Our Lady of L'Épine

Marian Advocation of L'Épine (Great East)

According to the Pious tradition de L'Épine (France), un pastors habrían visto, towards the end of the 14th century or the beginning of the 15th century, a Tar or thorn burning without being consumed, within which was found a small image of the Virgin with the Child Jesus; this finding would have given rise to the sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Epine (Our Lady of the Espine). This tradition of the "burning thorn" is recurrent in the popular presentation of the advocation, but it is not preserved as a demonstrable historical fact in contemporary documents to the alleged events; it is clearly a question of Foundational legendnot of verifiable historical chronicle.

Main data

Origin and history

According to the Pious tradition de L'Épine (France), un pastors habrían visto, towards the end of the 14th century or the beginning of the 15th century, a Tar or thorn burning without being consumed, within which was found a small image of the Virgin with the Child Jesus; this finding would have given rise to the sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Epine (Our Lady of the Espine). This tradition of the "burning thorn" is recurrent in the popular presentation of the advocation, but it is not preserved as a demonstrable historical fact in contemporary documents to the alleged events; it is clearly a question of Foundational legendnot of verifiable historical chronicle.

As for the documented historythe existence of an important Marian sanctuary in L'Épine, in the diocese of Châlons-en-Champagne (department of Marne, France), on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela (Camino de Santiago) has been attested since the 15th century. The Gothic temple that is being seen today began to rise at the end of the 15th century and was extended and embellished in the following centuries; it was recognized for its historical and artistic value and later elevated to the dignity of the minor basilica by the Holy See (secure data for the French sanctuary). Concerning Homonymous sanctuary in Huila, Colombiait does not consist in official directories of sanctuaries, in accessible Colombian diocesan documentation or in regular databases of Marian advocacy; therefore, does not historically contain a canonically erected Marian sanctuary with this name in Colombia.

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The image and the sanctuary

In French tradition, the image of Our Lady of L'Épine is a sculpture of the Virgin Mary standing, with the Child Jesus in arms, in late Gothic style, venerated as a size image (wood or polychrome stone, according to versions and restorations) located in the main temple of the town, known as the basílica de Notre-Dame de l’Épine. Iconographically it is in the type of Virgin with the Child (Madonna), without different dogmatic elements (it is not an Immaculate or a Pity, for example), but a Virgin Mother who presents Christ to the faithful.

The main sanctuary is in Thorn (Marne, Francia) and its temple is a prominent Gothic church, very slender and rich in sculptural details, famous for its facade and its game of pinnacles and arbotants, and catalogued as minor basilica for the Church. It is also a point of reference in the Camino de Santiago in French territory. As for a possible Marian temple in Huila, Colombia, officially dedicated as "Our Lady of L'Épine," does not consist of Colombian diocesan sources, national sanctuaries, or reliable repertories of local Marian advocacy. Therefore, its architecture, material of the canon image or status cannot be strictly described, and it should be stated simply: does not contain the documented existence of a canonically recognized Marian sanctuary with this advocation in Colombia.

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Sponsorship and coronation

In the French case, the Our Lady of L'Épine has historically exercised a patronazgo local about the town of L'Épine and its surroundings, being a spiritual point of reference for the faithful of the diocese of Châlons-en-Champagne. The devotion never reached the rank of national patronage of France, but it has been important at the regional level and as a place of passage for pilgrims from the Way of Santiago. For Colombia, no consta that "Our Lady of L'Épine" has been declared patron of a diocese, municipality or country, or that there is an officially proclaimed patronage under this title.

As for the coronation: the tradition of the sanctuary of L'Épine shows that the Virgin was solemnly coronate en 1914with ecclesial recognition, as a sign of the veneration of the faithful and of the Church to this Marian image. Since the accessible sources do not allow to specify with sufficient certainty all the details (for example the name of the pontifical delegate and the exact text of the coronation decree), and in accordance with the strict criteria requested, this must be expressed: Canon coronation: there is not a canon coronation documented in sufficient detail to quote year and authority with absolute certainty, although the tradition of the sanctuary indicates a solemn coronation in 1914.

For a possible sanctuary in (Gran Este, Colombia) does not contain a documented canonical coronation, ni local ni pontificia.

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Party and devotion

In the liturgical tradition linked to the French sanctuary, the main feast of Our Lady of L'Épine se celebra el 25 March, coinciding with the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, the date on which they are also made pilgrimages and acts of special Marian devotion; this date is associated with Mary's vocation as Mother of the Incarnate Word, in line with the iconography of the Virgin and the Child.

La devoción a esta advocación se expresa especialmente mediante: – peregrinaciones al santuario de L’Épine (Francia), sobre todo en torno al 25 de marzo y otras fiestas marianas; – el recurso a María como road protection para los peregrinos que se dirigen a Santiago de Compostela; – la participación en celebraciones eucarísticas, procesiones y actos de consagración mariana.

There are no reliable statistical data on annual flows that can be strictly cited. As regards pilgrimages or parties in La Paz, Colombia, no consta in faithful sources the existence of a feast of its own with liturgical rank or an official pilgrimage organized to a supposed sanctuary under this advocation.

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Link to the Rosary

It does not contain a specific historical relationship of the advocation of Our Lady of L'Épine with the prayer of Rosary (for example, apparitions where the Rosary is requested or rosarian copradies specifically linked to this title). It is, rather, an advocation linked to Prodigious discovery of an image and the development of a sanctuary within the great French Marian tradition.

However, in the life of the Church, every Marian advocation is inserted into the unique mystery of Mary, Mother of God and Mother of the Church. In particular, in a pilgrimage sanctuary como L’Épine, el Rosario ocupa un lugar privilegiado como oración meditativa sobre los misterios de Cristo con los ojos y el corazón de María. Allí donde se venera a la Virgen –también bajo esta advocación– el Rosario: – ayuda a contemplar a Cristo, Blessed fruit of the bosom of Mary, que la imagen de L’Épine presenta en brazos de su Madre; – sostiene la conversión y la perseverancia de los peregrinos, uniendo sus pasos al camino de fe de María; – integra la devoción local en la great Marian current of the universal Churchthat through the Rosary he goes through the mysteries of the Incarnation, Passion and Glory.

For this reason, although does not contain an "own link" and exclusive to the Rosary, this prayer is fully consistent with the spirituality of Our Lady of L'Épine and is one of the simplest and most profound ways to live this devotional