Our Lady of the Perpetual Relief of Asunción, venerated in the Minor Basilica of the Perpetual Relief

Marian Advocation of Asunción (Central)

La advocación de Our Lady of Perpetual Help has its origin in the ancient Byzantine icon guarded today in the church of San Alfonso in Rome, universally promoted by the redeemer missionaries since the 19th century. The Church celebrates its feast on 27 Junethe date which also assumes the sanctuary of Asunción.

Main data

Origin and history

La advocación de Our Lady of Perpetual Help has its origin in the ancient Byzantine icon guarded today in the church of San Alfonso in Rome, universally promoted by the redeemer missionaries since the 19th century. The Church celebrates its feast on 27 Junethe date which also assumes the sanctuary of Asunción.

En Paraguay, devotion to Perpetual Help came with the First Redeemer missionaries, whose presence is documented in Bella Vista, department of Amambay, in the early decade of 1930. En 1944 they established themselves in Asunción and began to work pastoral with the community, systematically extending devotion to this Marian advocation.

According to the information available, the temple of Barrio Obrero in Asunción was progressively configured as National Sanctuary Our Lady of Perpetual Reliefunder the care of the Redemptorists, and today it is recognized as the main center of this devotion in the country. In some sources, its relevance as a reference urban sanctuary for the capital is also mentioned. It does not include in the sources consulted that have a decree of minor basilica.

With regard to the concrete origin of the advocation as "Our Lady of the Perpetual Relief of Asunción," no detailed data are found (exact year of erection of the sanctuary, initial canon decree, etc.); therefore, no consta with documentary precision in accessible sources.

The image and the sanctuary

The venerated image in Asunción corresponds to the classical iconography of Our Lady of Perpetual Help: un Byzantine style icon where Mary appears in half-body, holding the Child Jesus, with the archangels that show the instruments of the Passion, according to the model spread by the Redemptorists throughout the world. No safe technical details on the material or the author of the concrete image of Asunción; the most likely, following the redeemer praxis, is that it is a copy fiel of the Roman iconbut this information does not appear explicitly, so no consta of documented manera.

The temple is known as National Sanctuary Our Lady of Perpetual Relief, situado en el Barrio Obrero de Asunciónand is entrusted to the Redeemer Missionaries. Ecclesial and local press sources present it as the National sanctuary dedicated to this advocation in Paraguay, a reference centre for the Redeemer congregation and for the faithful devotees.

The building, of large dimensions and modern plant, is easily recognized in the city as a prominent Marian urban sanctuary; it also has chapel of Eucharistic worship and an intense pastoral activity linked to devotion to the Virgin and to the redeemer mission. In the sources consulted we talk about "National Sanctuary"but no consta an explicit recognition of small basilica crease for this temple.

Sponsorship and coronation

The Virgin of Perpetual Relief is patron of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redeemer Missionaries) and, at the universal level, is very linked to his mission. In Paraguay, sources indicate that there is a National Sanctuary in Asunción dedicated to this vocation, which indicates a special relevance at country level, although no consta a formal decree declaring her the principal patron of the nation.

At the parish and local levels, the sanctuary functions as a reference centre for Marian devotion in Assumption, and the Virgin of Perpetual Relief is presented as patron and protector of the Redemptorist community and of many faithful who come to the sanctuary. The text of the Archbishop of Asunción highlights the feast and particularly welcomes the congregation on this day, stressing the importance of the advocation for the local Church.

As for a canonical coronation specific to the image of Our Lady of Perpetual Relief in the sanctuary of Asunción, does not contain a documented canonical coronation in the sources consulted (Pontifical Decree, date and papal delegate). There are coronations of other images of Perpetual Relief in different countries, but no safe reference to an act of canonical coronation has been found in this particular sanctuary.

Party and devotion

La main party of Our Lady of Perpetual Relief is celebrated the 27 Junein communion with the liturgical calendar of the Church. On that day, the National Sanctuary of Asunción organizes a wide liturgical program, with multiple masses throughout the day and public expressions of popular devotion.

Recent chronicles mention, for example, public holidays with 6 Masses y una motorized procession (procession of cars) through the streets of Asunción, which accompanies the image of the Virgin and concludes again in the sanctuary with the solemn Eucharist. The feast calls for a great influx of faithful from not only the Barrio Obrero, but also from different points in the capital and the country, confirming the national character of the sanctuary. No exact attendance figures are provided, so no constan accurate numerical data.

Throughout the year, the sanctuary maintains an intense pace of Mass, Novena, Confessions and Eucharistic Adoration, very linked to redeemer spirituality and confidence in Mary's maternal help. In Paraguay, devotion to the Perpetual Relief is also present in other communities, such as the city of Pedro Juan Caballero, where the Virgin is patron and her feast is celebrated with special fervor, in communion with the sanctuary of Asunción.

Link to the Rosary

The sources consulted on National Sanctuary Our Lady of the Perpetual Help of Asunción do not explicitly detail a specific stable programme of rezos del Rosario (as aurora rosaries, processes or sectors) comparable to that documented in some parishes dedicated to the Perpetual Relief in other cities. Therefore, no consta a unique or own form of the Rosary linked exclusively to this advocation in Asunción.

However, in the Marian and Redemptive tradition, the Rosary It occupies a privileged place as contemplative prayer of the mysteries of Christ with Mary. In a Marian sanctuary such as that of the Perpetual Relief, the prayer of the Rosary usually accompany the novena, the vigil and the pilgrimages, especially within the framework of the June 27 party and the preparatory celebrations. Although not mentioned in detail, it is reasonable, from the ordinary pastoral praxis of the Marian shrines, to state that the Rosary constitutes a ordinary path of prayer for the faithful who approach the Virgin of Perpetual Relief: by meditating on the mysteries of Jesus' life, the community is put under the "perpetual relief" of Mary, Mother of Redemption, and learns to trust her intercession in all the circumstances of life.