Our Lady of Candelaria of Bayaguana

Marian devotion of Bayaguana (Monte Plata)

No reliable sources have been found to document a titled Marian advocation Our Lady of Candelaria of Bayaguana en Bayaguana / Monte Plata province / Colombia; rather, Bayaguana and Monte Plata clearly correspond to a region of the Dominican Republicwhere there is a strong Marian tradition (although the main sanctuary is the Virgin of the Altagracia, not the Candelaria).

Main data

Origin and history

No reliable sources have been found to document a titled Marian advocation Our Lady of Candelaria of Bayaguana en Bayaguana / Monte Plata province / Colombia; rather, Bayaguana and Monte Plata clearly correspond to a region of the Dominican Republicwhere there is a strong Marian tradition (although the main sanctuary is the Virgin of the Altagracia, not the Candelaria).

In general Catholic tradition, the Virgin of the Candelaria has its origin in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain)where the image was venerated since the late 14th century and then arrived in America with the Spanish missionaries and settlers. His liturgical feast is celebrated 2 Februaryin relation to the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple and the Purification of the Virgin Mary.

### Tradition / legend (general scope of Candelaria)

According to the Canary tradition, the image of the Virgin of the Candelaria appeared towards 1392–1393 to two Guanches on the coast of Tenerife; this apparition gave rise to the veneration in the shrine of Candelaria and its subsequent spread to the Peninsula and America.

In Latin America, many populations assumed this advocation as a patron by associating it with local historical experiences (protection in epidemics, wars, sea crossings, city foundations), but in the specific case of Bayaguana / Monte Plat / Colombia there are no traditional accounts of their own or Marian legends linked to a Candelaria with that title in the sources consulted.

### Documented history (verified data)

The historical documentation available shows that devotion to the Virgin of the Candelaria has expanded in Colombia since the colonial period, now being patron of cities like Medellín, Cartagena, Magangé, Guarne, Chita, Sabana Grande de Boyá and the province of Monte Plata (the latter in the Dominican Republic). However, sources do not mention a specific parish sanctuary under the title of Our Lady of Candelaria of Bayaguana in Colombia, nor a documented link with a Holy Christ of Bayaguana.

Given the above, the specific information concerning a Marian invocation with this title in Colombia should be considered “dates to be reinvestigated”: – no consta en directorios diocesanos consultados; – no aparece en listados habituales de santuarios marianos colombianos; – Bayaguana y Monte Plata se identifican en las fuentes como territorio de la Dominican Republic, no de Colombia.

The image and the sanctuary

For concrete advocation "Our Lady of the Candelaria of Bayaguana (Monte Plata, Colombia)", no consta a reliable description of the image or temple in accessible ecclesial, historical or journalistic sources.

On the general level of devotion to the Virgin of the Candelaria, la iconografía suele representarla: – como Virgin with the Child Jesus in arms, – con una candle or candela en la mano, símbolo de Cristo luz del mundo, – a veces con rasgos de Black Virginin particular reference to the original image of Tenerife.

Los templos principales de la Candelaria se encuentran, por ejemplo: – la Basilica of Our Lady of the Candelaria of Tenerife, patrona de Canarias; – iglesias catedralicias o parroquias en ciudades de Colombia como Medellín, Magangué o Cartagena, donde la Candelaria es patrona local.

Para Bayaguana / Monte Plat / Colombia, no consta: – nombre oficial de un santuario mariano a la Candelaria; – reconocimiento como santuario nacional, diocesano o basílica menor; – coexistencia en un mismo templo con un "Holy Christ of Bayaguana".

In the absence of verifiable data, it is prudent to state expressly: there is no documented description of the image or the sanctuary under this title in Colombia.

Sponsorship and coronation

The sources point to the Virgin of the Candelaria como: – patrona de las Canary Islands; – patrona de diversas ciudades y municipios de Colombia (por ejemplo, Medellín, Magangé, Cartagena, Guarne, Chita, Sabana Grande de Boyá) y de la province of Monte Platain the Dominican Republic.

However, no specific reference has been found to a patronage with the title "Our Lady of the Candelaria of Bayaguana" para una city, municipality, diocese or region of Colombia.

With regard to a possible canonical coronation de esta advocación concreta: – no aparece en los listados habituales de coronaciones canónicas de imágenes marianas en Colombia; – no se menciona en crónicas diocesanas ni en notas de prensa eclesial consultadas.

Por tanto, conforme a los criterios solicitados: – Patronage: no consta un patronazgo oficialmente documentado en Colombia bajo el título “Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Bayaguana”. – Canonical coronation: does not contain a documented canonical coronation for this specific advocation.

Party and devotion

La liturgical feast of the Virgin of the Candelaria in the universal Church the 2 February, coinciding with the Presentation by the Lord and the blessing of candles or candles in many local rites. In Colombia, there are novena, processions and eucharisties in various cities where Candelaria is a patron.

En numerosos lugares de América Latina la fiesta incluye: – procedure con la imagen de la Virgen; – la blessing of the candles que los fieles llevan a casa como signo de la luz de Cristo; – peregrinaciones y romerías hacia el templo principal; – elementos de religiosidad popular (música, danza, promesas y exvotos).

As regards Bayaguana / Monte Plat / Colombiathe requested information (processions, connection with a Holy Christ of Bayaguana, blessing of candles in a particular sanctuary, influx of pilgrims) is not documented in the sources consulted. It should be noted that many of the descriptions mentioned by Bayaguana and Monte Plata really refer to the Dominican Republic, no a Colombia.

Por ello, solo puede afirmarse con seguridad: – la date of the main feast of the Candelaria: February 2 (según el calendario litúrgico romano); – la práctica extendida en la Iglesia de realizar processions and blessing of candles that day, unable to attribute specific details to a sanctuary in Bayaguana, Colombia.

Link to the Rosary

Available sources do not point to a specific and specific relationship between local invocation "Our Lady of the Candelaria of Bayaguana (Monte Plata, Colombia)" and the prayer of Rosary; therefore, no consta a particular documented link.

Sin embargo, desde la perspectiva teológico-espiritual: – la Virgin of the Candelaria Resign to Christ as "light to enlighten the nations" (cf. Lk 2,32), mystery contemplated in the Mysterious Cuarto Gozoso (Presentación del Señor en el Templo); – el Rosary It allows us to meditate on this episode, linking the believer's heart to the humility of Mary and the obedience of the Holy Family to the Law of the Lord.

En cualquier santuario mariano de la Candelaria —también allí donde se promueva esta advocación en Colombia— el rezo del Rosario se presenta como un medio privilegiado para: – contemplar a Cristo luz del mundo, – aprender de María la disponibilidad a la voluntad de Dios, – acompañar devotamente la preparación y celebración de la fiesta del 2 February, especially when blessing of the candles and processions with the image