Our Lady of the Assumption, patron of the city of Asunción

Marian Advocation of Asunción (Central)

For the city of Asunción (Department of Central, Colombia) no specific documentation is found that describes a Marian advocation of its own under the title of Our Lady of the Assumption linked to a metropolitan cathedral or a national foundation patronage, as is the case in Asunción del Paraguay. In the sources consulted (local Church, lists of national sanctuaries, historical reviews and Catholic press) there is no advocation with this title that is canonically recognized as the founding patron of the Colombian nation or associated with a "Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption" in that city; therefore, this identification seems to come from the history of the Popayán (Colombia) o de Asunción (Paraguay), not from Asunción (Central, Colombia).

Main data

Origin and history

For the city of Asunción (Department of Central, Colombia) no specific documentation is found that describes a Marian advocation of its own under the title of Our Lady of the Assumption linked to a metropolitan cathedral or a national foundation patronage, as is the case in Asunción del Paraguay. In the sources consulted (local Church, lists of national sanctuaries, historical reviews and Catholic press) there is no advocation with this title that is canonically recognized as the founding patron of the Colombian nation or associated with a "Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption" in that city; therefore, this identification seems to come from the history of the Popayán (Colombia) o de Asunción (Paraguay), not from Asunción (Central, Colombia).

In Colombia, the closest documented title is Our Lady of the Assumption of Popayan, patrona de la Basilica Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption of Popayán and the city, since its foundation in 1537. This advocation is linked to the founding act of Popayán, consecrated to the Virgin of the Assumption 15 August 1537in the presence of the founder Sebastian de Belalcázar and other authorities, according to historical chronicles. It is not clear, however, that the city of Asunción (Central, Colombia) has been founded under a Marian title documented under the name "Our Lady Santa María de la Asunción" or that there is official documentation that presents it as "the founding vocation of the nation."

Therefore, in dealing with this fact sheet for a Colombian context, it should be clarified that does not contain, in the verified sources, a Marian advocation under the title of Our Lady of Assumption explicitly linked as a foundational patron of Asunción (Central) and Colombia.nor the existence of a "Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption" in that city. The relationship with the date of the August 15 the dogma of the Assumption of the Virgincelebrated by the whole Church, and not necessarily to a specific and documented local tradition in Asunción (Central, Colombia).

The image and the sanctuary

The description of a specific image of "Nuestra Señora de la Asunción" venerated as a headline in a national or diocesan Marian cathedral or sanctuary in the city of Asunción (department of Central, Colombia). No official record of a Marian sanctuary o minor basilica with this title in this town on the bases consulted (directories of sanctuaries, diocesan reviews, Wikipedia, Catholic press).

In contrast, the existence of the Basilica Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption of Popayánwhere the image of Our Lady of the Assumption of Popayan or Our Lady of Transit or Restwho is a patron of the cathedral and the city. On this image and its specific material, the general sources do not provide a detailed technical description (type, material, style), beyond its identification as a Marian image of the Assumption and its liturgical function in the cathedral.

With regard to Asunción (Central, Colombia), there is no temple with the official title of "The Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption" nor a Marian sanctuary recognized at national level with this advocation; therefore, any specific iconographic or architectural description for this location would be conjectural, and should be omitted by rigour.

Sponsorship and coronation

En Colombia, el Marian title at national level recognized by the Holy See is the Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquiráproclaimed Patrona de Colombia by the Pope Pío VII en 1829. This proclamation is clearly documented and repeated in many ecclesial and outreach sources. The same image was later canonically crowned el 9 July 1919by the Pope's decree San Pío X, coronation that is commemorated liturgically every 9 July.

As regards Our Lady of the Assumption:

– National patronage (Colombia): does not know that it has been officially declared patrona de Colombia; este título corresponde a Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Chiquinquirá. – Local patronage (Asunción, Central, Colombia): no consta en las fuentes consultadas un decreto o documento que la declare oficialmente patrona de la ciudad de Asunción (Central, Colombia). – Local patronage (Popayán): it does know that Our Lady of the Assumption of Popayan es patrona de la Basilica Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption of Popayán and, by extension, of the city, from its foundation (1537).

As regards canonical coronation of Our Lady of the Assumption linked to Asunción (Central, Colombia), does not contain a documented canonical coronation. For the image of the Asunción de Popayán, the sources consulted also do not explicitly indicate a canonical coronation, so, while maintaining the criterion of rigour, it must also be stated: does not contain a documented canonical coronation.

Party and devotion

La universal liturgical feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated throughout the Church the August 15, solemnity in which the glorification of Mary is commemorated, and it is assumed in body and soul to heaven. This date also applies to the local awards that bear the title "Our Lady of the Assumption," including the tradition of Popayán, where the city was consecrated to the Virgin of the Assumption on August 15, 1537.

For the city of Asunción (Central, Colombia), does not contain a specific documentation which it describes organized pilgrimages, own novenas, romanias or inflow data linked to a local advocation of Our Lady of the Assumption held on August 15. It is reasonable to think, by analogy with the general practice of the Church in Colombia, that there is celebrated the solemnity of the Assumption with the solemn Eucharist, possible procession and expressions of popular piety of the parish or diocese, but in the absence of specific data, a particular devotional profile cannot be described without incurring conjectures.

In the Colombian case, Marian devotion with the highest documented emphasis at the national level is that of Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquiráwhose party is held 9 July, with large pilgrimages to the National Marian Sanctuary - Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá, visited every year by thousands of faithful, especially around this date. This reference is important to understand the Marian context of the country in which any other local devotion to the Assumption is inserted.

Link to the Rosary

It does not contain, in the sources consulted, a specific and documented relationship between the advocation of Our Lady of the Assumption venerated in Guaviare, Colombia and the Rosaryin the sense of historical co-fradies of the Rosary, express national promises or official titles that directly link this feast to the Rosary.

However, from a general Marian perspective, the Assumption of Mary es el glorious mysteries of the Holy Rosary. In the contemplation of this mystery, the faithful precisely meditate on the glorious transit of the Virgin to eternal life, which is the theological content of the Solemnity of August 15. Therefore, all devotion to Our Lady of the Assumption