Our Lady of Consolation, greatly venerated as the protector of San Cristóbal

Marian devotion of Saint Christopher (Saint Christopher)

In the sources consulted on San Cristóbal, department of San Cristóbal (Colombia), an officially recognized Marian sanctuary under the title of Our Lady of Consolation as in other countries (Táriba in Venezuela, Utrera in Spain, San Cristóbal in Dominican Republic). There is therefore no documented history specific of the image and its cult in that Colombian city.

Main data

Origin and history

In the sources consulted on San Cristóbal, department of San Cristóbal (Colombia), an officially recognized Marian sanctuary under the title of Our Lady of Consolation as in other countries (Táriba in Venezuela, Utrera in Spain, San Cristóbal in Dominican Republic). There is therefore no documented history specific of the image and its cult in that Colombian city.

Sí existen, en cambio, referencias bien documentadas a la advocación de la Consolación en otros lugares llamados San Cristóbal, en especial: – La Parish of Our Lady of Consolation en la ciudad de San Cristóbal, República Dominicana, perteneciente a la diócesis de Baní y confiada a los agustinos recoletos. – La Basilica of Our Lady of the Consolation of Táriba, very linked to the diocese of San Cristóbal (Venezuela), where the image is considered miraculous and associated with epidemics and calamities.

The mention of an "old image of Consolata associated with favors in epidemics" historically fits with traditions of Consolation / Consolata images in context of plague or disease, but no consta in the present sources a historical narration requires that link that miraculous motive to a sanctuary of Our Lady of Consolation in San Cristóbal (Colombia) Comprobable form.

En resumen: la tradition of a Virgin of Consolation linked to aid in time of epidemics is well attested in the Catholic world, especially in shrines of Venezuela and Spain, but the documented history of a sanctuary with that advocation in San Cristóbal, Colombia, no consta in the sources consulted and should be the subject of local research (diocesan, parish or regional chronicles).

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The image and the sanctuary

No reliable and verifiable descriptions of a concrete image of Our Lady of Consolation venerated as protector of San Cristóbal (Colombia). It does not therefore contain the type of size (wood, plaster or other material), its style, or its own iconographic features (for example, if it carries the Child, if it appears with scapular, crown, mantle in a certain way, etc.). Consequently, no consta a secure iconographic description.

Nor does it include, in accessible online sources, the official name of a diocesan Marian parish or sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Consolation in San Cristóbal (Colombia). The information that appears under the name "Iglesia Nuestra Señora de la Consolación, San Cristóbal" on social networks and video platforms refers predominantly to contexts outside Colombia, especially to the parish of San Cristóbal (Dominican Republic), clearly indicated as part of the Diocese of Bani and entrusted to the avocados recoletos.

It is therefore not clear that in San Cristóbal, Colombia, there is a temple with a range of minor basilica, National sanctuary o diocesan sanctuary formally erected under this title, at least in easily accessible documentation.

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Sponsorship and coronation

The documents consulted do not contain an explicit statement proclaiming a Our Lady of Consolation how official employer of the municipality or diocese of San Cristóbal (department of San Cristóbal, Colombia). Therefore, in this geographical context no consta a formally defined and promulgated civil or ecclesiastical patronage.

With regard to a possible canonical coronation of the image of Our Lady of Consolation in San Cristóbal (Colombia), no record has been found in the usual sources (diocesan documentation available online, Catholic press news, sanctuaries reviews). Therefore, in accordance with the strict instructions, it should be indicated: does not contain a documented canonical coronation for this advocation in San Cristóbal (Colombia).

It is important to distinguish this case from other sanctuaries: for example, the image of the Consolation in Utrera, Spain It appears as "Coronado Consolation" in the diocesan sanctuary and with extensive documentation of its own, as well as other images of Consolation in Venezuela, but these data cannot be moved to the reality of San Cristóbal (Colombia).

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Party and devotion

A main holiday date specifically associated with Our Lady of Consolation in San Cristóbal (Colombia). The liturgical chronicles available online that mention the Feasts of Consolation are mostly referred to the diocese of San Cristóbal de Venezuela (Táriba) or to other dioceses with consolation shrines. Therefore, for this specific location, the date of the party no consta.

No reliable data on number of pilgrims, forms of pilgrimage, own processions or specific popular traditions (votes, promises, begging in epidemics) linked to a sanctuary of Our Lady of Consolation in San Cristóbal (Colombia). Any statement in that regard, without direct documentation (parish programmes, diocesan decrees, local journalistic reports), would be conjectural, and the expression should be maintained. no consta.

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Link to the Rosary

As there is no explicit evidence of specific practices of the Rosary in a shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in San Cristóbal (Colombia), no consta a specific documented link (for example, Rosary cofradies, aurora rosaries or rosarian solemnities of this place).

However, from the mariological and pastoral point of view, it is common that all Marian devotion - also under the advocation of the Consolation– if wings of the rezo of Holy Rosaryfor several theological and spiritual reasons:

– El Rosario contempla los mysteries of Christ's life with Mary, en los que la Virgen aparece como Madre que acompaña, consuela y sostiene la fe, especialmente en los misterios dolorosos. – La advocación de la Consolation subraya precisamente a María como “consuelo de los afligidos”, título presente en las letanías lauretanas, muy usado pastoralmente en tiempos de enfermedad, epidemias o sufrimiento comunitario. – En muchos santuarios consolacionistas (documentados en otros países), el rezo comunitario del Rosario precede o acompaña a la Eucaristía y a las procesiones, y es un medio concreto por el cual los fieles confían sus penas y esperanzas a la intercesión de la Virgen.

By analogy with the usual practice of the Church, it can be said at the general level that the devotion to Our Lady of Consolation is fully understood when it is integrated into a Marian life where the Rosary occupies an important place; however, for San Cristóbal (Colombia) in particular, this relationship remains without specific documentary record and requires direct research in the corresponding parish or diocese.