Our Lady of the Guard, venerated in the Salesian Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Guard

Marian vocation of Rosario (Santa Fe)

It does not consist, in official sources of the Church (pages of dioceses, congregations, known sanctuaries, or in regular repertories of Marian asvocations), of a advocación local de Our Lady of the Guard vinculada a un "Salesian Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Guard (Fisherton, Rosario, Argentina)" located in a "department of Santa Fe, Colombia." The data combine real references (Fisherton is a district of the city of Rosario, in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina) with a location in Colombia, which does not correspond to the territorial organization of either country, and is not confirmed by verifiable ecclesial sources.

Main data

Origin and history

It does not consist, in official sources of the Church (pages of dioceses, congregations, known sanctuaries, or in regular repertories of Marian asvocations), of a advocación local de Our Lady of the Guard vinculada a un "Salesian Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Guard (Fisherton, Rosario, Argentina)" located in a "department of Santa Fe, Colombia." The data combine real references (Fisherton is a district of the city of Rosario, in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina) with a location in Colombia, which does not correspond to the territorial organization of either country, and is not confirmed by verifiable ecclesial sources.

La advocación de Our Lady of the Guard is documented in other contexts (e.g., Notre-Dame de la Garde in Marseille or the genovese devotion to the Madonna della Guardia), but there is no specific documented history that formally links this devotion, in Salesian key, to a sanctuary in Fisherton / Rosario with the characteristics and dates indicated in the order. In the absence of verifiable documentation, it should be stated that no documented history of this sanctuary and of the advocation in the place described.

The image and the sanctuary

It does not include, in reliable accessible sources, a precise description of the image venerated under the title of Our Lady of the Guard in the supposed Fisherton sanctuary (type of image, material, style, detailed iconography). There are also no official data to identify the canonical name of the temple (if trata de parroquia, diocesan sanctuary, Salesian shrine erigido por decree, etc.), an eventual dignidad de minor basilica or national or diocesan recognition.

Therefore, with regard to the image (statue, size, painting, relief; concrete iconographic materials and features) and sanctuary (official name, erection date, canonical category, architectural and pastoral characteristics), must be recorded: no consta in public, verified and stable documentation.

Sponsorship and coronation

It is not recorded in official documents of dioceses, episcopal conferences or religious congregations that this advocation, in the place indicated, has been proclaimed patron of a specific city, municipality, diocese or region. The Marian invocation of Our Lady of the Guard enjoys devotion in other parts of the world, but this information cannot legitimately be moved, without proof, to the concrete reality described in the commission.

On the canonical coronationthe year 1966 is indicated; however, no ecclesial references have been found to confirm a documented canonical coronation (with pontifical decree, delegate, date and place). In accordance with the rules given, the following should be stated: does not contain a documented canonical coronation for this image and this sanctuary, according to accessible sources.

Party and devotion

The order points to the August 29 as a holiday date, but no confirmations appear in diocesan liturgical calendars, official sanctuaries agendas or verifiable Catholic publications. The main holiday date of this advocation, in the place described, must be recorded as: no consta of documented manera.

Similarly, no data on organized pilgrimages, number of faithful, specific popular traditions (processions, vigil, own novies, promises, particular signs of piety) or their relevance in the diocesan or local Salesian pastoral. That is why the concrete forms of popular devotion y la afluencia of the faithful to this sanctuary must be noted as: do not consist of verifiable sources.

Link to the Rosary

There is no specific, legally recognized or historically documented link between this local invocation of Our Lady of the Guard and a particular or own practice of prayer of the Rosary (for example, the Rosary's cofradies erected in the sanctuary, special indulgences linked to this place, Marian promises explicitly linked to the Marian crown, etc.). In the light of this, it is required to state: does not contain a particular documented link with the Rosary for this advocation in the indicated site.

From a general Marian reflection, devotion to the Virgin under any title is naturally harmonized with the prayer of the Holy Rosarywhich contemplates the mysteries of Christ's life in the company of Mary and nourishes confidence in her maternal protection. Where the Virgin is venerated - also under the name of Our Lady of the Guard, in places where this devotion is recognized - the Rosary is presented as a privileged way of uniting popular piety with the meditation of the Gospel and communion with the Church.