Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeia

Marian title of Pompeya (Campania)

La advocación de Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeia was born historically in the valley of Pompeya (Naples, Italy) in the second half of the 19th century, linked to the work of the Blessed Bartolo Longo and to the spread of the prayer of the Rosary among the peasant population. The original image was placed in a small rural church and, since its first public exhibition on 13 February 1876, the pilgrimages and testimonies of graces received began to multiply. Devotion was quickly consolidated to make the place one of the most popular Marian shrines in Italy and, over time, to the center of global irradiation of devotion to the Rosary.

Main data

Origin and history

La advocación de Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeia was born historically in the valley of Pompeya (Naples, Italy) in the second half of the 19th century, linked to the work of the Blessed Bartolo Longo and to the spread of the prayer of the Rosary among the peasant population. The original image was placed in a small rural church and, since its first public exhibition on 13 February 1876, the pilgrimages and testimonies of graces received began to multiply. Devotion was quickly consolidated to make the place one of the most popular Marian shrines in Italy and, over time, to the center of global irradiation of devotion to the Rosary.

According to tradition, Bartolo Longo, after a youth marked by anti-lerical environments and esoteric practices, experienced a profound conversion and heard a call from the Virgin within: "If you spread the Rosary, you will be saved", which moved him to devote his life to the promotion of the Rosary and to the construction of the shrine of Pompeii. These details (internal locution, exact wording of the phrase) fall within the scope of the Pious tradition and cannot be documented with the same rigour as historical facts, although they have been widely disseminated in devotional literature.

As for the presence of the advocation in Pompeya (department of Caquetá / Campania, Colombia)the accessible sources do not provide detailed historical data on the foundation of the local parish or sanctuary, or on the concrete arrival of the image or its promoter. No constain the documentation consulted online, a specific historical chronicle of this Colombian headquarters; it can be said, with caution, that it collects and prolongs the devotion born in the Italian shrine of Pompeya, but without verifiable data of dates, founders or own milestones.

The image and the sanctuary

La imagen original Italian, model of replicas spread around the world, is a oil on lienzo who represents the Virgin of the Rosary in the attitude of Queen and Mother, sitting on the heavenly throne, with the Child Jesus in his arms. In the iconography of Pompeya, the Virgin gives the Rosary to Saint Catherine of Siena, while the Child gives another Rosary to Holy Sunday of Guzmán, stressing the role of this prayer as a way of grace for the Church. At the bottom there are often worshippers or references to the city of Pompeya; in many copies this basic composition is preserved.

Para Pompeya (Colombia), an image is venerated under the same title of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeia, usually as a copy or reproduction (painting, printing or printed image) of Italian iconography; however, no consta in the sources consulted a precise technical description (author, date, specific material) of the image holder of the locality.

The main architectural reference of this advocation is the Pontifical Basílica Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Holy Rosary of Pompeiiin the valley of Pompeya (Naples, Italy), elevated to pontifical basilica and the international center of devotion to the Rosary. It is a large basic complex with monumental façade, bell and large central ship, which hosts millions of pilgrims each year. For the headquarters of Pompeya in Colombia, no consta officially the title of a minor basilica or national sanctuary from available sources; the most prudent thing is to consider it as a parish temple or local sanctuary dedicated to this advocation, without documented pontifical titles.

Sponsorship and coronation

At the universal level, the Virgin of the Rosary of Pompeia is especially invoked as protection of families, sick and sinners awayin the light of the known Replies to Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeiain which she is recognized as "Queen of the Victories" and is asked for the triumph of faith and peace in the Church and in the world. His patronage of parish communities, social works and Marian movements linked to the prayer of the Rosary is very common; however, for the specific case of Pompeya (Colombia), no consta in the documentation consulted an official proclamation as a civil patron (municipality / department) or specific episcopal decrees of diocesan patronage.

On the coronationthe image of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii in Italy was solemnly crowned, in recognition of the intense popular devotion and of the many favors attributed to her intercession; however, in the accessible sources there is not sufficiently clear a precise and contrasted date of coronation nor the name of the Pontiff or delegate who made it, in terms that allow it to be quoted with absolute certainty. Some devotional sources refer to a coronation in the 19th century, but without canonically verifiable details. Therefore, following the indication given, with regard to the venerated image in Pompeya, Colombia, it must be stated: does not contain a documented canonical coronation.

Party and devotion

The main feast of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii, according to the calendar associated with the Italian sanctuary, is celebrated the 8 May, day of the great Applicationwhich brings together faithful from many countries. In addition, during first Sunday of October The prayer of the Rosary and the supplication to the Virgin in the context of the month traditionally devoted to the Rosary are especially renewed. This practice has been extended in various ways to parishes and communities where the Virgin of Pompeia is venerated, also in Latin America.

In the Italian Basilica, we talk about millions of pilgrims annual (figures are quoted around four million visitors a year), which places Pompeya among the most visited Marian shrines in the world. The devotion is expressed in pilgrimages, promises, exvotes, community prayer of the Rosary and participation in the Applicationwhich is recited at a specified time of the year and in particular on 8 May. In the case of the Pompeii community in Colombia, a local celebration can be legitimately assumed on 8 May (and perhaps also in October), but no consta, in the documentation consulted, an official calendar of its own or data of specific flows, processions or traditions; therefore, details cannot be described without incurring conjectures.

Link to the Rosary

El link with the Rosary is essential to this advocation: the Virgin of Pompeia is, in itself, a form of Our Lady of the Rosaryand his whole history is linked to the commitment of Blessed Bartolo Longo to spread this prayer to the poor, far away and sinners. The iconography explicitly presents Mary and the Child by giving the Rosary to Saint Domingo and Saint Catherine of Siena, indicating that the Rosary is a gift of the Virgin to the Church, a means of conversion, protection and hope. The Replies to Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeia He insistently emphasizes fidelity to the prayer of the Rosary as a way of grace and spiritual victory.

In pastoral practice, both in the shrine of Pompeii (Italy) and in the communities that venerate it under this advocation, the prayer of the Rosary is the central act of devotion: it is encouraged to pray in the family, to offer it for the sick and for those away from faith, and to join spiritually in the Application May 8. Where the worship of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeia - also in Pompeya, Colombia - is extended, the Rosary becomes a school of contemplation of the mysteries of Christ next to Mary and a simple and constant form of intercession by the Church and the world.