Our Lady of Zion

Marian Advocation of Saxon- Sion (Great East)

La advocación de Our Lady of Zion on the hill of Sion, in Lorena (France), is linked to a Marian sanctuary of great regional roots on the hill of Sion-Vaudémont, considered from ancient as a reference place for the Lorenese identity and sung, among others, by the writer Maurice Barrès (1862-1923), very close to this region. According to the local tradition, the hill was a place of ancient devotions and, over time, was associated with a special protection of the Virgin Mary over the people of Lorraine; this symbolic and identity dimension belongs above all to the cultural and literary memory of the region, rather than to accounts of concrete apparitions or miracles with solid ecclesial documentation.

Main data

Origin and history

La advocación de Our Lady of Zion on the hill of Sion, in Lorena (France), is linked to a Marian sanctuary of great regional roots on the hill of Sion-Vaudémont, considered from ancient as a reference place for the Lorenese identity and sung, among others, by the writer Maurice Barrès (1862-1923), very close to this region. According to the local tradition, the hill was a place of ancient devotions and, over time, was associated with a special protection of the Virgin Mary over the people of Lorraine; this symbolic and identity dimension belongs above all to the cultural and literary memory of the region, rather than to accounts of concrete apparitions or miracles with solid ecclesial documentation.

As for the documented historythe existence of a Marian sanctuary on the hill of Zion, in the territory of Saxon-Sion (Meurthe and Mosela, Lorraine, today Gran Este region, France), recognized as a regional sanctuary and officially linked to the corresponding diocese (Lorraine national sanctuary). The Marian devotion there venerated is named after Notre-Dame de Sion, and over the centuries it was consolidated as one of the most important areas of pilgrimage in the area, especially around the Marian feast held in September. No contrasting data on a foundation associated with specific Marian apparitions in this place has been found in the sources consulted; it is rather a traditional Marian-sanctuary-type devotion, rooted on a symbolic site for the region.

This advocation should be distinguished from other so-called "Our Lady of Zion" in different contexts (for example, the religious congregation founded by the Ratisbonne brothers in the 19th century, whose charism is oriented to dialogue with the Jewish people and which has a presence in several countries), which do not identify with the Lorenese sanctuary on the hill of Zion.

The image and the sanctuary

The accessible sources over the shrine of Our Lady of Sion in Saxon-Sion they provide limited and, in several cases, more devotional than descriptive information. A detailed and reliable description of the image main (exact type of size or relief, precise material, iconographic style). It is therefore only possible to say with certainty that this is a Marian image venerated under the advocation of Our Lady of Zion; the other specific iconographic details no constan in a sufficiently documented manner.

The temple where the image is venerated is a basilica on the hill of Zion-Vaudémont, designated as the Marian sanctuary of reference for the Lorenese region. The information available indicates that this is the Lorraine national sanctuary, located in the current French administrative region of Gran Este (department of Meurthe and Mosela), within the Saxon‑Sion. The exact date of the award of the minor basilicanor a detailed architectural description (style, dimensions, outstanding works); therefore, these aspects are considered "not" in terms of verifiable technical detail.

Sponsorship and coronation

Our Lady of Zion is recognized as Lorraine national sanctuary and religious symbol of the identity of this historic region of France, with a dimension of spiritual patronage on Lauren understood in a broad sense (people and territory). This character of "Lorenese national sanctuary" is linked to both religious history and the strong cultural and patriotic symbolism that the hill of Zion has had for its inhabitants.

On the coronation, devotional sources and local tradition indicate that the image was coronada en 1873. However, no clear and verifiable data on the nature of the document have been found in the consultation. canonical of this coronation (pontifical bull, name of the Pope who authorized it, pontifical delegate who carried it out, etc.). Therefore, in the absence of explicit confirmation from the Holy See or the corresponding diocese, it should be indicated: does not contain a documented canonical coronation.

Party and devotion

The devotion to Our Lady of Zion is expressed in a particular way in a party held in Septemberwhich is the main solemnity of the sanctuary and the most important moment of annual pilgrimages. The sources consulted do not provide, with sufficient clarity, the exact date (specific day) of this feast, so it must simply be indicated that it is held in September; the detail of the liturgical calendar of the sanctuary is therefore left as no consta as regards the specific day.

The shrine of the hill of Zion welcomes pilgrimages of the faithful of the region of Lorraine and other places of France, especially during the season of good weather and around the feast of September. The Lorenese identity He has found on this hill a place of spiritual reference, where Marian devotion joins the historical and cultural memory of the region, as they also reflect literary testimonies such as those of Maurice Barrès. There are no recent official figures of inflow or a detailed description of all associated popular traditions (processions, votes, specific offerings), so these data should be considered "unrecorded" in terms of specific statistics or practices.

Link to the Rosary

In the documentation available on the sanctuary of Our Lady of Zion no consta a specific and formally highlighted relationship between this advocation and the prayer of Rosary (for example, a historical fellowship of the Rosary of the sanctuary, or a particular feast of the Rosary exclusively linked to this image).

However, as in most Marian shrines of Catholic tradition, it is reasonable to say that the Rosary It is a regular part of devotional life: pilgrims and communities often resort to this prayer to meditate on the mysteries of Christ's life together with Mary, ask for their intercession and express their filial trust. In the context of Our Lady of Zion, the Rosary can be understood as a way of contemplating, together with Mary, the history of salvation that God also makes in the specific peoples and territories, illuminating the memory and identity of Lorraine from Christian faith and hope.