Our Lady of Filipov

Marian Invocation of Filipov (Bohemia)

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Main data

Origin and history

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Filipov (in German Filipsdorf) is a small town now integrated in the area of Jiřetín pod Jedlová / Jiřikovin the north of Bohemia, very close to the border with Germany. In the 19th century it was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and was inhabited mostly by the German-speaking population.

La night of 12 to 13 January 1866around four in the morning, the Virgin Mary appeared to Magdalena (Mada) Kadea woman who is seriously ill, considered already evicted by the doctors. She herself said after that the Virgin was shown to her by her bed and addressed to her in German some comforting words; the sources coincide in the sense of the promise of healing, although not always in the literal formulation. Some gather the phrase, "My child, from today you will be healthy." In an immediate manner, Magdalena experienced a radical improvement and, according to the testimonies collected at the time, she recovered health in a stable way.

The fact quickly spread in the region, attracted many faithful and gave rise to a Church research process which ended in the recognition of healing as miraculous and of the place as Marian sanctuary. The local Church allowed the veneration of the Virgin under the advocation linked to Filipov and favored the construction of a temple to welcome the pilgrims.

At the end of the 19th century a iglesia para peregrinos, which soon later became a reference Marian sanctuary in the north of Bohemia, until it became known as the "Lourdes del norte de Bohemia"for the number of sick people who came to ask for the intercession of the Virgin and for the testimonies of favors received.

# # Tradition and spiritual reading

Local tradition highlights the atmosphere of intense Marian trust of the Kade family and of the Magdalena herself before the apparition: it is presented as a very devout of the Mother of God, used to going to Mary in her suffering. Also the popular memory has placed the emphasis on the dimension of comfort to the sick and persecuted, interpreting Filipov as a sign of the Virgin's maternal request to those who suffer bodily or spiritually.

In the 20th century, the sanctuary was interpreted by many faithful as a sign of reconciliation between Czechs and Germans, especially after conflicts and expulsions resulting from wars and nationalisms. This aspect, although not part of the core of the account of the apparition, does belong to the later spiritual and historical reading of devotion.

The image and the sanctuary

The sources available on Filipov focus mainly on the the fact of apparition and healingand provide very few technical data on the concrete image Today venerated in the main altar or in the chapel of the apparition. It does not have documentary certainty, in the resources consulted, the material, la authoria or a detailed iconographic description (position of the Virgin, attributes, artistic style). Consequently, no consta The technical description of the image is sufficiently precise to offer it rigorously.

The place of the miracle gave rise to a Iglesia-sanctuary Marian, built as a pilgrimage temple in Filipov. The sources speak of a "church for pilgrims" dedicated to the Virgin Mary, who has over time been consolidated as Marian sanctuary of Filipov, very often by the faithful. The temple is located in the northern part of Bohemia, in the region of the Sudetes, a short distance from the border with Germany, which has favored the influx of pilgrims from both countries.

In the accessible documentation, the full canonical official title (for example, if it is dedicated under a specific Marian title as "Mary Helper of Christians" or similar) the exact date of its consecration. A Spanish-language source links Filipov's devotion to the title of Mary Helper of Christians, in the context of the Marian apparitions in Czech, but it does not offer legal-liturgical detail or official documentation of the diocese. From prudence, the exact liturgical title of the temple cannot be assured without further backing.

Nor has there been any clear and explicit confirmation in the consulted sources that the church of Filipov has been elevated to the category of minor basilica by the Holy See. Therefore, is not certain the sanctuary has the rank of the lower basilica; it does, however, show its condition of Marian sanctuary de importancia regional and official place of pilgrimage recognized by the local Church.

Sponsorship and coronation

The Czech and Catholic sources in Spanish present Filipov as one of the Marian shrines of the Czech Republicespecially significant for northern Bohemia and for the Czech and German faithful. However, in the documentation consulted no consta that Our Lady of Philip has been officially proclaimed patron of a particular diocese, city or nation. It can be said that devotion has a clear regional and cross-border scope, but without a documented specific patronage decree.

As for the canonical coronation of the image, the sources consulted (including Catholic press articles and devotional pages specialized in Marian apparitions) do not mention any act of canonical coronation granted by pontifical mandate or by the Congregation for Divine Veneration for this advocation. Given the silence of the sources closest to the sanctuary and the normal character of such acts, the most rigorous is to say:

No documented canonical coronation of the image of Our Lady of Filipov.

Party and devotion

La central memory date of Filipov is linked to the night of the apparition and healing of Magdalena Kade: the 13 January 1866. Around this date, the sanctuary celebrates with special solemnity the Virgin, and in 2016 was particularly commemorated the 150th anniversary of the apparition, with Jubilee celebrations and pilgrimages.

For decades, Filipov has been the place of numerous processions, coming to gather up 6,000 persons on some pilgrimages, according to historical testimonies. This influx made it called "the Lourdes of northern Bohemia, "stressing its character as a sanctuary of sick and those who seek spiritual relief. Many pilgrims come to ask for the intercession of the Virgin in situations of illness, suffering, family problems or persecution, and to thank you received.

In the 20th century, especially following the war and tensions between Czech and German communities, the shrine of Filipov has also become sign of reconciliation between the two peoples. Some joint pilgrimages and celebrations of a binational nature have wanted to highlight this aspect of unity and forgiveness, consistent with the message of comfort and hope that the apparition meant to Magda