Our Lady of the Délivrande

Marian Advocation of Douvre-la-Délivrande (Normandy)

La advocación de Our Lady of the Délivrande (Notre- Dame de la Délivrande) is native to the Marian sanctuary of Cover-the-Delivery, in the department of Calvados, Normandy (France), famous for its old image of Black Virgin and an important Marian pilgrimage center since the Middle Ages. This devotion, over time, was spread to various countries, including Colombia, where it is venerated under the same title, although the information available on its concrete implementation in the Colombian municipality of Dover-la-Déliverne, Normandía it is not documented in the accessible sources consulted; therefore, there is no detailed and verifiable local history of its arrival and development in Colombia.

Main data

Origin and history

La advocación de Our Lady of the Délivrande (Notre- Dame de la Délivrande) is native to the Marian sanctuary of Cover-the-Delivery, in the department of Calvados, Normandy (France), famous for its old image of Black Virgin and an important Marian pilgrimage center since the Middle Ages. This devotion, over time, was spread to various countries, including Colombia, where it is venerated under the same title, although the information available on its concrete implementation in the Colombian municipality of Dover-la-Déliverne, Normandía it is not documented in the accessible sources consulted; therefore, there is no detailed and verifiable local history of its arrival and development in Colombia.

From the perspective of the documented historyit is known that in France the sanctuary of Notre-Dame de la Délivrande was already a significant Marian pilgrimage place in medieval times, and that the image was recognized as one of the most venerated Black Virgin of Normandy. The French basilica was raised to such rank in the 19th century, and the image was solemnly crowned in 1872, within the movement of restoration of the Marian cult after the French Revolution (data attested in French mariological literature, although the full official detail of the coronation bull is not located in the sources consulted).

As for the TRADITION / LEYENDA, various Marian compilations mention that the origin of devotion in Normandy is linked to an old image discovered or miraculously recovered and to interventions of the Virgin Mary in favour of prisoners, captives or "freed" people of dangers, from which would come the title of the "Délivrande" (the one who releases, releases). These elements, however, fall within the scope of popular piety and are not based on strict historical documentation; therefore, they must be distinguished from the verifiable historical development of the French sanctuary. For the possible reception of this advocation in Colombia, they do not contain, in the revised sources, accounts of apparitions or properly documented own legends.

The image and the sanctuary

In its normal origin, the image of Our Lady of the Deliverance es una Virgin with the Child of a sedent type (throne of wisdom), venerated as Black Virgin, that is, with the face and hands of dark color, according to a very widespread iconography in Western Europe from the Middle Ages. In French tradition it is a statue of size (polychrome wood), with the Child Jesus sitting on the knees or on the arm of the Mother, and with regent attributes (crown, rich blankets), which emphasize the character of Mary as Queen and Mediator. No specific data on a Colombian official reply (type of material, size, authors, date of entronization), so these details no constan for the venerated image in the indicated Colombian municipality.

In France, the main seat of this vocation is the basilica Notre-Dame de la Délivrande, in Douvre-la-Délivrande (Calvados, Normandy), recognized as a minor basilica and Marian sanctuary of great tradition. The present basilica is a Neogotic-style temple, expanded and embellished in the 19th century, which has been hosting many pilgrims for centuries. In the Colombian case, the place of worship indicated is the municipality of Douvre-la-Délivrande, Normandy, ColombiaHowever, the revised sources do not contain an official description of the temple (full legal name, diocesan or parish sanctuary category, or architectural data), so that, to this day, no consta a verifiable technical record of the Colombian sanctuary under this title.

Sponsorship and coronation

In the French field, Our Lady of the Délivrande has traditionally been considered patrona local of the city of Douvre-la-Délivrande and its region, with a spiritual influence that extends to much of Normandy, especially with regard to pilgrimages for reasons of health, the release of dangers and the protection of travellers. With regard to the Colombian municipality, the sources consulted do not contain official statements of patronage diocesan, municipal or national in favour of Our Lady of the Délivrande; therefore, any specific patronage no consta Documentally.

In France, the image was solemnly crowned in 1872within the movement of canonical coronations of important Marian images of the 19th century; however, the name of the Pope who granted the coronation or the pontifical delegate who executed it has not been found in the accessible sources with documentary certainty. Since the 19th century was a period of multiple coronations (Pius IX, Leo XIII), it is not wise to attribute a name without certain reference. For the image venerated in Colombia under this title, does not contain a documented canonical coronation.

Party and devotion

The fiesta principal de Our Lady of the Délivrande se celebra el August 15in agreement with the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, which places this advocation in a strongly Marian and liturgical framework, of great relief throughout the Church. In the French sanctuary, this date traditionally brings together many pilgrims who come to honor the Virgin, participate in the Eucharist and the processions, and entrust her with intentions related to the health, family and maternal protection of Mary.

As for the devotion in Colombia under the same name, the sources consulted do not provide quantitative data of influx (number of pilgrims, provenance) or detailed descriptions of the popular traditions (processions, novenas, specific promises, signs of gratitude). In a Colombian context, it is reasonable to think - by analogy with other Marian pronouncements of the country - that the feast of August 15 is celebrated with solemn Mass, prayer of the Community Rosary and, where possible, procession with the image; however, these elements, as they are not explicit in concrete sources for this advocation in the aforementioned municipality, should be considered as a possible devotional practice and not as a well-documented historical data.

Link to the Rosary

The sources consulted do not document a specific historical link between Our Lady of the Délivrande and the prayer of the Rosary (for example, apparitions related to the Rosary or rosarian copradies originating in that sanctuary). Therefore, no consta that this advocation was born explicitly linked to the Rosary, as in other devotions (for example, the Virgin of the Rosary or the Virgin of Fatima).

However, in the life of the Church, where the Virgin Mary is honored, the Rosary He usually occupies a central place as a prayer of contemplation of the mysteries of Christ in the company of his Mother. In Marian shrines around the world, the prayer of the Rosary before or after the Eucharist, in processions and vigil, and as a simple expression of popular piety, is common practice. Thus, also in the devotion to Our Lady of the Délivrande, both in his original sanctuary of Normandy and in his presence in Colombia, the Rosary can be understood as a privileged road to welcome Mary's intercession, to meditate on the mysteries of redemption and to live the deep sense of the title "Délivrande": the Virgin who accompanies and sustains in the path of true release who brings Christ.

Sources: tradition of the sanctuary, diocesan information and Wikipedia in Spanish. The distinction between popular piety and documented ecclesial history is specific to this fact sheet; extraordinary accounts are presented as devotion and not as doctrinal pronunciation.