Our Lady of the Soledad of Acapulco

Marian Advocation of Acapulco (Guerrero)

Documented history (Acapulco, Mexico) The devotion to Our Lady of Soledad in Acapulco dates back to the colonial era, linked to the port and the protection of the sailors and of the maritime trade. The present cathedral, dedicated to this apvocation, is located in the zócalo of Acapulco and is the main church of the port. The temple functioned as a parish since the colonial period and, after various reconstructions for damage to earthquakes and hurricanes, acquired its current physionomy in the 1940- 1950 decades.

Main data

Origin and history

Documented history (Acapulco, Mexico) The devotion to Our Lady of Soledad in Acapulco dates back to the colonial era, linked to the port and the protection of the sailors and of the maritime trade. The present cathedral, dedicated to this apvocation, is located in the zócalo of Acapulco and is the main church of the port. The temple functioned as a parish since the colonial period and, after various reconstructions for damage to earthquakes and hurricanes, acquired its current physionomy in the 1940- 1950 decades.

Our Lady of Soledad was proclaimed patron of Acapulco and its port, especially in the context of the conflicts of the Independence of Mexico; the local tradition mentions that King Philip II would have sent the image from Spain to be proclaimed "generala" and protector of the realistic troops and the port. The cathedral has been the episcopal seat since 1958, when the diocese (now archdiocese) of Acapulco was erected.

Tradition and Legend The narrative according to which the king Felipe II He personally sent the image from Spain to be crowned as a general and protective against the insurgents belongs to the local tradition, without the record of a real contemporary document confirming it. Another traditional line highlights the miraculous character of the protection of the port and of the sailors attributed to the Virgin of Soledad in storms and dangers of the sea; these stories are part of popular piety and are not presented as historical chronicles contrasted.

For the alleged advocation in "Acapulco, department of Guerrero, Colombia", no consta in serious ecclesial, historical or devotional sources the existence of a canonically erected Marian sanctuary with this title; therefore, a specific documented history for this location cannot be offered.

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The image and the sanctuary

The image (Acapulco, Mexico) The venerated image is a representation of the Virgin of the Soledad, typically associated in Latin America with the Virgin Mary on Holy Saturday, in an attitude of mourning for the death of Christ. In this iconography, it is usually presented standing, dressed in black or purple, with a cloak and a robe, sometimes with a hand or a heart passed, although the sources consulted do not describe in technical detail the material (polychrome wood, dress size, etc.), so that data not accurately recorded.

The sanctuary / temple (Acapulco, Mexico) The main temple is the Cathedral of Our Lady of Soledad of Acapulcolocated in the centre of the city, opposite the square Alvarez, at the intersection of the streets Independencia and Quebrada. It is the main church of the port and seat of the archbishop of Acapulco since 1958. The building, reconstructed in the mid-20th century, has a unique architecture with eclectic-style domes and elements that remember the art déco and neo-Byzantine style. It does not know that it has the title of minor basilica the national sanctuary; catedral and parish of the Sagrarian of the archdiocese.

For the place indicated in the consultation (Acapulco, Guerrero, Colombia), no consta the existence of an officially recognized Marian sanctuary under this advocation in sources of the local Church or in accredited Marian repertory.

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Sponsorship and coronation

Sponsorship (Acapulco, Mexico) Our Lady of Soledad is recognized as main patron of the city and the port of Acapulco. Several local sources indicate that their patronage was consolidated in the context of Independence and that, for about two centuries now, the city and its jurisdiction have been officially invoked as a patron. In addition, because the cathedral is dedicated to this advocation and is the seat of the archdiocese, it is especially venerated as a patron of the local Church, although the exact legal title (principal patron of the archdiocese) no consta explicitly in the documents consulted.

Canonical coronation In the revised sources (page of the archdiocese, cultural information, local and devotional press), does not contain a documented canonical coronation given by or on behalf of the Holy See for this particular image. There are no secure data on year, pontifical decree or papal delegate for a canonical coronation.

Again, for an alleged equivalent advocation in Colombia, no consta official patronage or canonical coronation.

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Party and devotion

In Acapulco, Mexico, the Feast of Our Lady of Soledad is celebrated around the Solemnity of the Virgin of Soledad, traditionally linked to Holy Saturday or to a date of its own within the time passed or the local Marian calendar; however, in the documents consulted the official liturgical date is not accurately recorded of the main feast in the archdiocese of Acapulco.

What is documented is the intense devoción popular: – La catedral es un punto central de fe para habitantes y visitantes; es descrita como “casa de la Virgen de la Soledad, patrona de Acapulco desde la Independencia de México”. – La piedad se expresa en eucaristías, novenas, visitas de turistas y fieles, y en manifestaciones locales de veneración, especialmente en fechas marianas y fiestas patronales, aunque no se ofrecen cifras precisas de afluencia. – Tradicionalmente, la Virgen es invocada como protectora del puerto y de los navegantes, rasgo coherente con el carácter marítimo de Acapulco y mencionado en crónicas y escritos locales.

For the Colombian location indicated in the consultation, no reliable data on own holiday, pilgrimages or specific popular traditionsand so these aspects no constan.

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Link to the Rosary

In the sources consulted about Our Lady of the Soledad of Acapulco does not contain a specific or exclusive association with the Rosary, regular public rosaries or an "official" dimension of the Rosary proper to this advocation. The devotion focuses above all on its role as patron of the port and the city, and its presence in the cathedral.

However, in the Marian spirituality of the Church, the Rosary is a privileged way to accompany the mysteries of Christ's life, passion, death and resurrection with Mary. For the Virgin of the Soledadthe contemplation of painful mysteries y del Holy Saturday encuentra un eco natural: – El Rosario permite unir el dolor de María al pie de la Cruz con las pruebas y sufrimientos actuales de las comunidades portuarias y de quienes se encomiendan a su protección. – La meditación de los misterios gloriosos ayuda a pasar de la soledad al consuelo, ofreciendo una lectura pascual del dolor de María y de las pruebas propias de la vida cristiana.

For this reason, even if there is no particular legal or historical link between this advocation and a brotherhood of the Rosary, and