Our Lady of Luján of the Argentines in the United States, advocation of the patron of Argentina, venerated by the Argentine and Uruguayan communities. May 8th party. Latin Catholic Rite.

Patrona de Uruguay

In Union City (Hudson County, New Jersey State, United States) there is a community of devotion to Our Lady of Lujánand also Uruguayan immigrants, who honor the patron of Argentina, also venerated in Uruguay and Paraguay.

Main data

Origin and history

In Union City (Hudson County, New Jersey State, United States) there is a community of devotion to Our Lady of Lujánand also Uruguayan immigrants, who honor the patron of Argentina, also venerated in Uruguay and Paraguay.

The origin of this advocation in itself refers to the famous shrine of Luján, in the province of Buenos Aires (Argentina), where the small image of the Immaculate Conception arrived in 1630 and considered patron of Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay is kept. However, as regards Union City (New Jersey)in the sources consulted (official pages, dioceses, press and Marian repertory) does not contain a detailed documented history on the foundation of a specific parish or sanctuary under the title "Our Lady of Luján of the Argentines" or on the exact date of the beginning of this organized devotion.

From the general historical point of view, Our Lady of Luján was canonically crowned in Argentina in May 1887, under the mandate of Pope Leo XIII, and later proclaimed patron of Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay by Pius XI in 1930. This status of national patron is the one that explains the spread of devotion between the Argentine and Uruguayan communities in the United States, which are often grouped around local parishes of Latin rite where the celebration of the 8 May.

As regards local devotional tradition and practice in Union Citythe usual - as observed in other communities of migrants - is that devotion has been structured around a image brought from Argentina or sent from the national sanctuary, and that an annual celebration is organized on 8 May in a parish of the area. However, on own names, founding dates, or specific official events in Union City, is not sufficiently verified, so a local historical account cannot be accurately described.

The image and the sanctuary

On the Concrete image venerated in Union City (New Jersey) under the title of Our Lady of Luján of the Argentines No specific documented data (size, specific origin, author, donor, year of entronization), beyond that it is a representation of the same Argentine apvocation.

According to traditional iconography, Luján's image reproduces the Immaculate Conception: a small sculpture (the original is about 38 cm) dressed in white robe and blue mantle, hands united in prayer and on a half moon, in the attitude of Our Lady praying. It is reasonable to assume that the image venerated by the Argentine community in Union City follows this iconographic model - like the vast majority of the replicas spread in the world - but does not contain direct information on the material or dimensions of the concrete image venerated there.

As regards temple or place of worshipthe sources consulted do not identify with certainty a parroquia the official santuary to bear the title of "Our Lady of Luján" in Union City, New Jersey, or to have been erected as a national or diocesan sanctuary for this vocation in the United States. Therefore, it can only be said in a general way that devotion is celebrated within the Latin catholic rite in some local parish where the Argentine and Uruguayan communities gather. For the moment, no consta: – el nombre oficial de un santuario mariano específico dedicado a esta advocación en Unión City; – que exista allí una minor basilica o un sanctuary nacional/diocesan formally recognized under the title of Our Lady of Luján.

Sponsorship and coronation

La advocación de Our Lady of Luján es patron of the Argentine Republic and was also proclaimed patron of Uruguay and Paraguay by Pope Pius XI by bull of 1930. In addition, there are particular patronings in Argentina (routes, railways, Federal Police, among others).

In the specific case of Union City (New Jersey, United States), no consta a patronazgo civil o eclesiástico oficial (city, diocese or nation) formally given to this advocation in available documentation. We can speak with certainty of a devotion of the Argentine and Uruguayan resident communitiesbut not a canonically proclaimed patronage in the US.

On the canonical coronationthe original image of Luján, in Argentina, was crowned in May 1887 by Lion XIII. On a possible canonical or honorary coronation of the venerated image in Union City there is no documented reference. Therefore, for this image / location: "there is no documented canonical coronation."

Party and devotion

La the main feast of Our Lady of Luján se celebra el 8 May, a date that has been established liturgically and devotionally as the day of its memory, both in Argentina and in the communities of migrants. In the national sanctuary of Luján (Argentina), thousands of faithful are gathered that day and, in addition, throughout the year, there are great pilgrimages, particularly the youth walk from Buenos Aires.

In the context of Union Cityit can be said with certainty that the feast of May 8 is the devotional reference of the Argentine and Uruguayan community, in tune with the Church in the homeland of origin. However, no checked cuantitative data (number of pilgrims, structure of processions, special mass schedules, novias, etc.) or precise descriptions of popular traditions specific to that city.

Lo habitual en las comunidades de diáspora latinoamericana —y así se recoge en diversos testimonios sobre la devoción a Luján en otros países— es la organización de: – Solemn Mass on May 8, con canto del himno a la Virgen de Luján; – procession or entronisation de la imagen, a veces con banderas argentinas y uruguayas, como gesto de identidad y gratitud; – rezos de novenas previous and floral offerings.

However, in the specific case of Union City, the details of these practices are not documented in official accessible sources, so it can only be spoken in a general descriptive way, without attributing specific local features.

Link to the Rosary

In the sources consulted on devotion to Our Lady of Luján and on the concrete expression of this advocation in Union City no sém una práctica propia o exclusiveo related to the Rosary (for example, a Rosary fellowship specifically linked to Luján in that city, or a particular form of prayer).

However, from a Marian and pastoral perspective, devotion to Our Lady of Luján is deeply integrated into the traditional Marian spirituality of the Church, en la que el Rosary ocupa un lugar central. El Rosario permite contemplar, junto con María, los misterios de la vida de Cristo; y las comunidades de emigrantes argentinos y uruguayos suelen encontrar en el Rosario un modo concreto de: – unir la faith received in the homeland con la vida cotidiana en el país de acogida; – presentar a la Virgen las needs of families and of the remote country; – fortalecer la comunión con la Iglesia universal, rezando los mismos misterios que se contemplan en el santuario nacional de Luján.

It can therefore be said that although no specific ritual link between the advocation of Our Lady of Luján of the Argentines in Union City and the Rosary, this prayer constitutes a ordinary and privileged road by which the faithful approach Mary of Luján,