Our Lady of Guadalupe de La Antigua, patron of an old extramurian district, venerated in the chapel of Guadalupe de La Antigua Guatemala; one of the first Guadelupan seals of Central America. December 12th party.

Patrona de La Antigua Guatemala

No specific historical studies or public ecclesiastical documents on the advocation of Our Lady of Guadalupe de La Antigua, venerada en la in La Antigua Guatemala (department of Sacatepéquez, Guatemala) as a patron of an old extramurian neighborhood. There is no differentiated mention in general sources of Marian advocacy or in the usual repertory of Marian sanctuaries.

Main data

Origin and history

No specific historical studies or public ecclesiastical documents on the advocation of Our Lady of Guadalupe de La Antigua, venerada en la in La Antigua Guatemala (department of Sacatepéquez, Guatemala) as a patron of an old extramurian neighborhood. There is no differentiated mention in general sources of Marian advocacy or in the usual repertory of Marian sanctuaries.

In general, the dissemination of the name "Our Lady of Guadalupe" in Central America is historically linked to the influence of the Guadeloupe de México (Tepeyac), whose cult is consolidated from the apparitions of 1531 and reaches the rank of patronage over New Spain in the 18th century. It is true - although not documented on a case-by-case basis - that many oratorios and hermites of "Guadalupe" in Guatemala and around the country were born as a local expression of this Guadalupana expansion, especially in urban or pilgrimage-road environments. This advocation of La Antigua is most likely part of this broader context, but no constain the sources consulted, a precise historical narrative (founder, year of erection of the hermitage, episcopal decrees, etc.) or a specific ancient chronicle.

As to the claim that it is a matter of "one of the first Guadalupans of Central America"In the available resources, no academic studies or ecclesial documents have been found that explicitly demonstrate it with dates and references; it must therefore be considered as a devotional or traditional valuation rather than as a proven historical data. No consta accessible documentation that will make it possible to specify the century of origin of the hermitage and of local devotion with safety.

The image and the sanctuary

The sources consulted do not offer a documented technical description of the concrete image venerated as Our Lady of Guadalupe de La Antigua: no consta with certainty the material (wood, canvas, dress sculpture, etc.), the dimensions or a detailed iconography of this hermitage.

It is reasonable to assume, by analogy with other images of Guadalupe of the region, a type representation Mexican guadalupano (Pregnant Virgin, standing on the moon, with a starry mantle), but this is a inferencia general y no consta as a certified description for this specific image in the revised sources. Therefore, caution should be maintained: on the specific iconography of Guadalupe de La Antigua no documented data.

As for the place of worship, we talk about a ermita de Guadalupe situada en La Antigua Guatemala (extramuros, old neighborhood), but the open sources consulted do not provide a clear canonical chart of the temple: no consta which has been erected as minor basilicaor National sanctuaryor have a public diocesan decree declaring it "diocesan sanctuary." In the absence of verifiable data, it can only be said that this is a ermite the local temple dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe, with devotional significance for the neighborhood and the city, but without special canon title documented.

Sponsorship and coronation

The local tradition presents Our Lady of Guadalupe de La Antigua how patron of an old extramurian district of the city (district and hermitage of Guadalupe). However, no constanin the cases referred to, formal decrees designating it the main patron of La Antigua Guatemala, the entire municipality, the department or the diocese; patronage seems to be limited to the field barrial o local, of a traditional nature.

With regard to a possible canonical coronation of the image (either by the Pontifical Decree or by the delegation of the Bishop with the mandate of the Holy See), does not contain a documented canonical coronation for this specific advocation in Antigua Guatemala. The references of coronations refer to other claims (for example, the Virgin of the Rosary in Guatemala or the Guadalupe of Mexico) and not to this particular image.

Party and devotion

La main party of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Hispanic world is the 12 December, linked to the liturgical memory of Guadalupe del Tepeyac (Mexico), recognized by the universal Church. In the absence of specific diocesan calendars or pastoral programmes of the hermitage of La Antigua available online, the indication that this advocation celebrates its feast on December 12 is consistent with the general praxis guadalupana, but no constain the sources consulted, a particular document explicitly setting this date for the shrine of La Antigua.

Given the strong popular roots of Guadalupana throughout Latin America, it is reasonable to assume that in the hermitage de Guadalupe de La Antigua se celebren Novies, processions, solemn Mass and local or city pilgrimages around 12 December, with the participation of the faithful of the neighborhood and other places. However, no constan datas cuantitativos (number of pilgrims, inflow statistics) or official descriptions of the particular traditions of this hermitage (carpets, dances, night vigil, etc.), so any specific detail that exceeds this general finding would be conjectural.

In general terms, Guadalupana devotion in Central America is characterized by the Mary's closeness to the simple people, the family and community dimension, and the prayer vigil around December 12, features that can help to spiritually frame piety towards Our Lady of Guadalupe of the Old, although without attributing undocumented particularities to them for this specific place.

Link to the Rosary

No revised source specific and documented relationship between the advocation of Our Lady of Guadalupe de La Antigua and a fellowship, promise or practice of Holy Rosary (for example, a "Brotherhood of the Rosary of Guadalupe" or statutes that link it in a special way to the prayer of mysteries). It must therefore be stated precisely that there is no unique and documented link between this particular image and the Rosary.

However, from the general Marian perspective, devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe - in its various hermites and shrines of America - it is often deeply linked to prayer of the Rosarywhich is one of the most widespread forms of Marian prayer on the continent. The Rosary allows:

– Contemplar, junto con María, los mysteries of Christ's life, que ella misma anuncia y señala, como hizo en el mensaje guadalupano mexicano. – Insertar la devoción local (como la de un barrio o ermita) en la great current of Marian faith of the universal Church, uniendo la oración de los fieles de La Antigua a la de toda América y del mundo. – Vivir de manera sencilla y cotidiana el comfort and maternal closeness of Mary, very characteristic features of the Guadalupana spirituality in general.

In this sense, although there is no particular historical data that formally links to Guadalupe de La Antigua with the Rosary, it is fully consistent that this advocation be accompanied and strengthened by the prayer of the Holy Rosaryas a path of christocentric contemplation and of filial trust in the Mother of God.