoción popularwhich calls for the intercession of the Virgin for family, vocational and national needs. They are attributed to the intercession of Marija Pomagaj numerous thanks and cures, which has increased the flow of pilgrims for decades. In 1935 the image came out of Brezje for the first time to preside over the Eucharistic Congress in Ljubljana, a sign of its role in the ecclesial life of the country. In 1996, during his visit to Slovenia, San Juan Pablo II He went to the Shrine of Brezje, a gesture that internationally confirmed the relevance of this place of grace.

Link to the Rosary

A specific historical or legal relationship between the advocation of Our Lady of Brezje's Relief and a fellowship, archcofradia or specific title linked to the Rosary. There is therefore no unique institutional link as in other rosarine shrines.

However, as in most large santuarios mariana, el prayer of the Rosary It is a regular part of the devotional life of Brezje: it accompanies the pilgrimages, the Marian vigil and the great feasts, helping the faithful to contemplate, together with Mary, the mysteries of Christ's life. In an advocation like Maria Pomagajin which the people address the Virgin with the request "help us!" the Rosary naturally becomes subsidiary trust schoolwhere each Avemaria is an invocation of relief and hope, united with the way of the Church in Slovenia and the witness of faith of its pilgrims.