Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles

Marian devotion of Los Angeles (California)

La Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles is linked to the presence of the Maronite Catholic Church on the west coast of the United States, which consists in large part of Lebanese migrants and their descendants, deeply devotees of the Our Lady of Lebanon of Harissa in Lebanon itself. This community, which arrived in California throughout the 20th century, was consolidating parishes and pastoral structures until the creation of a Maronite epoch for the west of the country, based in Los Angeles.

Main data

Origin and history

La Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles is linked to the presence of the Maronite Catholic Church on the west coast of the United States, which consists in large part of Lebanese migrants and their descendants, deeply devotees of the Our Lady of Lebanon of Harissa in Lebanon itself. This community, which arrived in California throughout the 20th century, was consolidating parishes and pastoral structures until the creation of a Maronite epoch for the west of the country, based in Los Angeles.

La Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Cathedral (Cathedral of Our Lady of Lebanon) is the cathedral church of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeleswhich covers the Maronite faithful of several states in the west of the United States. It is part of the Iglesia católica maronita, in full communion with the Pope, and celebrates the liturgy according to the rite antioqueno- maronite. The dedication of the cathedral to Our Lady of Lebanon expresses the spiritual continuity with the Marian national sanctuary of Harissain Lebanon, a reference centre for Maronites all over the world.

To date, in the regular sources of consultation (official pages, ecclesial databases, Catholic press and repertory of advocacy) there is no specific narrative of local apparitions, wonders or legends in Los Angeles linked to this advocation. The origin of the title in this cathedral is therefore understood as devotion moved and incarnated by the Lebanese immigrant community, which reproduces in the diaspora the Marian spirituality of its homeland of origin.

The image and the sanctuary

In the Maronite Cathedral of Los Angeles venerates Our Lady of Lebanon mainly by means of a imagen inspirada en la estatua de Harissa: The Virgin standing, with her arms open in a welcoming attitude, looks tenderly towards the faithful. In the sources consulted, the material nor the author of the main image of the cathedral (wood, plaster, resin or other); therefore, it should be strictly stated that no consta documented. Iconographically, it follows the Marian model spread by Harissa: Mary as a mother and protector of all the Lebanese people, representing intercession and peace for the Middle East and for the diaspora.

The temple is officially named after Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Cathedral (Cathedral of Our Lady of Lebanon). It's the iglesia catedralicia of the Maronite eparch of Los Angeles and, therefore, the seat of the chair of the Maronite epark (bishop) of the west of the United States. It is not recorded in the official repertory that it has received the title of minor basilica and recognition as National sanctuary; it should therefore be indicated that no such designation. The cathedral does, however, de facto, serve as the main spiritual and liturgical centre of the Lebanese Maronites of the region, with an intense sacramental and community life, and with the stable presence of the Maronite liturgy in English and, according to the communities, in Arabic.

Sponsorship and coronation

The title of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles is primarily linked to patronage of the epoch: The Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles has the Virgin under this title as patron of the entire Maronite ecclesiastical constituency in the western United States. It is not known that there is a civil or ecclesiastical declaration that the patron of the city of Los Angeles is proclaimed as such; therefore, it is considered primarily patron of the Maronite eparoch and, in a spiritual way, Marian center of the Lebanese Catholic community in the region.

As for the canonical coronation of the image venerated in the Cathedral of Los Angeles, in the sources consulted does not contain a documented canonical coronation given by decree of the Holy See or by the mandate of a Pontiff. The fame and solemnity of devotion are based rather on the link with the historic crowned statue of Harissa and on the importance of the cathedral as the center of the Maronite community.

Party and devotion

The devotion to Our Lady of Lebanon in Los Angeles is articulated around the liturgical memory of the Virgin in the Maronite calendar y a la The feast of Our Lady of Lebanon, traditionally associated with the statue of Harissa. In the pastoral practice of many Maronite communities, this feast is held around the month of May, Marian time par excellence, with solemn masses, processions and family consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Since the specific sources of the Los Angeles Cathedral do not offer a unique and clearly documented official date, it should be noted with rigour that is not sure the exact date of the main feast in this cathedral, although it is usually within the framework of Easter and Marian time.

La Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral It is a reference point for the Maronite faithful and other Catholics of Lebanese and Middle East origin living on the west coast. The influx grows in the great Marian solemnities, especially in the feasts of the Virgin of Lebanon, the Assumption and the Nativity of Mary, as well as in the community celebrations linked to the Lebanese identity (cultural meetings, days of prayer for peace in Lebanon and the Middle East). There are no official figures of pilgrims or detailed statistics of assistance; it should therefore be indicated that no consta a data cuantitativo documentado on annual inflow. What is seen, through the ordinary life of the epoch, is a live and continuous devotion, marked by participation in the Divine Liturgy, the novena Marian and the prayers for the peace and unity of Christians.

Among the devotional practices that are often associated with this advocation in the diaspora is the the protection of Our Lady of Lebanonthe veneration of his image with cirios and flowers and the prayer for Lebanon and for the Christians persecuted in the Middle East.

Link to the Rosary

In the available documentation on the Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral de Los Ángeles no consta an official or specific link to this advocation with a Rosary fellowship, a "own" Rosary or a particular practice of the Rosary other than the traditional one in the Catholic Church. There are no references to rosarian coronations, special indulgences linked to the Rosary in this sanctuary or festivities of the Rosary specific to this Maronite cathedral.

However, as in every authentic Marian devotion, the Rosary it occupies a natural and fruitful place. Maronite spirituality, deeply rooted in Catholic tradition, welcomes the Rosary as contemplative prayer of the mysteries of Christ with Maryin line with what the Mariology underlines: in the Rosary the life of the Lord is meditated through the eyes and heart of his Mother. In the context of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles, the Rosary becomes in a special way:

– súplica por la in Lebanon and the Middle East, – intercesión por la unity of Christians from the different Eastern Churches, – plegaria por las migrant families and their new generations in America.

Thus, even without a specific institutional link, the Rosary is presented as ordinary partner of devotion to Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles: a crown of Avemarias that unites, spiritually, the Cathedral of Los Angeles with the great sanctuary of Harissa and with all the