Our Lady of the Good Succession of Guaduas

Marian title of Guaduas (Cundinamarca)

La advocación de Our Lady of the Good Succession of Guaduas is a Marian devotion of colonial origin, linked to the old village of the Villa de Guaduas, in the west of Cundinamarca, where the Virgin of Good Success was welcomed as Patrona de la Villa from early Cologne.

Main data

Origin and history

La advocación de Our Lady of the Good Succession of Guaduas is a Marian devotion of colonial origin, linked to the old village of the Villa de Guaduas, in the west of Cundinamarca, where the Virgin of Good Success was welcomed as Patrona de la Villa from early Cologne.

Tradition / legend: According to local tradition, 1551 a lie of the Virgin in a place called Los Guayabitosnear the tributary of the Black River, in the place where a small village was formed. The pious narrative indicates that the canvas would have "fallen" on the road to Guayabitos, interpreted as a sign that the image should remain in Guaduas, which strengthened its choice as the Patroness of the place. These references come from popular memory and cultural reviews, without fully verified critical documentary support.

Documented history: The parish sources point out that the canvas of the Virgin of Good Success is venerated in Guaduas from the early years of the Cologne and today presiding over the main altar of the main temple. The advocation appears as patrona de Guaduas, municipality of the department of Cundinamarca, according to the divulgative documentation and the encyclopedical reference that reflects this local devotion differentiated from other sanctuaries of the same title in the world. They do not contain, in accessible sources, original documents with exact date of entronization, but a historical continuity of veneration since colonial times.

The image and the sanctuary

The main image venerated in Guaduas is a lie of the Virgin Mary under the title of the Good Story. It is therefore a paint (not a sculpture) of colonial times; the local sources emphasize its character as "sacred canvas," without describing in detail the iconography (position of the Virgin, Child Jesus, attributes, etc.), so it does not accurately contain a specialized iconographic description.

This canvas is currently venerated on the Cathedral Temple of San Miguel Archangel of Guaduas, from where he presides Major altar. The temple has a range of catedral of the Diocese of La Dorada- Guaduas; within it, the presence of the patron image of the Virgin of Good Success is the center of the Marian devotion of the municipality. It is not known that the temple has been declared a minor basilica or national sanctuary; in pastoral and civil practice, it functions as catedral and diocesan centre of worship, and at the local level is recognized as a patronal sanctuary, although it is not explicitly named "national sanctuary" in the documentation consulted.

Sponsorship and coronation

Our Lady of the Good Thing is Patrona de la Villa de Guaduas and the current municipality of Guaduas (Cundinamarca). The religious tradition and cultural projection of the patron party have consolidated this patronage as a sign of identity for the Guadueña community and for the west of Cundinamarca. The revised sources do not contain a declaration of patronage at the diocesan or national level specifically under this title.

As regards the canonical coronationin accessible sources (parochial, diocesan, encyclopedic and press) does not contain a documented canonical coronation of the image of Our Lady of the Good Succession of Guaduas.

Party and devotion

The main feast of Our Lady of Good Success in Guaduas is held the September 8, within the city's patron parties. This date coincides with the liturgical feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, which highlights the markedly Marian character of the celebration.

One of the most unique features of local devotion is the traditional "Round with the Virgin", a great procession and religious-cultural parade that forms a central part of the patron parties. During this round, the image is accompanied by bands, carrots and a multitude of faithful, in an atmosphere of deep popular piety and festive manifestations of local culture. The municipal administration, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Diocese of La Dorada- Guaduas regularly collaborate in the organization, which reveals the civic and religious importance of devotion.

La afluencia de fieles It is significant; although no official figures are found, the audiovisual reports and institutional communiqués show a massive participation of the local population and visitors, who live this round as a tradition that "unites the people" around the Virgin of Good Success.

Link to the Rosary

In the sources consulted, does not contain a specific and documented relationship between the advocation of Our Lady of the Good Succession of Guaduas and a practice of the prayer of the Rosary (for example, formal rosarian copradies or collective promises explicitly linked to this advocation).

However, as in most of the shrines and Marian parties of Spanish-American tradition, the Rosary He usually accompanies the novena, processions and vigil in honor of the Virgin, and it is reasonable to assume - in the light of the general pastoral praxis - that the prayer of the Rosary is part of the expressions of Marian piety in Guaduas, even though this is not detailed in public documents.

From a marine perspective, the title of Good thing. He refers to the confidence in the intercession of Mary in the decisive moments of Christian life; the Rosary, as a contemplation of the mysteries of Christ with the eyes of Mary, helps the faithful to welcome those "good events" of grace (Incarnation, Easter, sending the Spirit) in their own personal and community history. In this way, the prayer of the Rosary is presented as a privileged way to live in depth the devotion to Our Lady of the Good Succession of Guaduas, even when there are no exclusive or uniquely governed rosarian practices under this advocation.