Our Lady of Saint Luke

Marian Advocation of Bologna (Emilia-Romaña)

About Our Lady of San Lucas in Bologna (Emilia-Romaña, Colombia) there is no information in the main sources of the Church and of the Marian dissemination consulted for Colombia (national claims, main sanctuaries, devotional lists). In these repertories there is no Marian advocation with this title linked to Bologna (department of Antioquia) or to a "department of Emilia-Romaña" in Colombia, so devotion seems to be and not publicly documented.

Main data

Origin and history

About Our Lady of San Lucas in Bologna (Emilia-Romaña, Colombia) there is no information in the main sources of the Church and of the Marian dissemination consulted for Colombia (national claims, main sanctuaries, devotional lists). In these repertories there is no Marian advocation with this title linked to Bologna (department of Antioquia) or to a "department of Emilia-Romaña" in Colombia, so devotion seems to be and not publicly documented.

The invocation described clearly reproduces the features of the famous Madonna di San Luca, patron of the city of Bologna in the region of Emilia-Romaña, Italy, venerated in the Shrine of the Blessed Vergine di San Luca, in the Colle della Guardia. It is an ancient Byzantine-type icon attributed by tradition to the evangelist Luke, who is carried in solemn procession every year through the long portico that unites the sanctuary with the city. This Italian devotion is highly studied and disseminated; however, no verifiable data can be found that officially document a replica established as "patron" of Bologna in Colombia.

Since no sources are located that confirm the canonical erection of a Marian sanctuary with this title in that locality, the presence of the advocation in Colombia must be understood, with the available data, as a imported or inspired devotion in the famous Italian sanctuary, probably introduced by missionaries, religious or lay people with special link to Bologna (Italy) or to the iconography of St Luke. Beyond this reasonable hypothesis, there is no specific documentation on the introduction, date or precise form of this devotion in Bologna (Colombia).

# # Tradition / legend (referred to the Italian model)

En la tradition de la Madonna di San Luca (Italy), se atribuye el icon al propio Luke evagelistwho would have painted the image of the Virgin with the Child. According to pious legends, the image would have traveled from Greece to Italy, finally arriving in Bologna, where it was placed in the Colle della Guardia and where numerous favors and interventions have been attributed to it, especially in times of calamity. These traditions are part of devotional memory, but cannot be considered a documented history in a strict sense.

==References====External links==

Historically, it is known that the icon of the Blessed Vergine di San Luca was already the object of veneration in Bologna (Italy) in the Middle Ages; the existence of the sanctuary in the Colle della Guardia and the annual procession through the monumental portico are well documented in local archives and historical studies. Devotion was consolidated as a Marian reference of the city of Bolognawho recognizes her as a patron. As for his dissemination outside Italy, if copies and reproductions are known in various countries, although there is no specific reference to an official implementation in Bologna, Colombia.

With the information available today, the document for the apvocation based in Bologna (Colombia) can only be safely supported in the Italian model and in the general finding that many Spanish-American parishes and communities reproduce European Marian devotions without formal record in diocesan or national documents.

The image and the sanctuary

En la original Italian iconography, Madonna di San Luca is a Marian icon of Byzantine typeof wood, representing the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus. The Virgin usually appears in an attitude of presentation or indication of the Son (type Hodighitria), with stylistic features typical of medieval eastern art. The background and iconographic details refer to the symbolic language of the Christian East. As an icon, its support is normally painted table and not free sculpture; however, in many replicas in other countries can be found versions of lie or even in relief, adapted to local taste.

For the concrete advocation in Bolonia (Colombia), no consta in the sources consulted a technical description of the image (material, size, author, technique), or specific photographs or studies that allow for precise details of its iconographic configuration. As the reference text explicitly links it to the Madonna di San Luca Italian, it is reasonable to assume that this is a copy or interpretation of that icon, at least preserving the central idea of the Virgin with the Child in the style of St Luke. However, does not contain a documented description of the specific piece venerated in Colombia.

As regards sanctuary or templein Italy the original image is venerated in the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of San Luca, in the Colle della Guardia, building of great religious and cultural relevance, linked to the city of Bologna and known for its long portico porticado that descends to the city. It is an important and recognized Marian sanctuary in the Italian sphere.

For la sede Bolonia (Colombia), the phrase mentions "venerated in his sanctuary of the Colle della Guardia; ancient Byzantine icon attributed to Saint Luke, transferred every year in procession for his long portico," which literally reproduces the characteristics of the Italian sanctuary, not of a Colombian construction. No official diocesan, parish or Catholic press information has been found to confirm the existence of a "shrine of the Colle della Guardia" canonically erected in Bologna (Colombia)or whether the temple is a parish, diocesan sanctuary, national sanctuary or minor basilica. Therefore, with the available data:

– No consta el nombre oficial canónico del templo en Colombia ni su título jurídico (parroquia, santuario, basílica). – No consta the place of Colombian veneration has special recognition (national sanctuary, diocesan or minor basilica).

The fact sheet should therefore be limited to stating that, where this title has been introduced in Colombia, the image is venerated in a local temple that devotionally reproduces the model of the Italian sanctuarywithout more precise official data.

Sponsorship and coronation

In the Italian city of Bologna, the Blessed Virgin of San Luca is recognized as patron of the city, with a deep-rooted cult and a strong civic and religious projection. However, in relation to Bologna (Emilia-Romaña, Colombia):

– No consta in the repertory of Marian patronings of Colombia that Our Lady of San Lucas has been officially declared patron de la ciudad, del municipio o de la diócesis correspondiente. – Es posible que exista un de facto patronage (main devotion of a parish or community), but as far as accessible documentation is reached, does not contain a canonical decree of patronage.

On the coronationthe reference sheet indicates: "Rated in 1907." This is in line with the tradition of coronation of the Italian image of Madonna di San Luca in the early 20th century. Now:

– Esa coronación corresponde a la imagen original de Bolonia (Italy). – Para la imagen venerada en Bolonia (Colombia), does not contain a documented canonical coronation: No decrees, diocesan news or references have been found in the Catholic press that demonstrate a canonical coronation of their own.

Therefore, as regards specifically the title as venerated in Bologna (Colombia):

– Patronazgo: does not contain a canonically proclaimed patronage a nivel de ciudad, municipio o diócesis. – Coronación canónica: does not contain a documented canonical coronation for the local image.

The coronation of 1907 mentioned is to be understood as a reference to the Italian image, no to the eventual Colombian copy.

Party and devotion

The proposed description indicates: "Feast in May." In the tradition of Madonna di San Luca in Bologna (Italy), the the main celebrations take place in the Easter time and in the month of Mayespecially in relation to the Annual procession in which the icon is taken from the santuari