Marian devotion
Our Lady of Puy
Patrona de Estella
Our Lady of the Puy - Saint Mary of the Puy or simply the Virgin of the Puy - is a Gothic size and an advocation of the Virgin Mary that is venerated on the top of Estella, in Navarra. Its name comes from Latin stage ("Altozano, hill"), therefore, according to devotion, the image was found on a hill, similar to the famous French advocation of Le Puy-en-Velay. She is the patron of Estella, whose party is held every May 25.
Main data
Central message: on the top of the city, the Virgin of the Puy is Mother and Queen of Estella, who has venerated her with deep devotion for centuries.
Tradition and history: a necessary distinction
Two plans should be well distinguished around the Puy.
The tradition He says that about 1085, shortly before the new city of Estella was founded, pastors of Abárzuza came to a high point because some stars pointed it out, and there, in a cave, they found an image of the Virgin with the Child. It was called Virgin of the Puy for having found it on a hill, and King Sancho Ramirez had ordered a hermitage to be erected in his honor. It is a venerable account of popular piety.
La documented historyInstead, it testifies to a consolidated devotion around a Marian temple on the top of Estella. Already in 1174 there is written news of a church in Santa María del Puy, and researchers often link the beginning of the cult to the settlement of the francs in the district of San Martín about 1090, for their clear relationship with Le Puy. The devotion, real and verifiable, is sustained over centuries of veneration of the people of Estella.
History of the sanctuary and the image
The Gothic size
The venerated image is a Gothic-style size, dated in the 14th century, which would have replaced an earlier Romanesque missing. It is made of wood, polychrome on the face and hands, and covered with silver sheet, the work of the Eustaquio Carrasquilla. The maternal figure shows an oval face of French aesthetics, with a slight smile that conveys serenity and sweetness; the Child, sitting on his left hand, makes a gesture of blessing. According to the studies of Professor Clara Fernández- Ladreda, this size leads a group of Marian Gothic images of the Basque-Navarro-riojan type.
The Gothic ark
Between the late 14th and early 15th century a Gothic ark was built and decorated to present and preserve the size. Professor Fernández- Ladreda points out that she may be commissioned by the Queen White of Navarra, very devout of the Virgin of the Puy, on the occasion of the serious illness of her son Don Carlos, Prince of Viana, during her residence in Estella in 1430. The ark, of wood and vertical disposition, remained closed except at solemn parties; on the front it showed a painting of the Annunciation, in international Gothic style.
The basilica
The present temple, located on the top of the city, is of contemporary construction (1930-1952) and work by the architect Navarro Víctor Eusa. He rose above another baroque period, from which all previous prints were deleted. The image was canonically crowned on 25 May 1958, and since then, the patron feast of Estella is held every 25 May, a holiday that was actually held since previous dates.
A deep-rooted devotion
The honour of the Puy cult was reflected in the many painted portraits of the image that existed in past centuries. In 1644, Don Francisco de Eguía and Beaumont wrote that in the city of Estella alone there were three hundred portraits of the Virgin, and there were also in Tarazona, Pamplona, Puente la Reina, Sevilla and Flanders. The tradition of the "down" of the Virgin, documented since 1631 on the occasion of a plague, and the Romeries of the people of the region during April and May keep this devotion alive.
Spiritual message from the Puy
The devotion to the Virgin of the Puy continues to speak with simplicity today:
⛰️ Mary is waiting high. Estella looks at her Mother on the hill as a reference and amparo.
📿 The faith of the people is what lasts. Beyond the account of the finding, it is centuries of veneration that hold the sanctuary.
😊 The face of the Mother transmits peace. The sleeping lever of the gótica heel invites to the serene confiance.
✝️ Mary always takes the Son. He holds the Child who blesses: he never stays for himself, always leads to God.
Prayer to Our Lady of the Puy
Our Lady of the Puy,
Mother and patron of Estella:
from the top of your hill candles for your children.
Look at our sorrows and our hopes,
hold our faith with your serene smile
and take us by the hand to your Son Jesus.
Amen.
The Marian prayers and entrust your intentions to the Mother of the Puy.
A flower for the Virgin
It offers a simple prayer to the Virgin of the Puy. Pray a Hail Mary for Navarra and for the city of Estella.
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