Our Lady of the Rock of San Carlos, patron saint of San Carlos

Marian devotion of San Carlos (Cojedes)

On the advocation of Our Lady of the Peña de San Carlos (Department of Cojedes, Colombia)with the apparition of the image in a rock in colonial times and a feast on September 8, no verifiable data from accessible sources (diocesan official pages, municipality documentation, Catholic press, regular databases of Colombian sanctuaries and marine repertories consulted online). As a result, it is not possible to rigorously rebuild a documented history of this advocation in San Carlos de Cojedes (Colombia).

Main data

Origin and history

On the advocation of Our Lady of the Peña de San Carlos (Department of Cojedes, Colombia)with the apparition of the image in a rock in colonial times and a feast on September 8, no verifiable data from accessible sources (diocesan official pages, municipality documentation, Catholic press, regular databases of Colombian sanctuaries and marine repertories consulted online). As a result, it is not possible to rigorously rebuild a documented history of this advocation in San Carlos de Cojedes (Colombia).

La tradition / legend pointed out in the order - an image found in a rock or rock in colonial times, venerated as a local patron - corresponds to a typical scheme of many Latin American Marian advocacy, but, applied to San Carlos de Cojedes (Colombia), not confirmed by identifiable sources. By historical fidelity and respect for the truth, this tradition must for now be presented as no documentada.

In the available documentation on the Marian advocation of Our Lady of the Peña in Colombiathe one that does appear clearly attested is that of Bogotáwhose sanctuary and history are widely described as a cult of colonial origin, also linked to a peñasco and a miraculous image. However, this is another advocation and another place (Bogotá, archdiocese of Bogotá), so it should not be confused or identified without documentary basis with an alleged homonymous advocation in San Carlos de Cojedes.

The image and the sanctuary

A description of the image of Our Lady of the Peña de San Carlos (Cojedes, Colombia): – no se confirma el tipo de imagen (escultura, pintura, relieve en roca, etc.); – no se documentan tamaño, material, ni rasgos iconográficos (Niña María, Inmaculada, Virgen con el Niño, etc.); – no se puede asegurar si la imagen original estaría tallada en la peña misma o simplemente ligada a un hallazgo en la roca.

Tampoco consta, para San Carlos de Cojedes (Colombia): – el official name del templo o santuario donde se veneraría esta advocación; – si se trata de una parroquia ordinaria, un santuario diocesano formalmente erigido, o si tiene algún título especial (santuario nacional, basílica menor, etc.); – ni características arquitectónicas mínimamente descritas en fuentes públicas.

Given this lack of reliable data, any attempt to describe the temple, the altarpiece, the dressing room, or the works of art associated with this devotion in San Carlos could only be based on conjecture, which would be inappropriate for a rigorous record.

Sponsorship and coronation

About patronazgo of Nuestra Señora de la Peña for the city or municipality of San Carlos (department of Cojedes, Colombia), not included in the documentation consulted: – ningún decreto diocesano o episcopal que la declare oficialmente patrona principal o secundaria; – ni referencias en sitios oficiales civiles o eclesiales que presenten a esta advocación como patrona del municipio, de la diócesis o de otra circunscripción.

As for a possible canonical coronation, tampoco se encuentra referencia fiable a: – decreto de coronación; – año de la coronación; – autoridad pontificia o delegado del Papa que la hubiera realizado.

Therefore, from the historical and canonical rigor, it must be stated: does not contain a documented canonical coronation for Our Lady of the Peña de San Carlos (Cojedes, Colombia).

Party and devotion

The date of the September 8 as the feast of Our Lady of the Peña of San Carlos (Cojedes, Colombia). However, this data is not confirmed for this particular place in accessible sources. September 8 is, in the liturgical calendar, the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and numerous local Marian advocates often associate their patron party to this date, but no specific confirmation has been found for San Carlos de Cojedes.

No constan, por ahora, en fuentes verificables: – datos de pilgrimages organizadas específicamente hacia un santuario de Nuestra Señora de la Peña en San Carlos; – cifras de afluencia, costumbres o popular traditions (procesiones, novenas, promesas, cantos propios, ofrendas, etc.); – ni detalles sobre si se trata de una fiesta meramente parroquial, municipal o diocesana.

Prudence therefore forces us to leave these fields as no constatadosto be able to access local sources (parish, diocese, archives, chronicles) to document devotion in a serious way.

Link to the Rosary

A particular link between Our Lady of the Peña de San Carlos (Cojedes, Colombia) and the prayer of Rosary (for example, the Rosary's cofradies erected in its temple, specific promises to pray the Rosary before this image, or the Rosary's parties associated with the advocation).

However, from the general Marian perspective and the spirituality of the Rosary, it is reasonable to state the following (as a doctrinal reflection, not as a local historical fact):

– Toda advocación mariana auténticamente eclesial remite, en último término, a la Mother of God, Mary, one en múltiples títulos. – El Rosary es una de las formas más universales de oración mariana, recomendada por el Magisterio y profundamente arraigada en la religiosidad popular latinoamericana. – Allí donde se venera una imagen de la Virgen –también bajo una posible advocación local como Nuestra Señora de la Peña–, el Rosario se convierte espontáneamente en medio privilegiado para contemplar, junto a María, los misterios de la vida de Cristo y para pedir su intercesión.

So, though no specific documented linkIt can be understood that the prayer of the Rosary naturally accompanies any authentic Marian cult, helping the faithful to unite local devotion to Our Lady with the contemplation of the Gospel and with the liturgical life of the Church.

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Since the data specific to this advocation in San Carlos (Cojedes, Colombia) no se hallan corroborados en fuentes fiables, se recomienda, para completar esta ficha en el futuro, acudir directamente a: – la local parish or sanctuary; – la competent diocese; – crónicas históricas de la región; – y, en la medida de lo posible, estudios de mariología colombiana de ámbito académico o diocesano.