Our Lady of the Carmen of San Juan

Marian devotion to Saint John (Saint John)

La Virgin of Carmen is, in the tradition of the Church, the Marian advocation linked to Santa María del Monte Carmelo and the Order of Carmelites. According to the traditionthe Virgin would have appeared to san Simón Stock, first general of the Carmelites, the 16 July 1251, giving him the scapular as a protection sign. This date, although devotional rather than historical-critical, is the spiritual basis of the universal feast of Carmen on July 16.

Main data

Origin and history

La Virgin of Carmen is, in the tradition of the Church, the Marian advocation linked to Santa María del Monte Carmelo and the Order of Carmelites. According to the traditionthe Virgin would have appeared to san Simón Stock, first general of the Carmelites, the 16 July 1251, giving him the scapular as a protection sign. This date, although devotional rather than historical-critical, is the spiritual basis of the universal feast of Carmen on July 16.

En Colombiathe devotion to the Virgin of Carmen has spread widely since colonial times and has been particularly consolidated as a protector of military forces, police and transporters. It's considered. driver's pattern and at the national level, Queen and patron of the Colombian Armed Forces, the National Police, the Marine Infantry and the Air Forceas well as the Fire Corps. The strength of this devotion explains the many parishes, chapels and shrines dedicated to the Virgin of Carmen throughout the country, celebrating their feast on July 16.

No constain the sources consulted, a documented story of a particular title "Our Lady of the Carmen of San Juan" located in a "department of San Juan" in Colombia, neither as a specific patron of a Colombian province nor as a protector against earthquakes. No clear and verifiable mention of this advocation with these characteristics has been found on official pages of Colombian dioceses, on encyclopedic bases or in the national Catholic press.

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The image and the sanctuary

The usual iconography of the Virgin of Carmen in Colombia presents it as image of Mary with the Child Jesus in arms, both holding the scapular of Carmen, central symbol of this Marian devotion. It is usually represented by the Order of Carmen (robe and mantle in brown and cream tones) or by richly decorated garments in the dress images used in processions and patron parties. In numerous Colombian parishes, the image is made of polychrome wood or the image of dressing with carved faces and hands, but the type of image varies from one temple to another; for the concrete advocation "Our Lady of the Carmen of San Juan" no consta a specific and documented description of your image.

As regards sanctuary or temple where this advocation would be venerated as "Our Lady of the Carmen of St. John," no constain the sources consulted, a officially recognized archdiocesan sanctuary with this title in an ecclesiastical jurisdiction called "San Juan" in Colombia. The available references describe shrines and parishes of the Virgin of Carmen in various dioceses, but do not coincide with the complete name indicated in the header. Therefore, does not contain the official name, rank (minor basilica, national / diocesan sanctuary) or architectural characteristics of a specific sanctuary with the title "Nuestra Señora del Carmen de San Juan" in Colombia.

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Sponsorship and coronation

En el ámbito Colombian national, the Virgin of Carmen is recognized as:

– Pattern of drivers and transporters. – Queen and patron of the Colombian Armed Forces, the National Police, the Marine Infantry and the Air Forceas well as the Fire Corps.

This patronage is widely disseminated and is reiterated by both the Catholic press and training materials of Colombian dioceses.

Concerning Provincial or departmental patronage under the precise title "Our Lady of the Carmen of San Juan", no consta in Colombia an official statement documented that indicates it as Patron of a province or department called San Juanas a patron of a homonymous capital. It is important to distinguish this data from the province of San Juan in Argentinawhere the Virgin of Carmen (in other local advocacy) has been particularly linked to seismic disasters and provincial patronage, but this context is Argentine, not Colombian.

On a possible canonical coronation of the image under the title "Nuestra Señora del Carmen de San Juan (Colombia)" does not contain a documented canonical coronation: there are no verifiable records of the Pontifical Decree, date, or mention of the Pontiff or delegate for this specific advocation in the sources consulted.

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Party and devotion

La main feast of the Virgin of Carmen in the universal Church and in Colombia the 16 July, in memory of the tradition of the delivery of the scapular to St. Simon Stock. On that date, the solemn masses, processions and special blessings are multiplied, especially to drivers, vehicles and members of the Armed Forces and the Police.

In Colombia, devotion to Carmen is distinguished by:

– Procesiones multitudinarias en ciudades y pueblos, en las que la imagen de la Virgen del Carmen recorre las calles en andas o vehículos, acompañada por bandas, coros y grupos apostólicos. – Blessing of conveyor vehicles and caravans, práctica particularmente arraigada dada su condición de patrona de los conductores. – Novena before 16 July, muy difundida en parroquias, comunidades religiosas y familias. – Fuerte presencia en Public forces chaplainswhere eucharisties and acts of consecration of the institution to the Virgin of Carmen are organized.

In relation to a local party of "Nuestra Señora del Carmen de San Juan (Colombia)"with assistance data, pilgrimages or specific traditions linked to earthquakes or an archdiocesan sanctuary, does not contain documented information. What can be said with certainty is that, where a Colombian community or parish bears the title of Carmen, the main celebration is concentrated around the 16 Julyin communion with the universal Church.

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Link to the Rosary

La devoción a la Virgin of Carmen is deeply linked to the popular Marian spiritualitywhere Rosary It occupies a central place. The materials of the novena and the parish celebrations of Carmen in Colombia often include the prayer of the Rosary or at least one or more mysteries, as an expression of filial trust in Mary and contemplation of the mysteries of Christ.

For the concrete advocation "Nuestra Señora del Carmen de San Juan (Colombia)" no consta, in the sources consulted, a specific and documented tradition that formally unites the local title with a particular practice of the Rosary (for example, promises, co-fradies of the Rosary specific to that sanctuary, or specific indulgences). However, in Marian theology and spirituality, the Rosary is considered a privileged road for:

– To contemplate, with Mary, the life, death and resurrection of Christ, centro de toda devoción mariana. – Join the intercession of the Virgin of Carmenwho, as a mother and a patron, leads the faithful to the conver