Our Lady of La Paz, patron of the city of La Paz

Marian Invocation of La Paz (Baja California Sur)

In the Catholic tradition, the Marian title "Our Lady of Peace" it dates back to the end of the 11th century, in relation to a historical fact linked to Toledo (Spain), which gave rise to this advocation and its iconography of the Virgin with a dove and signs of peace. From then on, the title was spread throughout Europe and, over time, Latin America, applied to different images and sanctuaries.

Main data

Origin and history

In the Catholic tradition, the Marian title "Our Lady of Peace" it dates back to the end of the 11th century, in relation to a historical fact linked to Toledo (Spain), which gave rise to this advocation and its iconography of the Virgin with a dove and signs of peace. From then on, the title was spread throughout Europe and, over time, Latin America, applied to different images and sanctuaries.

As for a possible advocation of Our Lady of Peace connected to Jesuit missionary origins of the city of La Paz, Baja California Sur, las fuentes disponibles no documentan con claridad una imagen mariana bajo este título como patrona de la ciudad ni como titular formal de la catedral. No se han encontrado referencias diocesanas, históricas o de prensa eclesial que confirmen: – una official declaration of patronage sobre la ciudad de La Paz; – una specific Jesuit relationship con una imagen bajo el título de “Nuestra Señora de La Paz”; – ni una local party on January 24 in La Paz Cathedral (Baja California Sur).

Therefore, this specific historical link “not reported” in documentation easily accessible and must be the subject of direct research in diocesan, parish or missionary archives.

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The image and the sanctuary

A reliable and specific description of an image of Our Lady of Peace venerada en la La Paz Cathedral (Baja California Sur), neither on the diocesan web nor on general Marian repertories. It does not therefore include:

- type of image (sculpture, dress size, canvas, etc.);

The Cathedral of La Paz (Baja California Sur) exists as the episcopal seat of the homonymous diocese, but the sources consulted do not officially present it as Marian sanctuary under the title of Our Lady of Peace neither as a minor basilica, nor have references been found to a diocesan or national specific recognition of this image as "Marian sanctuary" in a technical sense.

Therefore, in the absence of documentation:

– Official name of the temple as Marian sanctuary: no consta. – Special canon title (minor basilica, national or diocesan sanctuary under this title): no consta.

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Sponsorship and coronation

The Marian and ecclesial sources consulted do collect important patronings of the title Our Lady of Peace en otros lugares: – patrona de la ciudad de Round (Málaga, España), cuya fiesta se celebra el 24 de enero. – patrona espiritual del estado Trujillo en Venezuela, con coronación canónica en 1921. – patrona de la República de El Salvador, under the title of Our Lady of Peace, since 1966.

However, no consta en las fuentes consultadas que: – Nuestra Señora de La Paz haya sido declarada canónicamente patron of the city of La Paz (Baja California Sur), ni del municipio, ni de la diócesis, ni a nivel nacional en México bajo este título concreto. – exista una documented canonical coronation of an image of Our Lady of La Paz in that cathedral or city.

For this information:

– Patronage: no consta un decreto oficial de patronazgo canónico sobre la ciudad de La Paz (Baja California Sur), ni sobre la diócesis. – Canon coronation: there is no documented canonical coronation.

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Party and devotion

En el Calendar Romano General, the memory of Our Lady of Peace se celebra el 9 July in the universal Church. Some particular churches in Spain and the United States celebrate this vocation. 24 January, date associated with the Toledan tradition.

The available sources do not indicate that La Paz Cathedral (Baja California Sur) an established and own party of Our Lady of Peace on January 24. There are also no public data on:

- official or multitudinary pilgrimages to an image under this title in the cathedral;

For this reason, for the invocation described:

– Date of the local main party: no consta. – Pilgrims and concrete traditions in La Paz (Baja California Sur): no constan.

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Link to the Rosary

No explicit reference to a of the Rosary, rosarian fellowship or official Rosary practice specifically linked to an image of Our Lady of Peace in La Paz Cathedral (Baja California Sur). There is therefore no particular documented relationship between this local advocation - as described - and the prayer of the Rosary.

From a general Marian perspective, the title "Our Lady of Peace" se armoniza profundamente con la espiritualidad del Rosario: – en los joyful mysteries, se contempla al Príncipe de la Paz que entra en la historia a través del “sí” de María; – en los painful mysteries, la Virgen acompaña el sufrimiento y la violencia del pecado, intercediendo para que de la cruz brote la reconciliación; – en los glorious and luminous mysteriesThe Risen Christ and the Holy Spirit, the source of true peace in the Church and in the peoples, are considered.

This is why, although there is no specific local tradition, the prayer of Holy Rosary before any image of the Virgin under the apvocation of Peace is a particularly appropriate way of pleading for the peace of the heart, the family, the city and the nations, in deep harmony with the deepest sense of this Marian title.