Our Lady of the Defense of San Ambrosio Texantla, local patron between Panotla and Totolac

Marian vocation of Panotla (Tlaxcala)

According to available documentation, Our Lady of Defense is a Marian sanctuary located in the community of San Ambrosio Texantlabetween the hills of the municipalities of Panotla and San Juan Totolacin the state of Tlaxcala (Mexico). There is no link to "Panotla, department of Tlaxcala, Colombia"; reliable data place this advocation exclusively in Tlaxcala, Mexico.

Main data

Origin and history

According to available documentation, Our Lady of Defense is a Marian sanctuary located in the community of San Ambrosio Texantlabetween the hills of the municipalities of Panotla and San Juan Totolacin the state of Tlaxcala (Mexico). There is no link to "Panotla, department of Tlaxcala, Colombia"; reliable data place this advocation exclusively in Tlaxcala, Mexico.

# # Tradition and legend Local tradition shows that the Virgin is venerated next to a manantial which springs under the altar of the sanctuary, considered by the faithful as miraculous water for the healing of physical and spiritual diseases. Many devotees come with vessels to take this water, a devotional gesture already deeply rooted in popular piety.

Some chronicles and outreach notes point out that the primitive image of Our Lady of Defense would have arrived from Seville (Spain) en 1621, being later taken to the Catedral de Puebla by order of the bishop Juan de Palafox and Mendozawhere he was enthroned as Protector of the City and the Diocese of Puebla. These references are presented as a historical chronicle, but not including specific documents; they are therefore considered historical - devotional traditionNot strictly critical history.

# # Documented history The existence of Sanctuary of Our Lady of Defense In San Ambrosio Texantla, Panotla, Tlaxcala, and its importance as a regional pilgrimage centre are well documented in journalistic and religious sources. The sanctuary is recognized as one of the most significant places of Marian devotion in the state of Tlaxcala, with a consolidated patron party October 12 and with a massive influx of pilgrims throughout the year, especially through the spring under the altar.

Sources of diocese, Catholic press and local media confirm the character patronage of this advocation for the community of San Ambrosio Texantla and the surroundings of Panotla-Totolac, although a formal decree of patronage of diocesan or state scope has not been found in verifiable sources.

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The image and the sanctuary

The image The sources identify it as an image of the Immaculate Conceptionknown and venerated under the title of Our Lady of Defense. In the available graphic materials it appears as an image of polychrome dress or sculpture (open sources do not specify with certainty the material), with features specific to the immaculist iconography: the Virgin standing, with mantle and tunic, crowned, associated with devotion to the Immaculate.

The sources consulted do not contain a complete technical description (height, author, exact date of execution, materials and artistic style), so these data should be considered. no constatados.

The sanctuary The temple is known as Church of San Ambrosio Texantla, sanctuary of Our Lady of Defense. It is located between the hills of Panotla and Totolac, about 20 minutes from the city of Tlaxcala, and is described as a sanctuary by sources of religious outreach and tourism.

Arquitectónicamente, se destaca: – Una facade decorated with octagonal palette, que subraya la riqueza y singularidad del edificio. – Un entorno natural marcado por el water birth under the altar, central element of the devotional experience of the place.

It is not known that the temple has been raised to minor basilica, National sanctuary o diocesan sanctuary by formal decree; in the sources consulted it is simply called sanctuary o temple from Our Lady of Defense.

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Sponsorship and coronation

# # Sponsorship The sources describe Our Lady of Defense as one of the Marian images most beloved of the regionwith strong roots in the community of San Ambrosio Texantla and in the municipalities Panotla y Totolac. He actually venerates it like patrona local of the community and the sanctuary that bears its name, with a devotion extended by various places that come on pilgrimage.

While some chronicles point out that the homonymous image held in the Cathedral of Puebla was enthroned as Protector of the City and the Diocese of Pueblathis explicitly refers to the image located in Puebla and not to the shrine of Texantla in Tlaxcala. No official document has been found to declare the Virgin of the Defense of Texantla as the patron of a diocese, state or nation; therefore, her recognized patronage is of local / Community level.

# # Canonical coronation In the sources consulted (Catholic press, local chronicles, heritage chips and news articles) no reference to a canonical coronation (neither by the Holy See nor by episcopal delegation) of the image venerated in San Ambrosio Texantla.

Therefore, according to the available data: does not contain a documented canonical coronation.

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Party and devotion

La main party of Our Lady of Defense in San Ambrosio Texantla is celebrated the October 12. The employers' celebration is preceded by a novenario que inicia el 4 Octoberwith procession and prayer of the rosary through the streets of the population from 4: 30, having as its point of departure and return the sanctuary.

Entre los rasgos devocionales más destacados: – Pilgrimages throughout the year, with special influx on the third Sunday and Monday of May by pilgrims from the state of Morelos. – La búsqueda de healing of physical and spiritual ills through the intercession of the Virgin and the use of water flowing under the altar, considerada milagrosa por los fieles. – Largas filas de devotos con recipientes de diversos tamaños para recoger el agua del manantial cercano al nicho principal de la imagen.

The journalistic chronicles mention “miles de fieles” who go to the sanctuary, especially at the patron party, stressing that it is one of the places of religious tourism and most significant Marian devotion of the state of Tlaxcala. The experience of the feast includes processions, solemn Mass, traditional dances and popular events that are typical of the patronal celebrations of the region (the sources, however, do not detail in detail each cultural manifestation, so the specific forms of dances and specific traditions are considered not fully documented).

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Link to the Rosary

The sources explicitly point out that the employers' parties begin to 4 October con un novenarioin which the procession and the Rosary prayer by the streets of the population at 4: 30 p.m., beginning and ending in the sanctuary of Our Lady of Defense. This data shows a direct and stable link between devotion to this vocation and the Rosary, integrated in the immediate preparation of the feast of 12 October.

Beyond this explicit mention, the sources do not develop a specific message about the Rosary of this advocation (promises, co-fradies of the Rosary formally erected, etc.), so these aspects no constan in accessible documentation.

In general Marian key, the use of the Rosary in the novenary and processions highlights how this prayer accompanies the life of the sanctuary: - With