Our Lady of Candelaria of Cantaura, patron saint of the Freites municipality

Marian devotion of Cantaura (Anzoátegui)

La devoción a Our Lady of Candelaria of Cantaura is inserted in the expansion of the Candelaria's advocation from the Canary Islands to America during the colonial period, especially from the 17th century, when many Canary families emigrated to Venezuela and spread devotion to their Island Patron. This current explains the particular arraigo of the Candelaria in the Venezuelan east and, in a special way, in Cantaura (now municipality Pedro María Freites, state Anzoátegui).

Main data

Origin and history

La devoción a Our Lady of Candelaria of Cantaura is inserted in the expansion of the Candelaria's advocation from the Canary Islands to America during the colonial period, especially from the 17th century, when many Canary families emigrated to Venezuela and spread devotion to their Island Patron. This current explains the particular arraigo of the Candelaria in the Venezuelan east and, in a special way, in Cantaura (now municipality Pedro María Freites, state Anzoátegui).

As for the concrete origin of the venerated image in Cantaura, the local tradition presents it as an ancient image, arrived in colonial times and related to the presence of Canarian settlers in the region; however, no historical documents have been found so far accessible online that require the date of arrival, author or exact origin of the size, so this data no constan with certainty. The ancient character of devotion is derived from the role of the Candelaria as the holder of the parish church of Cantaura and from the references to bells dedicated to the Virgin with dates of the mid-19th century (1850 and 1852), which show a tradition already consolidated at that time.

In recent history, the Virgin of the Candelaria of Cantaura has acquired regional relevance: it is recognized as Santa Patrona of the Anzoátegui state, the city of Cantaura and the diocese of Barcelona. Several sources point out that the Candelaria is the patron of the Anzoátegui state "by government decision" since the early 1990s, with specific mention of the year 1992 for this civil declaration.

The image and the sanctuary

The image venerated as Our Lady of Candelaria of Cantaura is a representation of the Virgin Mary under the title of the Candelaria, from the Canary tradition; in this iconography, the Virgin usually bears the Child Jesus and one or more candelas, symbol of Christ, light of the world. The material, the dimensions and the author of the concrete image of Cantaura; therefore, these data no constan with safety in the documentation available online. No detailed technical description (type of size, polychrome, restorations, etc.) has been found, so any statement on this would remain at the level of the hypothesis and is not disclosed.

The main place of worship is the Marian Sanctuary Our Lady of the Candelariain the city of Cantaura, which is the parish church where the image is historically seated. This temple appears in the sources as "parish church of Cantaura" and as "Marian Sanctuary Our Lady of the Candelaria," which indicates its special recognition as Marian sanctuary within the diocese of Barcelona. It is not known that the temple has been erected as minor basilica or National sanctuary by the Holy See; the sources present it as a diocesan Marian sanctuary. Three bells of the temple with 19th century inscriptions dedicated to the Virgin of the Candelaria (dated 1850 and 1852) are mentioned as a historical witness, a sign of the arraigo of devotion in the parish life.

Sponsorship and coronation

Our Lady of the Candelaria of Cantaura exercises a patronazgo múltiple:

– Es State Patron Anzoáteguirecognition established by government decision in the early 1990s, with explicit reference to the year 1992 como fecha de dicha declaración civil. – Es Patron of the city of Cantaura y titular de su parroquia. – Es reconocida además como Patron of the Diocese of Barcelona, according to information from official state sources and regional journalistic chronicles.

On a canonical coronationthe sources consulted (including the reference in encyclopedia and regional information) point to the importance of the image and its patronage, but no canonical coronation decree given by the Holy See or by pontifical delegation, no date or coronating authority. Accordingly, according to the documentation available, does not contain a documented canonical coronation.

Party and devotion

The main feast of Our Lady of the Candelaria is celebrated liturgical the 2 Februarythe day when the Church commemorates the Lord's Presentation and the Purification of Mary; this date is also the Solemnity of the Invocation in Cantaura. On that day, various religious activities are taking place in the city: a solemn Eucharist at the Marian Sanctuary Our Lady of the Candelaria, processions and cultural acts, according to regional media and the communications of the sanctuary itself.

The devotion to the Candelaria in Cantaura is characterized by a great popular participationwhich transcends the local level and calls for the faithful of different municipalities of the Anzoátegui state. The regional authorities associate themselves with the celebration, underlining the title of the Virgin as "Santa Patrona of the state Anzoátegui, Cantaura and of the diocese of Barcelona." In continuity with the Candelaria tradition in the Hispanic world, the Feast of February 2 is lived as a moment of thanksgiving, blessing of families and renewal of faith in Christ, the "light" symbolized by the candelas that give name to the advocation.

No official statistical data on influx (number of pilgrims, etc.) have been found, so that information no consta documented; however, the regional chronicles and the intense activity of the sanctuary on social networks reflect a constant and massive devotionwith novenas, masses, processions and expressions of popular piety throughout the year and especially around February 2.

Link to the Rosary

The sources consulted do not mention a specific practice or unique tradition of the Rosary directly linked to the advocation of Our Lady of the Candelaria of Cantaura (for example, co-fradies of the Rosary of this sanctuary or concrete historical promises related to the prayer of the Rosary); therefore, no consta a normative or particularized relationship beyond general Marian piety.

However, from Marian theology and spirituality, devotion to the Candelaria is naturally harmonised with the Rosary. The Feast of February 2 contemplates the mystery of Christ "light to light the nations" (cf. Lk 2: 32), which the faithful meditates on the joyful and luminous mysteries of the Rosary. The Rosary, as a contemplation of the mysteries of Jesus' life with Mary, accompanies and supports devotion to the Candelaria of Cantaura: it helps to live the deep meaning of the "light" that the Virgin carries, to welcome Christ presented in the temple, and to imitate the obedience and purity of Mary, central aspects of this advocation according to the tradition of Candelaria in the universal Church.