Our Lady of Guadalupe de Ponce

Patroness of Puerto Rico

La advocación de Our Lady of Guadalupe de Ponce is linked to the colonial history of the city and to the early spread in the Caribbean of devotion to the Virgin of Guadalupe of Mexico. Since the 17th century, the name of the Virgin appears associated with the place that will then be the city of Ponce; there are references to that already in 1646 the name of Guadalupe was linked to this settlement in the south of the island. In 1692 the city is founded by the name of City of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Ponce, which confirms that the Marian headline was already firmly established as the patron of the new urban core.

Main data

Origin and history

La advocación de Our Lady of Guadalupe de Ponce is linked to the colonial history of the city and to the early spread in the Caribbean of devotion to the Virgin of Guadalupe of Mexico. Since the 17th century, the name of the Virgin appears associated with the place that will then be the city of Ponce; there are references to that already in 1646 the name of Guadalupe was linked to this settlement in the south of the island. In 1692 the city is founded by the name of City of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Ponce, which confirms that the Marian headline was already firmly established as the patron of the new urban core.

As for the documented history of the temple, it is known that in 1670 A first hermitage or rustic chapel was built dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe, which over time was expanding. The parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe was raised to catedral en 1924 by Pope Pius XI, when the diocese of Ponce was erected as the second diocese of Puerto Rico. This cultural continuity shows a stable Guadalupana devotion from colonial times to today.

In the plan of the tradition, several local authors and testimonies stress that the Guadalupana devotion would have arrived very soon from New Spain (Mexico) to the Antilles, encouraged by the spread of the cult to the Virgin of Guadalupe as patron of those territories. A historical study recalls that a bull of the pope Benedict XIV in 1754-1756 (sometimes misquoted as from another Pontiff) he proclaimed the Virgin of Guadalupe as Patroness of the Virreate of New Spain, "within which the Spanish Antilles were included," which would allow it to be considered, in a broad sense, as "the first patron of Puerto Rico." It is, however, a subsequent devotional application; there is no specific document that declares the Virgin of Guadalupe de Ponce as the formal patron of Puerto Rico at that time.

> Important note: although the statement mentions "Ponce, department of Ponce, Colombia," the documentation consulted unanimously places this advocation and its cathedral in Ponce, Puerto Ricoin the Antilles. There is no equivalent advocation in a "Ponce" in Colombia with these characteristics.

The image and the sanctuary

The Virgin of Guadalupe venerated in Ponce is a package image (sculpture) located on the main altar of the cathedral. A study of the Guadalupana devotion in Puerto Rico indicates that the "original picture of the package of Our Lady of Guadalupe" of the Cathedral of Ponce is of the 19th century. The sources consulted do not contain a detailed technical description (height, author, types of materials); by the sculptural tradition of the time in the Caribbean, it is reasonable to think of polychrome wood, but this data is not explained, so it is simply indicated that no consta with certainty el material. Iconographically, the image is presented according to the classic guadalupano model: the Virgin standing, with a starry mantle, hands together in prayer and the characteristic Marian colour of the Virgin of Guadalupe, although adapted to the local artistic style.

The sanctuary is the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, headquarters of Diócesis de Ponce. It was originally a hermitage (1670) and, after successive enlargements and reconstructions, it was consolidated as the main Catholic temple of the south of the island. It is located in the centre of Ponce, opposite the main square, and is described by tourist guides and chronicles of travelers as a "true historical and religious icon" of the city, with a large altarpiece, tube organ and a prominent liturgical life. The cathedral is in the register of significant temples of the Jubilee of Mercy, where it is formally presented as a diocesan cathedral dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe.

It is not found in the consulted sources that the temple has been elevated to the title of minor basilica or having the rank of national sanctuary; its official qualification is that of diocesan catedral de Ponce.

Sponsorship and coronation

Our Lady of Guadalupe is main patron of the city of Ponce, whose official historical name includes his Marian advocation (City of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Ponce). Besides, it's the holder of the Diocese of Ponce, which bears its name in the cathedral and has it as the main reference of local Marian piety. At a wider level, the bull of Benedict XIV that declared the Virgin of Guadalupe patron of New Spain, including the Antilles, has been cited by scholars as the basis for considering the Guadalupana, in a broad sense, the first patron of Puerto Rico; but this refers to the continental and anti-llano field, not specifically to a legal title specific to the image of Ponce.

As for a canonical coronation of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe de Ponce, in the documentation consulted (history of the diocese, specialized articles, devotional chronicles and journalistic sources) does not contain a documented canonical coronation with a decree of the Holy See or a pontifical delegate. If there is a local or devotional coronation, it is not clearly documented in accessible sources.

Party and devotion

La main party of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Ponce is celebrated the 12 December, in tune with the universal feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe of Mexico. Around that date, the cathedral organizes an intense liturgical and festive programming, with solemn masses, acts of veneration and cultural and religious activities involving both the parish community and the faithful from other parts of the diocese. Audiovisual testimonials emphasize that the city celebrates "its patron, the Virgin of Guadalupe," with great popular participation.

La devotion combines features of Mexican Guadalupana piety (songs, colors, flowers, processions) with Puerto Rican popular religiosity. Local chronicles mention that the veneration of the Virgin of Guadalupe is documented "from the beginning" in the history of Ponce and that its presence has accompanied the development of the city and the Church in the south of the island. The cathedral, located in the city centre and with an intense sacramental and liturgical life, acts in fact as a reference Marian sanctuary, with a constant flow of faithful during the year, although no official figures of influx are provided.

Among the popular traditions is the solemn celebration of December 12, which usually includes processions, musical expressions and typical dances, as well as the participation of parish groups and Marian secular movements, all in a climate of strong local identity and gratitude to the "Patroness of Ponce."

Link to the Rosary

The sources consulted do not mention a specific practice which exclusively links Our Lady of Guadalupe de Ponce to a fellowship of the Rosary, a particular promise or a tradition of the prayer of the Rosary linked only to this advocation; therefore, does not contain a documented unique rosarian link.

However, as the holder of the cathedral and patron of the city and of the diocese, the Virgin of Guadalupe de Ponce is inserted into the ordinary Marian spirituality of the Church, en la que el Rosary It occupies a central place. In the vine