Our Lady of the Candelaria of Medellín

Marian Advocation of Medellín (Antioquia)

The city was founded by the name of Villa de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Medellín, which shows the foundational character of this advocation for Medellin. The temple of La Candelaria is recognized as the first parish of the city and was closely linked to the development of the urban core around the current Berrio Park, the historic centre of Medellín.

Main data

Origin and history

The city was founded by the name of Villa de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Medellín, which shows the foundational character of this advocation for Medellin. The temple of La Candelaria is recognized as the first parish of the city and was closely linked to the development of the urban core around the current Berrio Park, the historic centre of Medellín.

From ancient time it is venerated in this place to the Virgin Mary under the title of the Candelaria, patron of the city and protective figure of the Valley of Aburrá, whose feast is held on February 2, in continuity with the universal tradition of the Presentation of the Lord and the Purification of the Virgin. Historical documents indicate that already 1630 existed in the village Confraternity of Our Lady of the Candelarywho organized the Feasts of the Virgin, which confirms an early established devotion in local history.

In the plan of the Pious tradition, various popular stories present the Virgin of Candelaria as light and protection of the ancient inhabitants of the valley, first associated with the dangers of the roads and then with the difficulties of the growth of the city. However, these stories are transmitted more by devotional memory than by precise documentary sources; therefore, they must be distinguished from the verifiable historical data, such as the existence of the fellowship in the 17th century and the foundational character of the advocation for Medellin.

The image and the sanctuary

Devotion is concentrated in the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Candelaria, also called popularly Church of La Candelaria, temple of Catholic veneration dedicated to the Virgin under this apvocation. The building is a colonial building in neoclassical style, of rectangular floor, with three ships and cruise, raised in stone, lime and singing walls, which has been restored in accordance with the original techniques and materials. It is located in the centre of Medellín, in the La Candelaria district, on the eastern side of the Berrio Park, geographical and foundational heart of the city.

The temple was cathedral of the archdiocese of Medellin between 1868 and 1931until this title was passed to the Metropolitan Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. The 8 December 1970The pope. Pablo VI granted the church the title of Minor Basilicathus consolidating its importance in the liturgical and Marian life of the city. In 1997 it was restored with historical criteria and the 31 July 1998 was declared National Monument of Colombia, emphasizing its religious, artistic and heritage value.

As for the specific image of Our Lady of the Candelary venerated in this templea detailed and documented description of the size type (material, size or authorship), or an official iconographic record, is not provided in the sources consulted. It is known, however, that the basilica retains important Marian colonial art and that the temple houses various images of the Virgin and of Christ very venerated by the faithful. There is no complete technical description of the Candelaria's own image in accessible sources.

Sponsorship and coronation

The Virgin of Candelaria is recognized as patron of the city of Medellín. The foundation with the title of Villa de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Medellín indicates a foundational patronage about the municipality and its civil and religious history. In popular devotion it is also invoked as a protector of the Valle de Aburrá, and various ecclesial testimonies emphasize that the image of La Candelaria has "accompanied and presided over the religious and civil life" of the Medellinese community over the centuries.

On a canonical coronation of the image, in the sources consulted (available archdiocesan documentation, historical reviews, religious press notes and outreach resources) does not contain a documented canonical coronation of the Virgin of the Candelaria of Medellin, nor the clear indication of date, pontifical decree or papal delegate for such an act.

Party and devotion

La main party of Our Lady of the Candelaria is celebrated the 2 Februaryin harmony with the universal liturgy of Presentation by the Lord and the Marian memory of the Candelaria. In Colombia this date has been consolidated as the day of the Virgin of Candelaria and, in the case of Medellín, the feast has a marked local character, as it is the patron of the city. Historical documents testify that already in 1630 The Brotherhood of Our Lady of the Candelaria solemnly celebrated these feasts, which indicates the continuity of devotion over almost four centuries.

The basilica, located in the city centre, is maintained as a place of intense sacramental and devotional life, with numerous daily and Sunday Eucharistic, according to the schedule of the archdiocese of Medellin. Although no official influx figures are published, it is usually presented as a spiritual "anchor" of the Berrio Park and a "meeting place" for generations of Puerto Ricans, in which workers, traders, travelers and inhabitants of the city centre converge. The devotion to the Candelaria is expressed in the participation in the Mass, the prayer before the image, the burning of candles and the request for protection for families and the city, especially around 2 February, when the celebrations are intensified.

In the popular religiosity of Medellín, the Virgin of Candelaria is invoked as "light that illuminates the Valley of Aburrá", protection of families and guidance for those seeking justice and peace, features that are reflected in prayers, songs and expressions of subsidiary trust. The faithful often link their intentions for the city, the authorities and the situations of violence or difficulty that affect the region to this vocation.

Link to the Rosary

The sources consulted do not contain a specific historical or regulatory relationship between the advocation of Our Lady of the Candelaria of Medellin and some particular fellowship or practice of Rosary (for example, a Rosary archcofradry formally linked to the basilica, or a rosarian title of the image). No documented indications have been found that the Rosary is a distinctive feature of this devotion, beyond common Marian practice.

However, by the very nature of the advocation, the Rosary is integrated in an organic way into the spirituality of the faithful of La Candelaria. The Feast of February 2 contemplates the mystery of Christ "Light to light the nations" (cf. Lk 2: 32), present also in the joyful mysteries of the Rosary, especially in the fourth mystery, the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the temple, intimately linked to the theological content of the Candelaria. In this way, the prayer of the Rosary allows us to meditate on the same mysteries that are celebrated in the liturgy of this advocation and helps to contemplate Mary as Mother who presents Christ, true light, the Church and the world.

In the ordinary pastoral practice of the Marian parishes and basilicas, the Rosary usually follows the days of prayer, novies and vigil around February 2, even though it is not expressly mentioned in the historical summaries of devotion. It should therefore be said that, although no consta a unique or institutional rosarian bond for the Virgin of the Candelaria of Medellín, the Rosary constituye un medi