Our Lady of Buglose

Advocación mariana de Saint-Vincent-de-Paul (Nueva Aquitania)

About Our Lady of Buglose the reliable information comes almost exclusively from the French tradition of the Shrine of Buglose, in the present municipality of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul (Landas, New Aquitaine region, France). The mention in Marian calendars places devotion as known at least since the 17th century. No official Colombian or diocesan sources have been found to document a Marian sanctuary with this advocation in a place called Saint Vincent de Paul in the department of Nueva Aquitaine (Colombia), so the historical existence of a Colombian sanctuary formally erected under this title is not fully established.

Main data

Origin and history

About Our Lady of Buglose the reliable information comes almost exclusively from the French tradition of the Shrine of Buglose, in the present municipality of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul (Landas, New Aquitaine region, France). The mention in Marian calendars places devotion as known at least since the 17th century. No official Colombian or diocesan sources have been found to document a Marian sanctuary with this advocation in a place called Saint Vincent de Paul in the department of Nueva Aquitaine (Colombia), so the historical existence of a Colombian sanctuary formally erected under this title is not fully established.

According to the tradition the image of the Virgin of Buglose was found in a swamp o cenagosa area, where it would have remained hidden or lost until its discovery by simple people of the place. This tradition highlights the humble and hidden character of Mary's presence, and explains that the sanctuary became a popular pilgrimage centre. However, the specific details of the finding (exact date, names of witnesses, associated wonders) are not supported by accessible historical documentation; this is a origin legend, common in many Marian advocations linked to found images.

As for the documented history, pious references indicate that the Shrine of Buglose was already known as a place of Marian devotion in Gasconia / Aquitaine in the 17th century, and that over time it was consolidated as "great Marian center of Aquitaine." Devotion expanded in the Landes region and became a popular patronage. There is no detailed documentation of the historical development of the sanctuary or of possible subsidiary foundations in the Americas in the sources consulted; therefore, any specific link with Colombia should be considered undocumented.

The image and the sanctuary

Devotional texts describe a Our Lady of Buglose like a image of the Virgin with the Child, originally venerated in a rural sanctuary of the Gascona region. No reliable data on the material (wood, stone, etc.), the size or artistic style of the image, beyond its traditional Marian character. There are also no academic descriptions of his iconography (posture, attributes, specific symbols), so these details cannot be strictly affirmed.

In France, tradition places the image in a Marian sanctuary in Buglose, near Dax, in the surroundings of Saint-Vincenti-de-Paul, described in texts of piety as a place that "contains a miraculous image of Our Lady of Buglose." He is mentioned as Marian shrine regionalbut in the sources consulted it is not indicated that it has the title of minor basilica nor of national sanctuary; therefore, these titles no constan. They also do not contain, in available sources, precise architectural data (style, construction date, extensions) that can be collected without risk of inaccuracy.

About a possible sanctuary in Colombia with this advocation, located in a place called Saint-Vincent-de-Paul in a "department of Nueva Aquitaine," no reference has been found in ecclesial, civil or reliable sources of dissemination; therefore, no consta the existence of an officially recognized temple with that name and advocation in Colombia.

Sponsorship and coronation

In the French pious tradition he presents himself to Our Lady of Buglose as a important Marian center of Aquitania y popular patron of the Landas. This patronage is understood in a devotional and popular sense: the people of the region come to this sanctuary with special confidence. No pontifical decree or official declaration has been found that proclaims the canonical patron of the diocese or the region, so his patronage, as is known, is mainly popular y regional, in legal terms.

On the canonical coronation, various devotional sources point out that the image was coronada en 1869but the sources consulted do not provide the text of the bull, the name of the Pope who authorized the coronation or the pontifical delegate who made it, nor an official reference verifiable in accessible ecclesiastical files. Since the requested rule requires that they be mentioned only if they are safely recorded, and in the absence of official sources, it should be stated: does not contain a documented canonical coronation in available sources, although local tradition speaks of a coronation in 1869.

As for patronings outside France (for example, in Colombia), no documents have been found that officially recognize Our Lady of Buglose as patron of some diocese, municipality or American nation; therefore, no consta No canonical patronage of this kind.

Party and devotion

Marian calendars point to a memory of Our Lady of Buglose on the date of 29 June, associating her with France. However, the main party of this advocation is linked in various fields of piety to the celebration of September 8the day of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, considered as the solemn feast of the sanctuary and of the image. This association on September 8 corresponds to a frequent use in many Marian shrines: to join the local party to a great universal Marian party. However, in the sources consulted there is no official liturgical calendar that explicitly confirms 8 September as the feast of the sanctuary, so the date is presented as devotional tradition, as documented liturgical date.

The shrine of Buglose is described in the literature of piety as a regional pilgrimage placewhom the faithful come from Aquitaine and, in a particular way, from the Landes. It is called "great Marian center of Aquitaine," which indicates a remarkable influx of pilgrims, especially at the Marian parties and the summer season. No official participation figures or specific descriptions of popular processions or practices (romanias, promises, specific novies) have been found that can be cited with precision; therefore, beyond the general mention of pilgrimages and popular devotion, no constan numerical data and specific details of local traditions.

For a possible sanctuary in Colombia, no references to their own parties, pilgrimages or specific traditions have been found; therefore, no consta officially a liturgical or devotional celebration regulated under this title in the Colombian context.

Link to the Rosary

In the sources consulted about Our Lady of Buglose no consta a specific historical or spiritual link with the the Rosary (for example, apparitions related to the Rosary, rosarian copradies formally erected in the sanctuary or miracles explicitly linked to this prayer). Devotion is rather a general form of Marian veneration rooted in an image found and a regional sanctuary.

However, in the spiritual life of the Church, the prayer of the Rosary is one of the most widespread ways to honor the Virgin Mary and to meditate on the mysteries of Christ. Where there is a Marian sanctuary - like Buglose in Aquitaine - the Rosary usually spontaneously accompany pilgrimages, vigil and novies, even when there is no particular documented tradition. Thus, devotion to Our Lady of Buglose It can be integrated harmonically into the spirituality of the Rosary: by contemplating with Mary the incarnation, passion and glory of her Son, the fundamental message of every authentic Marian advocation, which always leads to the deepest encounter with Jesus Christ, is assumed.

Sources: tradition of the sanctuary, diocesan information and Wikipedia in Spanish. The distinction between popular piety and documented ecclesial history is specific to this fact sheet; extraordinary accounts are presented as devotion and not as doctrinal pronunciation.