Nuestra Señora de María

Patrona de Austria

En el Waldviertel, to the northwest of Baja Austria, it is venerated from ancient to the Virgin in the sanctuary of Maria Dreieichen, near the city of Horn. Around this place was developed a Marian devotion linked to an image placed next to three oats (Three oaks) y a un manantial to which cures were attributed, giving rise to the title of Nuestra Señora de María (Mary of the Three Enquins). An exact date of origin and a detailed official account of the early years of devotion have not been located in the sources consulted; the references are local and not systematic in nature, so many old data are not accurately recorded.

Main data

Origin and history

En el Waldviertel, to the northwest of Baja Austria, it is venerated from ancient to the Virgin in the sanctuary of Maria Dreieichen, near the city of Horn. Around this place was developed a Marian devotion linked to an image placed next to three oats (Three oaks) y a un manantial to which cures were attributed, giving rise to the title of Nuestra Señora de María (Mary of the Three Enquins). An exact date of origin and a detailed official account of the early years of devotion have not been located in the sources consulted; the references are local and not systematic in nature, so many old data are not accurately recorded.

From the point of view documented history, it is clear that Maria Dreieichen has set up over time as one of the main Marian shrines of the Waldviertel and the Horn region, in the federal state of Baja Austria (Lower Austria). The present temple is recognized as church of pilgrimage (Wallfahrtskirche) by Maria Dreieichen, incorporated into the pastoral life of the corresponding diocese and associated with regional pilgrimages. No detailed chronological data comparable to those of other large Austrian shrines such as Mariazell have been found in the usual open sources (Wikipedia, general diocesan portals, international Marian repertories); outside the local level, information about Maria Dreieichen is fragmented, so many specific historical details "do not contain."

In the plan of the tradition / legend, devotion is linked to the presence of the image of the Virgin next to the three oats y al manantial where cures attributed to the intercession of Mary were allegedly produced. The toponymy itself ("Dreieichen" - three oaks) and the reference to forest sanctuary (Waldviertel) strengthen the character of a place of grace in the midst of a natural environment. It has not been possible to verify in official sources the details of the first miracles, names of seers or specific benefactors, or legendary dates of "foundation"; therefore, devotional elements transmitted by popular piety, without accessible critical documentation, should be considered.

The image and the sanctuary

International accessible sources do not offer a detailed technical description of the image of Our Lady of Mary Dreieichen (exact type of size, height, material, artistic style or precise iconography), unlike other highly studied Austrian Marian images, such as the wooden size of the "Magna Mater Austriae" in Mariazell. In the case of Maria Dreieichen, it is only clear that devotion originated in a Marian image placed in the place of the three cells, associated with the spring; other specific iconographic data no constan in the general documentation.

The sanctuary is the Pilgrimage church of Mary Dreieichenlocated in the town of the same name, in the district of Horn, Baja Austria (Austria). This is a Marian shrine regional, known as a pilgrimage site (Wallfahrtsort) of the Waldviertel. It is not recorded in the general sources that the temple has been elevated to the title of minor basilicanor is it a national sanctuary of Austria; it is rather a sanctuary of importance. diocesan and regional. There is also no specific statement in the repertories consulted that it is presented as a "national sanctuary" or with a legal rank equal to that of Mariazell, whose title and hierarchy are clearly documented. That is why, beyond its recognized condition of church of pilgrimage, no other higher canon titles.

Sponsorship and coronation

As regards patronazgono official references have been found to proclaim Our Lady of Mary Dreieichen as patron of Austria, Lower Austria as a whole or of the diocese to which she belongs. Unlike Our Lady of Mariazell, who is explicitly recognized as patrona de Austria, in the available documentation María Dreieichen appears above all as Marian shrine of the Waldviertel and the region of Hornof a character local o comarcalwithout a national declaration. The detail of a specific canonical patronage (diocesan or municipal) no consta in general sources consulted.

In relation to the canonical coronation, the standard sources (lists of Marian coronations, specialized articles and Marian repertory) do not mention any canonical coronation of the image of Our Lady of Mary Dreieichen. No year of coronation is indicated, no name of pontiff or pontifical delegate, unlike other Austrian sanctuaries in which these data are clearly documented. Therefore, according to the information available, does not contain a documented canonical coronation of this advocation.

Party and devotion

La main party of Our Lady of Mary Dreieichen is celebrated the 2 Julythe date that in the liturgical tradition prior to the reform of the Roman calendar was associated with the Visitation of the Virgin and that in various European shrines has been left as its own Marian day. This date remains as the feast day of the sanctuary and of the advocation at the local level. No other days of celebration of their own with higher rank have been found in general sources.

Maria Dreieichen is recognized as The Waldviertel pilgrimage sanctuarywith an influx of faithful especially around the July feast and on other Marian dates. It is mentioned that the place of assigned cures to the Virgin through the spring next to the three oaks, which explains that many pilgrims come looking spiritual comfort and help in the disease, in line with the way other Marian shrines in Austria are visited by those who ask for health or protection. There are no official annual inflow figures comparable to those of large centres such as Mariazell, which receives about a million pilgrims a year; Maria Dreieichen is rather in the range of santuario regional, with pilgrimages organized from parishes and communities of the area.

Between the Devotional features, destacan las on foot or in parish groupsthe solemn Eucharistic celebrations at the feast of July 2 and other Marian parties, and the prayer entrusted to the image of the Virgin, in connection with the symbolism of the three oats y del manantial as signs of God's providence and the maternal intercession of Mary. More specific popular traditions (specific processions, irrigated nocas, rites around the spring water) do not contain in detail the general sources consulted, so they are not described here to avoid unverified additions.

Link to the Rosary

The accessible sources do not indicate a specific and own link between the advocation of Our Lady of Mary Dreieichen and the prayer of Holy Rosary, as could be the existence of a historical fellowship of the Rosary explicitly linked to this image, or an official denomination as "Our Lady of the Rosary" in this place. Therefore, no consta a specific relationship with the Rosary in the consulting documents.

However, in Catholic spirituality, every Marian sanctuary - and especially the places of pilgrimage like Mary Dreieichen - is naturally integrated into the great tradition of the Rosary. The Rosary, by meditating on the mysteries of Christ's life with the eyes of Mary, offers a privileged framework for the prayer of pilgrims:

– ayuda a contemplar, junto a la Virgen, la Incarnation, the Passion and Glory of Christ, fundamento de toda gracia que se pide en el santuario; – acompaña las foot pilgrimages or in community, marking the pace of the march with the rep