Our Lady of Guadalupe of La Quebrada, venerated in the Sanctuary of Guadalupe of La Quebrada

Marian devotion of La Quebrada (Trujillo)

No historical or ecclesial sources have been found that clearly document the advocation of Our Lady of Guadalupe de La Quebrada in the department of Trujillo (Colombia) nor the existence of a "Sanctuary of Guadalupe de La Quebrada" as an officially recognized pilgrimage centre. There are no references in regular databases of dioceses, Marian shrines, or in Marian repertories of Colombia; neither in digital Catholic press or in Colombian or Venezuelan Wikipedia consulted. Consequently, no consta in a verifiable way a documented history of its origin, foundation of the sanctuary or missionary origins.

Main data

Origin and history

No historical or ecclesial sources have been found that clearly document the advocation of Our Lady of Guadalupe de La Quebrada in the department of Trujillo (Colombia) nor the existence of a "Sanctuary of Guadalupe de La Quebrada" as an officially recognized pilgrimage centre. There are no references in regular databases of dioceses, Marian shrines, or in Marian repertories of Colombia; neither in digital Catholic press or in Colombian or Venezuelan Wikipedia consulted. Consequently, no consta in a verifiable way a documented history of its origin, foundation of the sanctuary or missionary origins.

La mención a Hispanic missionaries y a un old oratory that would have given origin to the villageas well as date of 12 December (in clear reference to the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe of Mexico), it fits a very common pattern in Latin America, where small communities adopt the guadalupana advocation and organize local hermites or shrines. However, in this case, no documentation has been found to make it possible to distinguish with certainty which part is local oral tradition and which part is supported by parish, diocesan or historical studies; therefore, all this background should be classified as undocumented local tradition / legend.

The name of the municipality "Urdaneta, Trujillo, Venezuela" in the description corresponds to a geographical area other than the "department of Trujillo, Colombia" indicated as the final location, suggesting a possible confusion of toponyms or data mix from Venezuela and Colombia. Before this geographical discrepancy and the lack of support in official sources, it is not possible to rebuild a precise chronology or to strictly affirm dates of foundation, canonical erection of the sanctuary or historical development of devotion.

The image and the sanctuary

No reliable description of the own image of Our Lady of Guadalupe de La Quebrada: does not record whether it is painting, drawing, wood size, plaster, canvas, or its specific iconography (position, symbols, artistic style, author, or time). In the absence of sources, no consta the type of image and its artistic characteristics.

Similarly, a data sheet of the "Sanctuary of Guadalupe de La Quebrada" (official name, canon category, date of dedication, architectural style, dimensions, etc.). No mention is found as minor basilica, National sanctuary ni diocesan sanctuary in regular lists of the Church in Colombia. It can therefore only be said rigorously that no consta in the sources consulted an official recognition as a sanctuary in these terms or a reliable description of the temple.

Since there are other sanctuaries of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Colombia, especially the known Cerro / Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Bogotáwith a great statue raised in the 20th century, it is important to stress that no need to be confused that well documented reality with the advocation of La Quebrada, for which no equivalent data on image and sanctuary are available.

Sponsorship and coronation

In the sources consulted no consta that Our Lady of Guadalupe of La Quebrada has been proclaimed official employer of a city, municipality, diocese or region by canonical decree. There may be a de facto patronage or a special devotional link of the local population, but in the absence of ecclesial documents or references, it cannot be strictly affirmed.

On a canonical coronation, no documentation appears on the Pontifical Decree or liturgical act with such character for this advocation. Accordingly, according to the information available, it is appropriate to indicate: "does not contain a documented canonical coronation".

Party and devotion

The date of the main party is indicated 12 Decemberwhich is the day of the Solemnity of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the liturgy of Mexico and, by extension, the date that many communities in Latin America have adopted to celebrate their own guadalupan images. However, for the specific case of La Quebrada no local liturgical calendar, official programme of patronal or diocesan parties that explicitly confirm this data has been found in the sources consulted. 12 December should be considered probable by analogy, but not documented.

No han located official datos of inflow of pilgrims, organization of rosemary, no description of specific popular traditions (river or mountain processions, promises, own novenas, traditional songs, etc.). It is reasonable to think that, as in many places where Mary of Guadalupe is venerated, they may exist. Novies, processions, solemn masses and popular manifestations of piety on 12 December; but, by not having written in verifiable sources for this particular place, local devotional features cannot be described in detail.

Link to the Rosary

The available sources do not mention a specific or characteristic relationship between the advocation of Our Lady of Guadalupe of La Quebrada and the prayer of Holy Rosary (for example, co-fradies of the Rosary, promises to pray the Rosary in the sanctuary, crosses of the Rosary, etc.). Therefore, no consta a particular documented link with this practice.

However, in the Marian spirituality of the Church, the Rosary is one of the most widespread forms of prayer around the images of the Virgin, especially in rural and popular sanctuaries. Where Mary is venerated as Our Lady of Guadalupethe Rosary is usually the prayer that accompanies the novenas, las procedure and the moments of silent pilgrimage, helping to contemplate, together with Mary, the mysteries of Christ's life. Although a differential feature cannot be documented in La Quebrada, it is legitimate to think that the devotees who come to this image of Guadalupe find in the Rosary a simple and deep way to live the subsidiary trust, la intercession for the needs of the community y la union with the whole Church which, throughout America, is recognized under the cloak of the Mother of Guadalupe.