Our Lady of the Arc

Advocación mariana de Sant’Anastasia (Campania)

For the advocation of Our Lady of the Arc / Madonna dell'Arco there is a well-attested tradition in THE JasAnisia (Nápoles, Campania, Italy)where an image of the Virgin painted on an arch was venerated on the outskirts of the village. According to tradition, in the mid-15th century (around 1450) there was a prodigy linked to this image, which triggered a strong popular devotion and the beginning of great pilgrimages, especially on Easter Monday, by the so-called «fujenti» (pilgrims who were running or hasty in the performance of promises).

Main data

Origin and history

For the advocation of Our Lady of the Arc / Madonna dell'Arco there is a well-attested tradition in THE JasAnisia (Nápoles, Campania, Italy)where an image of the Virgin painted on an arch was venerated on the outskirts of the village. According to tradition, in the mid-15th century (around 1450) there was a prodigy linked to this image, which triggered a strong popular devotion and the beginning of great pilgrimages, especially on Easter Monday, by the so-called «fujenti» (pilgrims who were running or hasty in the performance of promises).

Instead, for a location in Sant'Anastasia, department of Campania, Colombia, the sources consulted (encyclopedia of Marian advocations, devotional bases and general repertories) do not record any Marian sanctuary documented under the title of Our Lady of the Arc / Madonna dell'Arconor references to wonders in 1450, nor to pilgrimages of "Fujenti" linked to a Colombian place. Therefore, no consta Historically, there is an autonomous advocation, with a history of its own, in Colombia; what does exist is the Italian advocation, whose devotion could, in theory, have been transferred privately by faithful or communities, without this being reflected in a public and stable way in the documentation of consultation.

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The image and the sanctuary

In the historical case of Madonna dell'Arco in Italythe original image is a fresh Marian painted on an arch (a small ediculum or open tabernacle) at the beginning, which represented the Virgin with the Child, within the popular iconographic style of the time. Then devotion led to the construction of a monumental sanctuary, today known as Sanctuary of the Madonna dell'Arcowhich has been magnified over the centuries and enjoys diocesan recognition, with intense pastoral life and pilgrimages.

Para la location of Sant'Anastasia, department of Campania, Colombia, no consta en fuentes verificables: – La existencia de un templo oficialmente reconocido como santuario mariano bajo la advocación de Nuestra Señora del Arco. – Una descripción precisa de la imagen (tipo de imagen, material, estilo iconográfico). – El rango canónico del eventual templo (parroquia, santuario diocesano, basílica menor, etc.).

Therefore, in relation to Colombia, it can only be said with rigour that does not contain documented information on a specific image and sanctuary with this advocation.

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Sponsorship and coronation

En Italy, Madonna dell'Arco is an important Marian sanctuary in the diocese of Nola and enjoys a deep-rooted popular devotion in the region of Naples; she is patron of Sant'Anastasia (Italy) and her co-fradies, especially that of the "Fujenti."

Para Sant'Anastasia, department of Campania, Colombia, no consta en las fuentes consultadas: – Que Nuestra Señora del Arco haya sido proclamada oficialmente patron de un municipio, parroquia o diócesis colombiana. – Ningún canonical coronation decree of an image under this advocation.

Accordingly, with regard to the Colombian reality requested, it should be stated: does not contain a documented canonical coronation.

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Party and devotion

In the tradition of Madonna dell'Arco en Campania (Italy), the main party is held Easter Mondaythe day when great popular pilgrimages take place to the sanctuary, particularly of the «fujenti», characterized by the influx of thousands of faithful who come in fulfilment of promises and in penitential attitude.

However, for the alleged advocation of Our Lady of the Arc in Sant'Anastasia, department of Campania, Colombia, no consta: – Que exista una fiesta litúrgica propia reconocida oficialmente (en calendario diocesano o parroquial publicado). – Datos de afluencia, procesiones o tradiciones populares formalmente documentadas.

If a Marian party is held privately in a local Colombian community Easter Monday under this title, it would be a matter, in the light of the information available, of a transplant devotion (inspired by the Italian model), but this reality does not yet appear in accessible ecclesial or historical sources.

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Link to the Rosary

It does not contain a specific and documented historical link between the advocation of Madonna dell’Arco and a particular practice linked to the prayer of Rosary (for example, the Rosary's cofradies of the sanctuary, unique indulgences or an official name as "Our Lady of the Arc Rosary").

However, as in most Marian shrines, the Rosary es, con toda probabilidad, una forma habitual de oración de los peregrinos y devotos, especialmente en Italia, donde esta práctica forma parte de la piedad mariana ordinaria. Desde una perspectiva mariana general, el Rosario: – Contempla los mysteries of Christ's life con María, lo que encaja plenamente con cualquier advocación que subraye la presencia maternal de la Virgen en la historia de los fieles. – Ofrece un itinerario de conversión y de confianza, muy en sintonía con la actitud penitencial y de promesa de los peregrena "fujenti" who come to the Virgin in search of grace and mercy.

Applied to a possible devotion to Our Lady of the Arc in Colombia, the Rosary is understood as the Universal Bearing of Marian piety: where this advocation was venerated, the prayer of the Rosary would allow the faithful to be spiritually united with Mary, associating their own stories of suffering and hope with the mysteries of Christ, just as the pilgrims of the Italian sanctuary do.