Our Lady of the Miracle, patron saint of the city and archdiocese of Salta

Marian devotion of Salta (Salta)

According to tradition, 1592 the bishop of Tucumán, Fra Francisco of Victoria, received as a donation two images found in circumstances considered prodigious: a crucified Christ of natural size destined for the parent church of Salta and an image of the Immaculate (Virgin of the Rosary) destined for Córdoba. Both reportedly arrived in wooden boxes floating in the port of Callao (Peru), from where they were sent to the north-west of Argentina. Over time, the Marian image linked to Salta will be known as Our Lady of the Miracle, by associating itself with the events of 1692.

Main data

Origin and history

According to tradition, 1592 the bishop of Tucumán, Fra Francisco of Victoria, received as a donation two images found in circumstances considered prodigious: a crucified Christ of natural size destined for the parent church of Salta and an image of the Immaculate (Virgin of the Rosary) destined for Córdoba. Both reportedly arrived in wooden boxes floating in the port of Callao (Peru), from where they were sent to the north-west of Argentina. Over time, the Marian image linked to Salta will be known as Our Lady of the Miracle, by associating itself with the events of 1692.

En 1692 There were severe earthquakes that seriously affected the region, completely destroying the city of Esteco and seriously damaging Salta. The pious tradition shows that the image of the Immaculate, located high in the parent church, fell during the tremors and appeared standing, intact, at the feet of the cross or near the presbytery, being interpreted as a sign of special protection. The change of color in the face of the Virgin is also reported, visible to the faithful who came to pray. In the face of the persistence of the tremors, the people organized penitential processions with the image of the Virgin and, finally, the 15 September 1692By also taking out the image of the Christ crucified in procession, the seismic movements ceased, which was considered the great "Miracle."

From the perspective of the documented historythe presence of the image of the Immaculate in Salta at the end of the 17th century and the existence of very serious earthquakes in September 1692, as well as the origin of a solemn annual penitential procession and a "covenant of fidelity" of the people with the Lord and the Virgin of the Miracle, renewed every September. The interpretation of the fall of the image, the change of color of the face and the immediate link between the procession and the cessation of the tremors belongs to the scope of the devout tradition, transmitted by chronicles and popular piety, without being able to rebuild in all its details with strictly critical criteria.

The image and the sanctuary

The image of Our Lady of the Miracle is a representation of the Immaculate Conceptionstanding, with hands together in prayer attitude, following the classic iconographic type of the Immaculate Virgin of the colonial era. It has also been related to the advocation of the Rosary, given the origin of episcopal donation and the doctrinal context of the tridentine. It is richly dressed and decorated, and is presented in a shrimp located on the main altar, where he receives the veneration of the faithful. The sources consulted do not specify with certainty the original material of the size (wood, stucco, etc.), so no consta the kind of material.

The main place of worship is the Catedral Basílica de Salta, oficialmente Catedral Basílica de Lord and Virgin of the Miracle, seat of the archdiocese of Salta. The Neoclassical-style temple with Baroque elements in its interior decoration is one of the main Marian and Christological sanctuaries of northern Argentina. The cathedral has been recognized as minor basilicaand in it are kept in contiguous shrimp the images of the Lord of the Miracle (Christ crucified) and of Our Lady of the Miracle, to which the great annual pilgrimages converge.

Sponsorship and coronation

Our Lady of the Miracle is Patron of the city of Salta y de la archdiocese of Salta, in inseparable union with devotion to the Lord of the Miracle. Salteña popular piety is strongly identified with this advocation, which is considered to be protective of the city and the province, especially in situations of danger or natural disasters.

As for the canonical coronation, the Marian and historical sources consulted indicate that the image of Our Lady of the Miracle was canonically crowned in 1912. The coronation is in the context of the rise of the Marian coronations in Argentina in the early 20th century, as an official recognition of the ancient devotion of the Salteño people. The name of the pontiff who authorized the act or of the pontifical delegate who presided over the ceremony has not been found in the revised sources. no con seguridad this information in the accessible documents.

Party and devotion

La main party se celebra el 15 Septemberthe day of the Miracle of 1692 and the great penitential procession with the images of the Lord and of the Virgin of the Miracle on the streets of Salta. The celebration is extended in an extensive cycle of worship: novena from 6 to 14 September and Triduo solemne in the Basilica Cathedral on 13, 14 and 15, with special dedication to the Virgin (13), to the exaltation of the Holy Cross (14) and to the Lord of the Miracle (15).

The procession of the Miracle is considered one of the most important manifestations of popular religiosity in Argentina and Ibero-America, bringing together hundreds of thousands of faithful each year from not only the city and province of Salta, but also from other regions of the country and neighbouring countries. Highlights the arrival of numerous peregrinos a piemany of them from very long distances, as well as the presence of gauches, entire families, parishes, schools and civil and ecclesiastical authorities. The people publicly renew their Faithful covenant with the Lord and the Virgin of the Miracle, asking for protection and committing to living according to the Gospel.

The daily devotion includes the prayer of novenas traditional (one of them made up in 1760 by the priest Francisco Javier Fernández), own songs and visits to the Latin American shrimp, which many consider "Protector of the city." The feast of the Miracle deeply marks the religious, social and cultural calendar of Salta, constituting his spiritual heart.

Link to the Rosary

The historical sources indicate that the Marian image originally donated to the territory by Bishop Francis of Victoria is a Immaculate / Virgin of the Rosary, which links from the origin this advocation to the rosarian spirituality. In addition, the penitential and contemplative nature of the September celebrations is usually accompanied by the community prayer of the Rosary, both in the cathedral and on the pilgrimage roads, although the sources consulted do not indicate an exclusive or specific rosarian practice of this advocation.

Therefore, no consta a specific form of the Rosary of the Miracle with unique texts or formulas, but devotion to Our Lady of the Miracle is naturally harmonized with the Rosarywhich allows us to meditate on the mysteries of Christ in the company of Mary, especially the painful and glorious mysteries, so present in the experience of the earthquake, the conversion of the people and the renewal of the covenant of fidelity. The Rosary thus becomes a privileged means to spiritually accompany pilgrims, sustain penance and build confidence in the maternal intercession of the Virgin of the Miracle throughout the year.