Our Lady of Lourdes of Vepric

Marian Advocation of Vepric (Makarska) (Dalmatia)

La advocación de Our Lady of Lourdes of Vepric is linked to the Marian shrine of Vepric, on the outskirts of Makarskain Dalmatia (Croatia), popularly known as the "Croata heavy" for its devotional and landscape resemblance with the Grotto de Lourdes. The tradition of the place focuses on the idea of a natural reproduction of the French grotto, in a valley by the sea, integrated into an environment of prayer and pilgrimage.

Main data

Origin and history

La advocación de Our Lady of Lourdes of Vepric is linked to the Marian shrine of Vepric, on the outskirts of Makarskain Dalmatia (Croatia), popularly known as the "Croata heavy" for its devotional and landscape resemblance with the Grotto de Lourdes. The tradition of the place focuses on the idea of a natural reproduction of the French grotto, in a valley by the sea, integrated into an environment of prayer and pilgrimage.

La documented history places the foundation of the sanctuary in 1908, driven by the bishop Juraj Carić, who wanted to create a space of Marian devotion inspired by Lourdes. The sources consulted agree that Vepric was born as a sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin of Lourdes and developed as a centre of local and regional piety in the diocese of Makarska, today linked to the ecclesial realm of Split-Makarska.

The image and the sanctuary

Devotion focuses on Our Lady of Lourdes, that is, in a Marian image of type lourdesianHowever, in the sources consulted no con seguridad a uniform and detailed description of the material, author or precise iconographic features of the main image venerated in Vepric. For editorial prudence, such data should be considered no constan if they are not verified in the official catalogue of the sanctuary.

The shrine of Vepric is an outdoor cult complex, with gruta, chapel and prayer spaces in a wooded valley near Makarska; its distinctive feature is precisely the gruta natural who evokes Lourdes. Not included in any revised sources minor basilica; is presented as Marian sanctuary of great pastoral importance and, in practice, as a place of diocesan and regional pilgrimage.

Sponsorship and coronation

No consta un patronazgo civil oficial The main area of this advocation is the city, municipality or nation. Vepric sanctuary and Marian devotion linked to Makarska and the local Church of Croatia.

No consta una documented canonical coronation of the image of Our Lady of Lourdes of Vepric.

Party and devotion

The main party follows the memory of Our Lady of Lourdes, celebrada el 11 February; in Vepric, this date has special devotional relief for the explicit connection of the sanctuary with Lourdes.

Vepric is a place of Marian pilgrimagewith liturgical celebrations, prayer to the grotto and visit of the faithful of the Dalmatian region and other parts of Croatia. The sources describe it as a very frequent and dear sanctuary, although in the documentation consulted no stable and verified flow figures.

Link to the Rosary

It is not clear that this advocation has a exclusive historical bond with the Rosary other than that of other Marian shrines; however, as a sanctuary of Lourdesian inspiration, fully fits in the spirituality of the Rosary, which contemplates the life of Christ with Mary and accompanies the pilgrimage, penance and supplication of Lourdes. In a place like Vepric, the Rosary is naturally understood as Marian prayer of contemplation, intercession and conversion.