Our Lady of the Angels

Patrona de Costa Rica

There are no reliable sources that document a Marian shrine entitled Our Lady of Angels (Notre-Dame des Anges) on a hill of Massizo de los Maures, Pigans (Var, France) as a pilgrimage sanctuary from the 17th century, or to place that sanctuary in "Pigans, department of Provence-Alpes- Costa Azul, Colombia." The sources consulted on the general invocation of Our Lady of the Angels (Costa Rica, Franciscan Porciuncula, other patronings) do not mention a sanctuary in Pigans, nor a Marian enclave with these characteristics.

Main data

Origin and history

There are no reliable sources that document a Marian shrine entitled Our Lady of Angels (Notre-Dame des Anges) on a hill of Massizo de los Maures, Pigans (Var, France) as a pilgrimage sanctuary from the 17th century, or to place that sanctuary in "Pigans, department of Provence-Alpes- Costa Azul, Colombia." The sources consulted on the general invocation of Our Lady of the Angels (Costa Rica, Franciscan Porciuncula, other patronings) do not mention a sanctuary in Pigans, nor a Marian enclave with these characteristics.

The information available concerns, on the one hand, the Franciscan advocation of Santa María de los Angeles de la Porciuncula, linked to San Francisco de Assisi and to the indulgence of August 2, without any specific apparition or image. On the other hand, the important shrine of Our Lady of the Angels in Costa Ricawhose devotion and pilgrimage are well documented, especially around the feast of August 2, when the national patron is celebrated there. None of these sources, however, connects this advocation to a specific sanctuary in the Massif of the Maures.

As a result, with regard to a Marian shrine of Our Lady of Angels in Pigans (Var)with pilgrimages since the 17th century, no accessible documentation in common ecclesial, historical or encyclopedic sources. In the absence of verifiable data, any account of origins, dates or founders would remain in the field of undocumented local tradition and cannot be strictly reproduced.

The image and the sanctuary

The sources available on the title of Our Lady of the Angels in general (Porciuncula Franciscana, Costa Rica, other patronuncios) do not describe a specific image or sculpture associated with a sanctuary in Pignans (Var) in the Macizo de los Mares. Therefore:

– Image type: no consta una descripción documentada (pintura, escultura, talla, relieve, etc.) propia de un santuario en Pignans. – Material and iconography: No secure reference on materials (wood, stone, metal) or iconographic details (Mary, Child Jesus, angels, attributes, etc.) linked to this place is recorded in the sources consulted.

Nor has it been found in the accessible documentation, the official name of a Marian temple or sanctuary of "Notre-Dame des Anges" in Pignans, or indication that it is minor basilica, National sanctuary o diocesan sanctuary. Without these data, it is not possible to describe with rigour their architecture, dimensions, artistic style or canonical range. As a result, on the concrete image y el specific sanctuary in Pigans (Var), no verifiable information in the sources consulted.

Sponsorship and coronation

La advocación de Our Lady of the AngelsIn a broad sense, it has numerous documented patronings: for example, Costa Rica's patron, diocesan patronings (Getafe, Tulancingo) and other premises, as well as patronage on certain military units, such as the Spanish Army's Aerospace Forces. However, none of these official or encyclopaedic lists show a specific patronage of the town of Pignans (Var) associated with a sanctuary called Notre-Dame des Anges.

Therefore, with regard to the sanctuary described in the consultation:

– Patronage: no consta, en las fuentes consultadas, un reconocimiento oficial de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles como patrona de Pignans (Var), de su diócesis o de otra circunscripción vinculada a ese santuario concreto. – Canonical coronation: no reference has been found to a canonical coronation (pontifical or diocesan) of an image of Our Lady of Angels in Pigans (Var) in the usual repertories of Marian coronations or in the documentation of this advocation. Accordingly, in accordance with the above rules, does not contain a documented canonical coronation.

Party and devotion

In the calendar of the Church and in the Franciscan tradition, the the feast of Santa María de los Angeles de la Porciuncula se celebra el August 2, a memory linked to the dedication of the small church of the Porciuncula and to the indulgence granted by Christ through San Francisco. This date has been assumed in various places to celebrate Our Lady of the Angels, and is also the great Marian national party in Costa Rica.

However, it has not been found in the sources consulted specific mención to celebrations specific to a shrine of Notre-Dame des Anges in Pigans (Var), nor data on:

– organización de local or regional pilgrimages hacia esa colina del Macizo de los Maures, – afluencia de fieles, – popular traditions characteristics (processions, night vigil, promises, exvotes, etc.) specifically associated with the sanctuary described.

It can only be said with certainty that, in the Franciscan tradition and in various parts of the worldAugust 2 is a day of special Marian devotion to St. Mary of the Angels, linked to sacramental practice and to the attainment of the indulgence of the Porciuncula through confession, communion, visit to the church and prayer for the Pope's intentions. For Pigans (Var), no constant datos propios.

Link to the Rosary

The sources consulted on the advocation of Our Lady of the Angels (Porciuncula, Costa Rica and other patrons) do not document a specific or normative link with the Rosary prayer in the case of a sanctuary in Pigans (Var). No mention has been found of the Rosary cofradies, aurora rosaries, torches rosaries or other rosarian practices specific to that place.

It should be noted, on a plane mariano generalthat every advocation of the Virgin Mary - also under the title of Our Lady of the Angels— if harmonious of course with the rezo of Holy Rosary:

– El Rosario, al meditar los mysteries of Christ's life with Mary, introduce al fiel en la misma contemplación que inspiró el amor de San Francisco por la humildad de la Encarnación, la Pasión y la gloria del Resucitado, núcleos también de la espiritualidad ligada a Santa María de los Ángeles. – Allí donde se venera a María, incluso sin tradiciones rosarianas particulares documentadas, el Rosario se convierte en un modo privilegiado de to accept the intercession of the Virgin, to unite one's own life with the mystery of Christ and to be prepared for the gifts of grace which the Church associates to the Marian feasts, as the indulgence of the Porciuncula.

Therefore, although no consta a practice of the Rosary specifically described for a shrine of Pigans (Var), the title of Our Lady of the Angels is fully integrated into the spirituality of the Rosary, which accompanies and sustains Marian devotion in any sanctuary where Mary is invoked under this name.