Our Lady of Wejherowo

Marian title of Wejherowo (Pomerania)

According to the local traditionthe presence of the Virgin in Wejherowo is linked to the foundation of the city and the Kalwaria Wejherowska (Calvary of Wejherowo) by the Polish noble Jakub Wejher in the 17th century, as an exvote of thanks for having been delivered from death during a military campaign at the service of King Ladislao IV Vasa. [1] [²] In fulfilment of this vote, Wejher ordered to build a city and a set of chapels of the Passion, and in this context the origin of the Marian sanctuary and of the veneration to the image of the Mother of God in Wejherowo is located. [1] [²] Tradition highlights the penitential and conversion character of this place, in close union with the Passion of Christ.

Main data

Origin and history

According to the local traditionthe presence of the Virgin in Wejherowo is linked to the foundation of the city and the Kalwaria Wejherowska (Calvary of Wejherowo) by the Polish noble Jakub Wejher in the 17th century, as an exvote of thanks for having been delivered from death during a military campaign at the service of King Ladislao IV Vasa. [1] [²] In fulfilment of this vote, Wejher ordered to build a city and a set of chapels of the Passion, and in this context the origin of the Marian sanctuary and of the veneration to the image of the Mother of God in Wejherowo is located. [1] [²] Tradition highlights the penitential and conversion character of this place, in close union with the Passion of Christ.

As for the documented history, the city of Wejherowo was founded in 1643 by Jakub Wejher, who between 1649 and 1655 promoted the construction of the Kalwaria Wejherowska: a complex of chapels and hermites that reproduce the mysteries of the Passion of the Lord, soon becoming one of the most important pilgrimage centers in the region of Casubia, in Pomerania. [1] [²] In this historical context, devotion to Our Lady Wejherowska (Our Lady of Wejherowo), venerated in the parish church and in relation to the popular piety that accompanies the processions of the Passion and the pilgrimages to the Casubian Calvary. The image was proclaimed over time patron of the city of Wejherowo, and his cult was especially consolidated from the 19th and 20th century, in continuity with the strong Marian tradition of Poland. [1] [²]

(They do not contain, in easily accessible sources, accounts of apparitions or specific extraordinary events linked to the origin of this advocation; devotion is born above all from the context of passionist and Marian piety proper to the sanctuary and the city.)

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The image and the sanctuary

The sources consulted agree that this is a imagen mariana de tipo tradicional, venerated under the title of Our Lady Wejherowskabut no con seguridada full and detailed description of the material (wood, canvas, icon, etc.) or all its iconographic features. It is usually presented as an image of the Virgin with the Child Jesus, in continuity with Polish Marian iconography, but without precise enough data to rigorously detail concrete attributes (crown, garments, symbols) beyond its image status of the Mother of God. In this case, in order to avoid errors, it should be stated simply: does not publicly contain an exhaustive and reliable iconographic description.

The sanctuary is linked to the Kalwaria Wejherowska (Calvary of Wejherowo), also called the sanctuary of the Passion of the Lord and the Mother of God of Wejherowo, located in the city of Wejherowoin the voivodship of Pomerania, Poland. [1] [²] This is a broad set of capillas y ermitas distributed on a forest hill, which reproduce the Passion stations and other related mysteries, following the model of other Baroque calseveral from Central Europe. [1] [²] This complex, along with the parish church of Wejherowo (where the image of Our Lady of Wejherowo is venerated as the patron of the city), is an important regional pilgrimage sanctuaryespecially significant for the Casuian people.

The main temple where the image is venerated has the title of minor basilica nor that it has been declared a national sanctuary; rather it is presented as diocesan/regional, belonging to the competent diocese in Pomerania. If there is an elevation to basilica or national sanctuary, it does not appear in a clear and verifiable way in the accessible documentation and should therefore be said with caution: does not officially contain such a title in available sources.

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Sponsorship and coronation

La Our Lady Wejherowska is venerated and recognized as patron of the city of WejherowoThis is presented by local tradition and contemporary devotional dissemination in the Casubian region, where the image is an important religious and identity symbol. [1] [²] Beyond this local patronage, it is not known that she has been proclaimed patron of the diocese or of the entire region of Pomerania on an official level, although her spiritual influence in fact covers a much wider area thanks to the pilgrimages.

As for the coronation, the image was solemnly crowned in 1999. The sources point to this year as the date of the coronation of Our Lady of Wejherowo, but in the documentation accessible online The Pontifical Decree and the name of the specific delegate of the Holy See do not appear clearly, although local tradition often refers to this coronation as an act of the Church in Poland in communion with the Pope. Since the instruction requires that data not be stated with certainty, the type of coronation should be stated: it is recorded that it was crowned in 1999; but it does not contain with full documentary safety, in the consulting sources, the formal detail of the canonical coronation (pontifical decree, name of the delegate).

Por tanto, de manera estricta: – Year of coronation: 1999. – On the canonical character of the coronation and the name of the Pontiff / delegate: in available sources is not sufficiently documented as for detallarlo.

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Party and devotion

The fiesta principal de Our Lady of Wejherowo se celebra el 22 Julythe date that the sources point out as the day of this advocation, especially in the city of Wejherowo and in the Kalwaria Wejherowska. This day, solemn liturgical celebrations, processions and acts of Marian piety are organized, in which the city renews its consecration and confidence in the protection of its patron.

During the year, especially around the time of Holy Week, la Kalwaria Wejherowska becomes an important destination of pilgrimagewith many faithful who participate in the penitential processions that go through the chapels of the Passion. [1] [²] The devotion to the Virgin is integrated into these celebrations, presenting her as a Dolored Mother who accompanies the path of Christ. In addition to these great concentrations, parish and regional pilgrimages, both from Casubia and from other parts of Pomerania, are carried out throughout the year to worship the patron of Wejherowo and to pray for families, work and fidelity to faith.

There are also popular traditions linked to the Casubian identity: the presence of songs in Casubian language, typical costumes and forms of popular piety that link Marian devotion with the cultural roots of this region. General sources point to a significant flow of pilgrims, though no precise and verifiable official figures annual inflow.

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Link to the Rosary

The specific sources on Wejherowo and the Kalwaria Wejherowska focus mainly on the Passion of the Lord y en las processions of Holy Week; no clear and explicit reference to a particular or exclusive connection of this advocation with the prayer of the Rosary (for example, the Rosary's cofradies of this sanctuary, promises of the Virgin linked to the Rosary, etc.). Therefore, it must be said with rigour: there is no documented unique relationship between Our Lady of Wejherowo and the Rosary beyond general Marian practice.

However, since it is a Marian shrinein a country of strong rosarian tradition, it is reasonable to assume - on the general pastoral level - that the Rosary is present as one of the forms