Our Lady of Štipa

Patrona de Zlín

La devoción a Our Lady of Štipa (Panna Maria Štipská) is linked to the current Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Štima, today Zlin city district, Moravia (Czech Republic). This is an important place of pilgrimage of ancient origin, whose Marian cult was especially consolidated in Baroque times.

Main data

Origin and history

La devoción a Our Lady of Štipa (Panna Maria Štipská) is linked to the current Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Štima, today Zlin city district, Moravia (Czech Republic). This is an important place of pilgrimage of ancient origin, whose Marian cult was especially consolidated in Baroque times.

As regards origin, the accessible online sources point out that the history of the sanctuary "goes back" to previous times to the present Baroque temple, which indicates a tradition of older pilgrimages, probably linked to a Gothic image of the Virgin venerated in the place. However, the sources consulted do not contain clear and verifiable details of apparitions, concrete foundational miracles or a legend of origin with precise dates; therefore, no consta with certainty a detailed foundational narrative or a legendary account consolidated in the general sources available.

In the plan of the documented history, if it is attested that the place was developed as a great sanctuary of pilgrimage in the Baroque era, under the patronage of the noble family of Liechtensteinwhich promoted the construction of the present monumental temple dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, making it one of the most significant Marian centers in the Zlin area. In the ordinary reference sources, the exact dates for the foundation of the first oratory or the first image have not been located, so the specific pre-baroque chronologies no constan in a verifiable manner.

The image and the sanctuary

La advocación de Our Lady of Štipa se centra en una Gothic image of the Virgin Mary, venerated within the present Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. The sources indicate their character as an ancient and miraculous image, but the accessible documentation does not clearly specify the exact material (wood / stone) or a detailed iconographic description (type of Virgin with Child, sedent, standing, etc.); therefore, these specific data no constan in the sources consulted.

The sanctuary is the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary (Kostel Narození Panny Marie) in Štima, described as a temple of Baroque architecture and "important place of pilgrimage" near Zlin. It is a church of great dimensions, of a monumental type, conceived as the centre of regional Marian pilgrimages. In accessible sources it does not appear recognized as minor basilica or National sanctuarynor is an official title of diocesan sanctuary explicitly mentioned, although its peregrinational character is clear. Consequently, no consta no specific pontifical dignity (as a minor basilica) in the documentation consulted.

Sponsorship and coronation

The devotion to Our Lady of Štipa has a range mainly local y regional, linked to Štipa and the environment of Zlin in Moravia. It is an important pilgrimage center in the area, but in the ordinary sources it is not indicated that it has the formal title of principal patron of the city of Zlin, of the diocese or of the Czech nation; therefore, a broader official patronage no consta.

On the canonical coronation of the image, in the sources consulted (including repertories of Marian shrines of Chequia and pages of dissemination on places of pilgrimage) does not contain a documented canonical coronation for the image of Our Lady of Štima. No safe reference has been found to either a pontifical decree or a precise date of coronation with crowns granted by the Holy See.

Party and devotion

The documentation in Spanish and in the general sources of the Czech pilgrimage highlights the place as "important place of pilgrimage", pero no ofrece clearly la fecha litúrgica principal the sanctuary. It is reasonable to assume that the solemn celebration is linked to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary (September 8)given the title of the temple, but in the absence of explicit confirmation in the consulted sources, the exact date of the main feast of the sanctuary no consta with certainty.

Sí se afirma que se trata de un lugar de frequent pilgrimages within Marian routes of the Czech Republic, in the context of Marian moravian spirituality. The church is included in pilgrimage itineraries organized at the national level, which indicates a living devotion, with an influx of faithful, especially in the great Marian holidays and in the summer time of pilgrimages. Numeric details of participation, specific processions or specific popular traditions (novies, night vigil, etc.) no constan precisely in accessible sources.

Link to the Rosary

In the sources consulted there is no specific and documented link between the advocation of Our Lady of Štipa and some own practice related to the Rosary (for example, canonically erected Rosary cofradies, strictly rosarian crowns or processions, particular indulgences, etc.); therefore, such a particular relationship no consta.

However, since it is a Marian sanctuary of pilgrimage, the Rosary naturally forms part of the spiritual life of the place, as is the case in most European Marian shrines: pilgrims often resort to the prayer of the Rosary as meditation of the mysteries of Christ with Mary, as a confident plea and as thanksgiving for the favors received. In this context, the Gothic image of the Virgin of Štipa can be considered a reference point for contemplating, with the help of the Rosary, the Incarnationthe life of Christ and the maternal presence of Mary in the history of salvation, thus integrating local tradition into the great current of the Marian spirituality of the Church.