Our Lady of Huajicori, regional patron of northern Nayarit

Marian Invocation of Huajicori (Nayarit)

Tradition and Legend

Main data

Origin and history

Tradition and Legend

According to local tradition, the Marian image venerated in Huajicori was originally linked to the Immaculate Conception, patron of the Franciscans, and was very soon recognized as a "miraculous" image that was addressed in all kinds of needs. In the devotional memory of the people we speak of the Virgin as "the only remedy for all evils, works, misfortunes and miseries fit in our nature," an expression in ancient chronicles cited in recent divulgative materials. This tradition has fed the title of "Our Lady of Remedies", very rooted in popular piety.

Another traditional line highlights its identification with the Virgin of the Candelaria (or Purification), whose feast on February 2 became the main moment of meeting the people with the image. In the regional imaginary, devotion to Our Lady of Huajicori appears as a protector of the serrana and mining communities of the Nayar area and neighbouring regions, which are used for health, work, rain and protection from danger.

Documented history

Historical and anthropological studies indicate that the cult of the Virgin of Huajicori goes back at least to 18th centuryin the context of the former province of New Galiciawhere devotions to the Immaculate and to the Candelaria were strongly promoted. An academic work on the sanctuary indicates that, over the centuries, this rural temple was consolidated as center of concentration of thousands of pilgrims from a wide region, to be considered "the most important in the north-west of Mexico."

Another study on the festive celebration states that the The patron image of the place is the Virgin of the Candelaria, more recognized as Virgin of Huajicori, stressing how devotion has shaped a true "cultural region" around the sanctuary and its pilgrimage routes. Recent historiography shows that, through economic, political and cultural transformations, devotion spread not only in Nayarit, but also towards Sinaloa y Durango, keeping Huajicori as the main focus.

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The image and the sanctuary

The image

The sources describe the Virgin of Huajicori as a package image (sculpture), of 50 cm high, made from Maize cane paste, traditional technique of colonial centuries for light and processing images. The first iconographic identification was Immaculate Conceptionbut the current devotion recognizes it under the title of Our Lady of Remedies, celebrated liturgically as Virgin of the Candelaria.

The imagen presents to the Virgen with the Child Jesus in arms, following a classic Marian iconographic scheme, and is dressed in rich blankets and crowns, according to the popular custom of "dress" images. Their "miraculous" image is very present in local religiosity: the pilgrims approach the sanctuary to "meet the image" and receive, by their intercession, a solution to problems of a very different nature.

The sanctuary

The image is venerated in the main temple of the people of Huajicori, originally dedicated to San Sebastián. Various testimonies point out that, although the ancient title of the temple is San Sebastián, the devotional dynamism and the influx of pilgrims are almost completely focused on the Virgin of Huajicori, also called Our Lady of Remedies / Candelaria.

An anthropological study explicitly calls it "Sanctuary of Our Lady of Huajicori", stressing that for years it has been a meeting point for thousands of pilgrims and that, by that attraction, it is considered the most important Marian sanctuary in the north-west of Mexico. The academic and journalistic sources consulted do not present it as minor basilicaor National sanctuarytheir recognition is above all at the level regional/diocesano, within the Church in Nayarit. Therefore, no consta having the official title of a minor basilica or national sanctuary.

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Sponsorship and coronation

Patronage

The documentation consulted indicates that the Virgin of Huajicori is recognized as patron of the people of Huajicori and the Nayar region, in the north of the Nayarit, Mexico. A study of the celebration is explicitly called "the patron image of the place," the Virgin of the Candelaria, "more recognized as the Virgin of Huajicori." Other journalistic and pastoral sources point out that their devotional influence reaches the faithful of Soy, Siloa y Duragowho consider her to be a protector of their communities.

No documents have been found that officially define Our Lady of Huajicori as patron of an entire diocese or as a national employer; his patronage is clearly local y regional.

Canonical coronation

In an audiovisual media material it is mentioned that the image was with the diocesan authority in May 1988, attributing the ceremony to Mons. Manuel Romero Arvizu, then responsible for the Prelatura del Nayar. However, in easily accessible written sources (academic, journalistic or institutional) no officially published pontifical or diocesan decree has been located which formally confirms a canonical coronation according to the criteria of the Holy See.

Since the data appears only in an audiovisual source and without accessible documentary support, and following the criterion of maximum prudence requested:

> On canonical coronation: there is no documented canonical coronation.

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Party and devotion

The sources agree to point out as the central date of the feast of the Virgin of Huajicori the 2 February, day of the Presentation of the Lord and Purification of Mary (Candelaria). Although it is popularly called the Virgin of Remedies or Huajicori, its celebration is assumed liturgical as Our Lady of Candelaria / Purification.

Around that date, the sanctuary is visited by miles de peregrinos from not only Huajicori and other peoples of Nayarit, but also from neighbouring states such as Sinaloa y Durangowho come to thank favors or to beg for help in diseases, jobs, crops and family situations. An anthropological study highlights that this massive influx makes the sanctuary the main Marian pilgrimage center of the Mexican North West.

Between devotional expressions The following are highlighted:

– Peregrinaciones a pie y en caravana desde diversos pueblos, sobre todo en los días previos al 2 de febrer