Our Lady of Health of Pattzcuaro, Patron of Pattzcuaro

Marian vocation of Pattzcuaro (Michoacán)

La devoción a Our Lady of Health of Pattzcuaro is closely linked to the pastoral action of Vasco de Quirogathe first bishop of Michoacán, who promoted the construction of the temple and commissioned a Marian image for the hospital of Santa Marta in Pátzcuaro, where he received the title of Salus Infirmorum ("Health of the Sick"). The local tradition presents it as an advocation born to the service of the sick and of the evangelization of the purechal peoples.

Main data

Origin and history

La devoción a Our Lady of Health of Pattzcuaro is closely linked to the pastoral action of Vasco de Quirogathe first bishop of Michoacán, who promoted the construction of the temple and commissioned a Marian image for the hospital of Santa Marta in Pátzcuaro, where he received the title of Salus Infirmorum ("Health of the Sick"). The local tradition presents it as an advocation born to the service of the sick and of the evangelization of the purechal peoples.

As for the material origin of the image, a widely repeated tradition states that it was made by indigenous artisans with corn cane paste, a technique very typical of the New Hispanic imagination. It also circulates the date 1538-1539 as a time of its conduct, although in the information consulted it appears as a traditional data and not as a fully documented accuracy; it is clear that ya en 1540 He was given public veneration.

The image and the sanctuary

The venerated image in Pattzcuaro is a Our Lady of Health of approximately 1.30 meters, realizada en Maize cane pasteas described by local reference sources. His advocation is related to the Immaculate Conception, original name that appears in the historical tradition of the image.

Se venera en la Basilica of Our Lady of Health, main religious building in Pattzcuaro. The temple was built in the 16th century by order of Vasco de Quiroga, and for a time acted as catedral until the transfer of the episcopal seat to Morelia in 1580. From 23 January 1923 has the title of basilica. The image itself is associated with the old hospital and the founding set of Quiroga in Pátzcuaro.

Sponsorship and coronation

Our Lady of Health is presented as Patrona de Pátzquaro and also as an advocation especially linked to the archdiocese of Morelia y a la Pastoral Health throughout Mexico. Local news sources also describe her as a patron of the city and a figure of special regional roots.

On the canonical coronationthe information consulted indicates that the 8 December 1899 por decreto del Pope Leo XIII. In the absence of a primary ecclesial source in the results offered, it is appropriate to maintain this data as the most widespread, but attributed to the reference consulted.

Party and devotion

La main party consta el 8 Decemberin coincidence with the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Popular devotion is expressed in pilgrimages, visits to the temple and in the attribution of graces and intercession for the sick, a feature that defines their title of Salus Infirmorum.

Among the pious traditions spread, mention is made of the gesture of approaching the greater altar and conferring requests to the Virgin, as well as the deep veneration of the mantle and image by the faithful. The memory of an attack on the 22 December 1962that popular devotion interprets as a miraculous fact by not having damaged the image.

Link to the Rosary

A specific historical relationship between this advocation and a rosarian brotherhood or a rosarian tradition of its own. However, like all Marian devotion, the veneration to Our Lady of Health is naturally integrated into the spirituality of the Rosarywho looks at the mysteries of Christ with Mary and presents the Virgin as a close intercessor, especially for the sick and needy.