Our Lady of Guadalupe de Cartago

Marian title of Cartago (Valle del Cauca)

La devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe in Cartago (Valle del Cauca) It was consolidated around the temple built at the beginning of the 19th century, in the time of independence. Several local sources point out that the church of Guadalupe was built to 1808 and given to veneration in 1810in the context of Colombia's "freedom." A secular Cartagueño, Mariano Matute, he would have donated the money to raise the temple and the adjacent park, a gesture that the local tradition conserves as part of the origins of the sanctuary.

Main data

Origin and history

La devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe in Cartago (Valle del Cauca) It was consolidated around the temple built at the beginning of the 19th century, in the time of independence. Several local sources point out that the church of Guadalupe was built to 1808 and given to veneration in 1810in the context of Colombia's "freedom." A secular Cartagueño, Mariano Matute, he would have donated the money to raise the temple and the adjacent park, a gesture that the local tradition conserves as part of the origins of the sanctuary.

As for the tradition / legendthe sources consulted are limited to mention the devotion to the Virgin of Guadalupe in Cartago and the sponsorship of Mariano Matute, but do not contain detailed accounts of apparitions, foundational miracles or specific wonders associated with the origin of this advocation in the city. The name "Guadalupe 'indicates a clear reference to the guadalupana of Mexican origin, very widespread in Latin America, but the accessible documentation does not provide precise data on the actual arrival of this image or cult to Carthage or on an act of initial canonical erection of the sanctuary.

Historically, the temple has been consolidated as one of the older and more significant churches of Cartago, of great patrimonial and religious value, subject to restoration and recognized as a point of reference in the city. The specialized literature (for example, the academic study referred to in the title "Our Lady of Guadalupe of Cartago: two hundred years...") confirms the antiquity of this devotion, although full access to historical details is not public online. Beyond this, there are no other major historical milestones (such as formal elevation to national sanctuary or specific ancient decrees) in the open sources consulted that can be safely documented.

The image and the sanctuary

The available sources describe the Church or Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe as a temple of estilo colonial, with explicit references to "Mexican colonial style" in its architecture. It is a construction of the early 19th century, with simple facade and architectural features of the time (solid walls, ornamental simplicity, bell tower), which has been the object of restoration and conservation, and is considered one of the most beautiful and traditional churches of Cartago.

The image of Our Lady of Guadalupewho presides over the temple as the headline. The sources consulted indicate the existence of this image within the church, but does not contain in the accessible public documentation a detailed description of the type of image (painting, relief, sculpture), its material, dimensions or specific iconographic features. By name and reference to "Mexican colonial," it is reasonable to relate it to traditional Guadalupana iconography (the pregnant Virgin standing on the moon, sun rays, angel, etc.), but since the sources do not describe it expressly, does not contain a precise and documented iconographic description for this file.

As for his present ecclesial condition, the place is designated as "Our Lady of Guadalupe Sanctuary" in directories and map applications, located in the Carrera 4 # 8, Cartago, Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Assimism, presents itself as parroquia on social networks under the name "Parroquia Guadalupe Cartago." However, in the sources consulted does not contain a public decree declaring it a minor basilica or national sanctuarynor is its rank explicitly mentioned (diocesan or parish sanctuary) in official documents available online. Therefore, for the purposes of this fact sheet, it can be said that a parish temple with devotion popularly sanctioned as "sanctuary"without the title of a minor basilica or of a documented national sanctuary.

Sponsorship and coronation

The sources consulted do not explicitly mention a formal canonical patronage (by decree) of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the city of Cartago, the diocese or the nation. In practice, the church is one of the main centers of Marian worship in the city and its headline is widely venerated by the faithful as devotional pattern of the areabut no consta online an official document that declares it the main patron of the city, municipality or diocese.

In relation to a canonical coronation, local, pastoral and tourist sources consulted no documented canonical coronation of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe de Cartago (Valle del Cauca). No dates, decrees or participation of pontifical delegates in an act of solemn coronation are indicated. Therefore, for this advocation:

Canon coronation: there is no documented canon coronation.

Party and devotion

Devotion is experienced in an intense way within the framework of the parish life and the liturgical calendar. A number of sources point to the importance of Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12, in line with the Guadalupan tradition extended in America. Although the revised resources do not detail in detail the programme of the patronal feast, the usual praxis in the Guadalupana parishes include novies, solemn eucharisties, processions and Marian acts; however, do not contain numerical flow data or precise descriptions of local traditions (dances, promises, serenades, etc.) for Carthage in the consulted sources.

La Parish / Sanctuary of Guadalupe it maintains intense liturgical programming with multiple masses every week and particularly on weekends, which shows a living and dynamic community. The social networks of the sanctuary continuously publish the programming of Holy Weekpastoral activities and special celebrations, suggesting a constant influx of faithful throughout the year beyond the party of December 12. However, no source provides official figures of pilgrims or explicitly mentions large regional pilgrimages organized, and for the purposes of this document, no quantitative information on the number of faithful or mass pilgrimages.

Link to the Rosary

In the documentation available publicly about Our Lady of Guadalupe de Cartago there is no explicit and specific reference to the prayer of the Rosary as a characteristic and distinctive feature of this sanctuary. (for example, the Rosary's cofradies formally erected, characteristic multitidinary rosaries or official programs focused exclusively on the Rosary).

However, as it is a Marian sanctuary and parish dedicated to a guadalupana advocation, is consistent with the pastoral practice of the Church that the Rosario is a regular part of Marian piety: in preparation for the masses, in the ninth, in the feast of December 12 and in other strong times of the year. Although the specific details are not documented in the sources consulted, the Rosario naturally accompanies devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe as a school of contemplation of the mysteries of Christ with Mary and as a simple expression of filial love for the Mother of God, according to the constant teaching of the Magisterium on Marian prayer.