Our Lady of the Angels of Los Angeles

Marian devotion of Los Angeles (California)

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Main data

Origin and history

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The city of Los Angeles was founded by Spain in 1781 under the full name "The People of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels of the River of Porciuncula," which links two references: the Franciscan dedication of Santa María de los Angeles de la Porciuncula (Assisi) and the River Porciuncula, so called by the missionaries. The current archdiocese of Los Angeles is one of the largest in the world in number of faithful and has its seat in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels (Catedral de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles), catedral metro of the Latin rite.

The modern cathedral was inaugurated and dedicated to the 2 September 2002after the closure and subsequent demolition of the old Santa Vibiana cathedral, seriously damaged by the 1994 Northridge earthquake. The new temple, designed by the Spanish architect Rafael Moneo, was consecrated as Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral in continuity with the Marian title associated with the founding name of the city.

### Tradition and spiritual reference

The title "Our Lady of Angels" refers, in the Franciscan tradition, to the Porcicunculathe small church of Santa Maria de los Angeles, loved by Saint Francis of Assisi, linked to the indulgence of the Porciuncula held on August 2. The choice of the original name of the people and, later, of the cathedral, is symbolically linked to this Marian and Franciscan tradition, but does not contain a local legend of apparitions or specific miracles of the Virgin in Los Angeles; it is rather a Marian title adopted by the city and its cathedral church.

The image and the sanctuary

In the cathedral, a great representation of the Virgin with the Child integrated into the famous interior tapestries program, work by artist John Nava. These monumental tapestries show a multitude of saints and faithful, including a central image of Mary, who has become famous as a visual icon of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels. There is no record, in official sources, of a Antigua orient imagen specific to this advocation comparable to other coronado or long-history images; the accent lies in the dedication of the temple and its contemporary art.

The sanctuary is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, cathedral of the archdiocese of Los Angeles and seat of the Metropolitan Archbishop. It is a modern, large temple with capacity for about 3,000 faithful, built in concrete, stone and glass, with contemporary architectural language and a wide liturgical space designed for great diocesan celebrations. It is not known that it has been designated as minor basilica or Marian national sanctuary; its main legal title is that of catedral of the archdiocese.

Sponsorship and coronation

The title of Our Lady of the Angels from the origin of the Founding name and memory of the city of Los Angeles and, by extension, Church of Los Angeleswhose cathedral is the headline. In fact, the old full name of the city explicitly invoked "Our Lady the Queen of Angels," so that the advocation has a clear character of historical patronage over the city.

It is not found in the consulted sources that the Marian image of the cathedral has received a canonical coronation; therefore, in accordance with the criteria requested, it is expressly stated: does not contain a documented canonical coronation.

Party and devotion

In the Roman calendar, the memory of Our Lady of the Angels of the Porcine se celebra el August 2the traditional day of the indulgence of the Porciuncula, deeply rooted in Franciscan spirituality. The advocation of the Cathedral of Los Angeles is liturgically linked to this date as a Marian reference to "Our Lady of Angels," although the cathedral celebrates above all the great festivities of the archdiocese (chrysmal Mass, ordinations, diocesan celebrations, etc.) under its patronal title.

The cathedral, being the seat of one of the world's largest archdiocese, receives many faithful and pilgrimsespecially around great Marian solemnities, the archdiocese's patron parties and multicultural celebrations (particularly of the Hispanic community). In general sources, a specific mass pilgrimage similar to other Marian shrines (such as Guadalupe or Lourdes); Marian devotion is expressed rather in the context of the ordinary liturgical life of the archdiocese, in the presence of the image in the tapestries and in the continuous reference to Mary as the temple holder.

Link to the Rosary

No consta una particular devotion to the Rosary unique and unique of this advocation in the Cathedral of Los Angeles, not a historical fellowship of the Rosary specifically linked to the title of Our Lady of the Angels in this headquarters. Marian piety is inserted into the usual practices of the Church: Eucharist, Marian parties, occasional processions and various Marian prayers.

However, the Rosary It is a central place in the spiritual life of the faithful who come to the cathedral and to the entire archdiocese, as in any church dedicated to the Virgin. To the extent that the title "Our Lady of Angels" recalls Mary's presence in the communion of the saints, the prayer of the Rosary allows us to contemplate, together with her, the mysteries of the life of Christ, and to unite to that contemplation the intercession of the angels and all the saints through the city of Los Angeles and by those who live there their faith.