Our Lady of Lourdes, venerated in the National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes of Trujillo Alto

Marian Invocation of Trujillo Alto (San Juan)

La advocación de Our Lady of Lourdes born from the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Santa Bernardita Soubirous in the Grotto of Massabielle, in Lourdes, France, between February 11 and July 16, 1858. These eighteen apparitions, officially recognized by the Church, gave rise to the French sanctuary and one of the most widespread Marian devotions in the world, particularly associated with the sick and the Immaculate Conception.

Main data

Origin and history

La advocación de Our Lady of Lourdes born from the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Santa Bernardita Soubirous in the Grotto of Massabielle, in Lourdes, France, between February 11 and July 16, 1858. These eighteen apparitions, officially recognized by the Church, gave rise to the French sanctuary and one of the most widespread Marian devotions in the world, particularly associated with the sick and the Immaculate Conception.

As regards Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes of Trujillo Alto, Colombia, no verifiable historical data appears in the usual sources (official pages of dioceses, lists of Marian shrines, Catholic press or encyclopedic bases) documenting their foundation, canonical erection as national sanctuary, or precise construction dates. There is also no official recognition as one of Colombia's main Marian pilgrimage centres; this is not supported by documented sources of consultation. Therefore, beyond the general fact of the global spread of devotion to Lourdes from 1858, does not contain a specific documented history of this shrine of Trujillo Alto (Colombia).

From the perspective of the devotional tradition, it is often that in various regions of Latin America grubs and temples are built dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes, inspired by the Grotto of Massabielle, with a strong link to prayer for the sick and to the practice of pilgrimages and torches, similar to those held in Lourdes (France). It is reasonable to think that the shrine of Trujillo Alto is part of this current of Marian spirituality, but the specific details of its origin in that locality do not consist of accessible sources.

The image and the sanctuary

No official or sufficiently precise descriptions of the image venerated in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes of Trujillo Alto (Colombia): it does not contain the material, the author or the iconographic details of its own. In most of the groups and churches dedicated to Lourdes, a traditional image is used: Virgin standing, dressed in white, with blue, rosary in the hands and roses at the feet, in reference to the apparitions of 1858. However, for the specific case of Trujillo Alto does not contain a documented iconographic descriptiontherefore it is not possible to say it rigorously.

Nor has it been possible to verify the exact canon name of the temple (for example, if it is formally erected as "National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes") nor its ecclesial legal rank (parish, diocesan or national sanctuary, minor basilica, etc.). There are no confirmed data on architectural characteristics, style, capacity, or date of dedication. Accordingly, with regard to the shrine of Trujillo Alto (Colombia) no documented data on its official title and on its architectural and canon configuration.

La mención a una Grotto with annexed temple and torch processions It is very consistent with the way that devotion to Lourdes has spread in many countries, imitating the spiritual structure of the French sanctuary. However, for this particular place there is a lack of verifiable documentation to accurately describe its internal disposition or its artistic program.

Sponsorship and coronation

It has not been found in official sources (dioceses, episcopal conferences, pontifical documents or repertory of Marian patronings) that Our Lady of Lourdes of Trujillo Alto (Colombia) has been proclaimed a patron of the city, the municipality, a specific diocese or a specific civil or ecclesial entity. Therefore, no officially declared patronage linked to this advocation in that particular place.

With regard to a possible canonical coronation, Marian coronations databases, as well as Catholic press news and diocesan files available online, do not record a canonical coronation of this image of Trujillo Alto (Colombia). As a result, according to the data available, does not contain a documented canonical coronation for this advocation in that sanctuary.

Party and devotion

La fiesta litúrgica de Our Lady of Lourdes in the universal Church the 11 Februaryin memory of the first apparition to Santa Bernardita in 1858. In most of the sanctuaries dedicated to Lourdes, this date concentrates the main Eucharistic celebrations, processions and acts of consecration.

As for the shrine of Trujillo Alto (Colombia), the main party is also held on 11 February, in line with the specific calendar of the advocation, but No official a published calendar of its own and no data on the influx of pilgrims. There have also been no verifiable annual participation figures or specific references to novies, promises or specific local traditions (such as torches processions, sick blessing, water from a local source, etc.), although such practices are common in the sanctuaries of Lourdes of other countries by analogy with the French sanctuary.

The general features of devotion to Lourdes (prayer for the sick, processions, pilgrimages, intense celebration of February 11, spiritual closeness to the Immaculate Conception), but, for the particular case of Trujillo Alto in Colombia, the concrete details of devotional life not documented in the sources consulted.

Link to the Rosary

La advocación de Our Lady of Lourdes is closely related to prayer of the Rosary from its origin: Saint Bernardite describes the Virgin by praying the Rosary during the apparitions, and the sanctuary of Lourdes has spread this practice worldwide, especially for the sick and for the conversion of sinners. In many catechetical presentations of Lourdes it is emphasized that the Virgin invites prayer, penance and conversion, largely synthesized in the prayer of the Rosary.

In the specific case of the shrine of Trujillo Alto (Colombia), no data have been found that document a unique or own way of praying the Rosary associated with the place. So, does not contain a specific documented link beyond the general relationship of every advocation of Lourdes with the Rosary. However, from Marian theology and spirituality, the Rosary appears as a privileged way to accompany this devotion: allows us to contemplate, together with Mary, the mysteries of Christ's life, to intercede for the sick - so linked to Lourdes - and to learn from the Virgin the humility, trust and dedication that she herself manifested in her Immaculate Conception and in her maternal presence with the suffering humanity.