Our Lady of Arigbo

Marian Advocation of Dassa-Zoumé (Benin)

La devoción a Our Lady of Arigbo is linked to the natural cave of Dassa-Zouméin the centre of Benin, where one of the country's main Marian centres is developed. The information disseminated by recent ecclesial sources indicates that the Church in Benin celebrated in 2024 the 70 years of the creation of this center of pilgrimage, which places its origin in 1954.

Main data

Origin and history

La devoción a Our Lady of Arigbo is linked to the natural cave of Dassa-Zouméin the centre of Benin, where one of the country's main Marian centres is developed. The information disseminated by recent ecclesial sources indicates that the Church in Benin celebrated in 2024 the 70 years of the creation of this center of pilgrimage, which places its origin in 1954.

In local tradition, Arigbo is presented as an advocation associated with the grotto between rocky hills, converted over time to prayer and pilgrimage. The documentation available in Catholic and reference sources confirms the sanctuary and its membership in the diocese of Dassa-Zoumé, but does not offer in detail a fully uniform foundational narrative; therefore, it is appropriate to distinguish the devotional tradition the existence of the Marian pilgrimage centre since the mid-20th century.

The image and the sanctuary

The advocation is venerated in the Our Lady of Arigbo Shrine, en Dassa-Zoumé, within the diocesis of Dassa-Zoumé, de Roman rite (Latin). The localized sources describe the place as a gruta or rock sanctuary, with a ediculum in front of the cave; it does not contain, in the sources consulted, a sufficiently precise description of the headline image to safely affirm its specific material, style or iconography.

As for their ecclesial category, the available sources clearly identify it as sanctuary; does not include any sources consulted minor basilicawhile it does appear as a Marian sanctuary in the jurisdiction of the diocese of Dassa- Zoumé. The recent Catholic press and other references agree to emphasize its status as a great national Marian pilgrimage centre.

Sponsorship and coronation

The patronage of this advocation is directly linked to the diocesis of Dassa-Zoumé and with the whole of Church in Benin, given its character as a national Marian sanctuary. There is no formal civil patronage of city or municipality in the sources consulted.

Canon coronation: does not contain a documented canonical coronation in the verified sources.

Party and devotion

The great feast and main pilgrimage is celebrated August 15, solemnidad de la Assumption of the Virgin Marythe date that has been associated with the Marian national pilgrimage of Dassa-Zoumé. Catholic sources point out that this pilgrimage brings together every year many faithful from Benin and neighbouring countries, and that it is part of the great Marian demonstrations in West Africa.

Among the most constant devotional features are the pilgrimage to the grottoCommunity prayer, solemn liturgical celebration and the national dimension of the meeting. Some journalistic and Catholic references mention the concurrence of Bishops, priests and thousands of faithful; a source collects assistance from about seven thousand participants in a specific edition, although that data should not be generalized. The sanctuary is also presented as a place of prayer for peace and of intense popular Marian devotion.

Link to the Rosary

There is no exclusive or specific relationship of this advocation with a particular form of the Rosary in the sources consulted. However, as in most of the Marian Catholic shrines, the Rosary It naturally accompanies the pilgrimage, the meditation of the mysteries of Christ with Mary and the prayer for the intentions of the Church and the nation. In a sanctuary like Arigbo, the prayer of the Rosary fits in a special way with the contemplative character of the gruta marijuanawhere popular devotion leads to meditation, supplication and silent prayer before the Mother of God.