Our Lady of the Sea

Marian devotion of Puntarenas (Puntarenas)

From the point of view documented history, las Festivals of the Virgin of the Sea in Puntarenas (Costa Rica) - in honor of the Virgin of Carmen - were instituidas en 1914 por el presbítero José Daniel Carmona in the city-port of Puntarenas. These parties were formed from the beginning as a set of religious and civic acts that articulate Marian devotion, port identity and also economic and political interests linked to the life of the port. A number of sources point out that the first centenary of these festivities, which confirms the beginning of the celebrations organized in 1914.

Main data

Origin and history

From the point of view documented history, las Festivals of the Virgin of the Sea in Puntarenas (Costa Rica) - in honor of the Virgin of Carmen - were instituidas en 1914 por el presbítero José Daniel Carmona in the city-port of Puntarenas. These parties were formed from the beginning as a set of religious and civic acts that articulate Marian devotion, port identity and also economic and political interests linked to the life of the port. A number of sources point out that the first centenary of these festivities, which confirms the beginning of the celebrations organized in 1914.

En el ámbito de la Pious tradition, the origin of the party is linked to a shipwreck in 1913 de la embarcación El Galileo, in waters of Puntarenas, whose crew would have been rescued in a way considered "miraculous." According to this tradition, the event moved the faithful to thank the protection of the Virgin of Carmen, adopted by the people as “Virgen del Mar”and to organize the feast and the maritime procession the following year. This narrative belongs to the field of local memory and popular piety; historical studies collect it as devotional backgroundwhile the institución formal of the holiday is attributed, on a documentary basis, to the initiative of Fr. José Daniel Carmona in 1914.

It does not contain a previous foundation of a specific Marian sanctuary under the title "Our Lady of the Sea" in Puntarenas, nor the existence of an ancient ecclesial act that canonically houses a sanctuary with that name on the Colombian peaceful coast; therefore, it must be concluded that no consta a documented story of this advocation in Puntarenas (Colombia), and that the known tradition belongs to Puntarenas (Costa Rica).

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The image and the sanctuary

In the documentation consulted on Puntarenas (Costa Rica), the venerated image is the Virgin of Carmen, popularly invoked as “Virgen del Mar” for its particular link with fishermen and maritime life. The audiovisual testimonies show an image of Marian heel dressedwho carries the Child Jesus in his arms and the scapulario del Carmen, consistent with the traditional Carmelite iconography. However, not accurately recorded the material (wood, plaster or other) of the main image used in the maritime procession.

The iconography follows the classic model of the Virgen del Carmen - Stella Maris: Mary as Mother and Protector of the navigators, with the Child Jesus and the scapular, signs of her intercession and of the Carmelite spiritual path. Some local stories highlight their role as a protection of sailors and fishermen, which explains the affective title of "Virgin of the Sea."

As regards sanctuary or Templo principalin Puntarenas (Costa Rica) the devotion is articulated around the parroquia local and to the coastal space where the maritime procession and the liturgical acts are carried out. However:

– No consta a formal recognition as minor basilica para un templo bajo el título específico de “Nuestra Señora del Mar” en Puntarenas. – No consta nor, in the sources consulted, the official declaration of "national sanctuary" or "diocesan sanctuary" with that specific title.

With regard to Puntarenas, Colombia, no data verifiable on a headline image, its material or the official name of the temple where the advocation described in the consultation would be venerated.

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Sponsorship and coronation

In Puntarenas, Costa Rica, the Virgin of Carmen, venerated as Virgin of the Sea, is considered patron of the port, of the sailors and of those who live from the seaas both historical studies and local tradition and the chronicles of the maritime procession point out. It is popularly recognized as patron of the canton of Puntarenas and the portalthough the sources consulted do not fully reproduce the canonical decree of civil or ecclesiastical patronage.

In relation to Puntarenas (Department of Puntarenas, Colombia), no consta in the documents consulted a decree of patronage that officially recognizes "Nuestra Señora del Mar (del Carmen)" as patron of the city or of the port under that specific title.

On a possible canonical coronation of the image:

– En los estudios y notas históricos sobre las Fiestas de la Virgen del Mar de Puntarenas (Costa Rica) no reference to a pontifical or diocesan canonical coronation de la imagen. – En los registros de advocaciones carmelitas coronadas canónicamente se mencionan otros santuarios (por ejemplo, en Perú o Chile), pero not mentioned Puntarenas.

Therefore, according to the requested rule, the following must be indicated:

"there is no documented canonical coronation."

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Party and devotion

La main party of the Virgin of the Sea in Puntarenas (Costa Rica) ties to the liturgical memory of the Virgin of Carmen, July 16. The celebrations include novenas, eucharisties, cultural activities and, in a very prominent way, the maritime processionwhich is the most characteristic feature of this devotion.

La maritime procession It consists in the transfer of the image on a main boat, accompanied by numerous boats and gilded ships, that travel the bay of Puntarenas in thanksgiving and supplica for the protection of the sea, fishing and all those who sail. According to local testimonies, this is a tradition with more than a century of continuity, held since 1914. The exact date of the procession can be adjusted each year depending on the tides and the official calendar, although the devotional reference remains around 16 July.

The parties include, in addition to the maritime procession, Solemn masses, Rosary prayers, boat blessing, cultural and popular activitiesand have been consolidated as one of the most significant religious and civic celebrations for the identity of the port. There are no precise and stable official figures of annual inflow; however, cultural sources describe a large number of faithful and visitors, to the point of being considered the "most beloved party" of the port en la actualidad.

For Puntarenas (Colombia), no constan verifiable data on a party organized with the same characteristics, or on local maritime procession under the title "Nuestra Señora del Mar (del Carmen)" as patron of the port.

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Link to the Rosary

The documentation on the Festivals of the Virgin of the Sea in Puntarenas (Costa Rica) mentions the presence of Holy Rosary within the celebrations in honor of the Virgin of Carmen in various parishes and marine contexts, although not always specifically for Puntarenas. In particular, the prayer of the Rosary appears as part of the usual devotional practices at the Carmelite parties (proce