Santa María de los Angeles del Peñón de los Baños

Marian Advocation of Mexico City (Mexico City)

La devoción a Santa María de los Angeles del Peñón de los Baños is linked, according to the local tradition, with the finding of an image of the Virgin in a rock of the current Peñón de los Baños district in the 16th century. This pious memory places the origin of the cult in an environment of springs and medicinal waters, which gave the place a character of pilgrimage and of seeking bodily and spiritual relief.

Main data

Origin and history

La devoción a Santa María de los Angeles del Peñón de los Baños is linked, according to the local tradition, with the finding of an image of the Virgin in a rock of the current Peñón de los Baños district in the 16th century. This pious memory places the origin of the cult in an environment of springs and medicinal waters, which gave the place a character of pilgrimage and of seeking bodily and spiritual relief.

As for the documented historythe sources of general dissemination consulted present the advocation as a Marian veneration of the Peñón, but no aportan here a precise foundational chronology, not a safe date for the primitive finding. The data of origin in the 16th century should therefore be understood as devotional tradition transmitted by the community, while the verifiable historical details of the development of the sanctuary no constan in the sources gathered.

The image and the sanctuary

The image is popularly known as the Virgin of the Peñón y se venera en el Shrine of the Peñónin Mexico City. However, in the sources consulted no con seguridad a detailed iconographic description of the size - material, size, attributes or style - or an official fact sheet that is sufficiently precise to affirm them without error risk.

Nor does the full legal name of the temple be recorded in the sources gathered, nor does it have the dignity of diocesan sanctuary, National or some other specific canonical category. It does appear, in general terms, as a pilgrimage sanctuary historically associated with the healing waters of the place.

Sponsorship and coronation

In the sources consulted no consta a canonical patronage formally documented on the city, municipality or diocese for this advocation. We can speak with caution of a Local devotional patronage of the neighborhood or the surroundings of the Peñón, but not enough documentation was found to affirm a universal or diocesan official title.

Asimismo, does not contain a documented canonical coronation of the image in the verified sources used for this sheet.

Party and devotion

The main fiesta if it celebrates to 15 August, in connection with the solemnity of Assumption of the Virgin Mary. This liturgical closeness helps to understand the local devotion, which is directed to Mary as a mother, intercessor and sign of comfort for the faithful.

The tradition of the place includes pilgrimages to the sanctuary and a popular memory linked to the healing water The Peñón. The sources consulted do not provide, for this data sheet, reliable data on inflow, numbers of pilgrims or specific rites that are widely documented; therefore, these elements no constan for sure.

Link to the Rosary

There is no specific and widely documented historical relationship between this advocation and a particular fellowship, feast or title of the Rosary in the revised sources. Even so, like all Marian devotion, the Virgin of the Peñon is naturally integrated into the spirituality of the Rosary: the contemplation of Christ with Mary, the memory of the mysteries of salvation and the supplication entrusted to the Mother of God well express the deep sense of this advocation.