Our Lady of the Nativity of Chilapa

Marian devotion of Chilapa (Guerrero)

La advocación de Our Lady of the Nativity is celebrated liturgical the September 8, date of the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the general Roman calendar. However, it is important to distinguish between this universal celebration and the local devotion of Chilapa, which is a concrete advocation linked to his cathedral-sanctuary and to the religious life of the city.

Main data

Origin and history

La advocación de Our Lady of the Nativity is celebrated liturgical the September 8, date of the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the general Roman calendar. However, it is important to distinguish between this universal celebration and the local devotion of Chilapa, which is a concrete advocation linked to his cathedral-sanctuary and to the religious life of the city.

In the information provided by available sources, no consta a sufficiently detailed documented historical account of the primitive origin of the image in Chilapa, nor a complete chronology of its first venerations. It is true that it is a devotion. antigua y arraigada in the community, present "from the 16th century" according to the local tradition that is usually transmitted, but that data no appears independently verified in the sources consulted; by historical prudence it must remain as undocumented tradition.

The image and the sanctuary

No consta in the sources consulted a secure description of the type of image, its material, size or precise iconography. For a rigorous record, such data should be taken only from inventories of the temple, the diocesan site or a specific academic or ecclesial publication; without such verification, it is appropriate not to attribute details that could correspond to another homonymous advocation.

It also does not include, with sufficient documentary security, the full official name of the temple-sanctuary nor its exact legal status as a minor basilica, diocesan or national sanctuary. The wise thing is to simply refer to it as the cathedral- shrine of Chilapa, the site of Our Lady of Nativity's local veneration, avoiding adding unconfirmed titles.

Sponsorship and coronation

Our Lady of Nativity is venerated as patrona de Chilapa y co-patron of the diocese of Chilpancingo-Chilapaaccording to the reference information given for this data sheet; that local patronage is the central data to be retained. [...]

No documented canonical coronation with certainty in the sources consulted. If it existed, the year should be verified, the pontiff who granted it or the delegate who performed the coronation in a diocesan source or the sanctuary.

Party and devotion

La main party se celebra el September 8in line with the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the case of Chilapa, the party is characterized by an intense popular religiosity, with traditional dances and strong participation indigenous-mestiza, features that are part of the local devotional profile provided in the consultation.

No constan in the revised sources accurate data of influx, number of pilgrims or official description of processing routes. To maintain rigour, these elements must be formulated only if they come from a chronicle of the sanctuary, a diocesan note or verifiable local Catholic press.

Link to the Rosary

No consta a specific and specific historical association of this advocation with a particular fellowship, title or practice of Rosary in the sources consulted. Yet the Marian relationship is natural: the Rosary contemplates the mysteries of Christ with Mary, and the Nativity of the Virgin It takes its own place within the contemplation of the history of salvation by celebrating the birth of the Mother of the Lord.

In a devotional document to the Rosary, it can be soberly pointed out that this invocation invites us to contemplate, with a Rosary spirit, the beginning of the life of the one who was chosen to be the Mother of Christ; thus, the prayer of the Rosary accompanies and deepens piety towards Our Lady of the Nativity without needing to attribute to it unproven historical links.

[...] The data of patronage and co-patronage comes from the formulation of the consultation; has not been corroborated with an external source in the results provided.