Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeia, venerated in the parish - sanctuary of the Rosary of Pompeia

Marian title of Ramos Mejía (Buenos Aires)

In Ramos Mejía (La Matanza party, province of Buenos Aires, Argentina) there is a strong presence of devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeia, spiritually linked to the famous Marian sanctuary of Pompeya, in Italy, spread by Blessed Bartolo Longo since the late 19th century. This advocation is, in its origin, a particular form of the Virgin of the Rosary, with special emphasis on the confident plea and the promotion of the prayer of the Rosary.

Main data

Origin and history

In Ramos Mejía (La Matanza party, province of Buenos Aires, Argentina) there is a strong presence of devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeia, spiritually linked to the famous Marian sanctuary of Pompeya, in Italy, spread by Blessed Bartolo Longo since the late 19th century. This advocation is, in its origin, a particular form of the Virgin of the Rosary, with special emphasis on the confident plea and the promotion of the prayer of the Rosary.

La Italian community established in different areas of Gran Buenos Aires has contributed decisively to the dissemination of this devotion, especially where temples and chapels were erected under the title of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeya, as is also the case in the well-known shrine of Nueva Pompeya in the city of Buenos Aires. The parish-shrine of the Rosary of Pompeya in Ramos Mejía is inspired by the spirituality and practices of the Italian sanctuary (especially the plea of May and October) and is inserted into this framework of rosarian devotion of Italian root.

They have not been found in accessible and verified sources, specific documented historical data (date of canonical erection of the parish / shrine of Ramos Mejía, decree of the bishop, concrete founders, etc.); therefore, regarding its specific local history, no consta detailed and secure online information.

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The image and the sanctuary

The image venerated under the title of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeia reproduces, in greater or lesser fidelity, the famous icon of Pompeia: a representation of Our Lady of the Rosary with the Child Jesus, both giving the rosary to Holy Sunday of Guzmán and Saint Catherine of Siena, according to the classical iconography associated with this devotion. In the original model, it is a painting on canvas, with a strong devotional character and numerous restorations over the years. For the concrete image of Ramos Mejía, no consta with certainty the material (polychrome wood, canvas, clothing sculpture, etc.) and the author, since the sources consulted do not require it.

The place of worship is the parish-shrine of the Rosary of Pompeia in Ramos Mejía, within the diocese of La Matanza (province of Buenos Aires, Argentina). By analogy with other homonymous temples, it is usually a temple of traditional style, with altarpiece or main altar dedicated to the Virgin of the Rosary of Pompeia and spaces for the prayer of the Rosary and the celebration of novies. However, no consta in verified sources that this temple has the title of minor basilicaor that it has been declared National sanctuaryHis character as a "sanctuary" is, for sure, at least diocesanbut the formal decree to confirm it for Ramos Mejía is not available online.

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Sponsorship and coronation

En el ámbito local, Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeia is spiritual patron of the parish-shrine of the Rosary of Pompeia and the community that is gathered around this temple, with a strong presence of faithful of Italian origin or tradition, in accordance with the general history of devotion. There are no official documents declaring this advocation as patrona del municipio of La Matanza or the city of Ramos Mejía, nor as a diocesan patron at the formal level; therefore, no consta a broader civil or ecclesiastical patronage duly documented.

As for the canonical coronation of the image venerated in Ramos Mejía, the sources consulted do not mention any pontifical decree or formal diocesan act of coronation. The solemn canonical coronation that is well documented is that of the original image of Pompeya, crowned by Saint Pius X (and later by Saint Paul VI in 1965, with new crowns) in the Italian sanctuary. For the image of Ramos Mejía does not contain a documented canonical coronation.

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Party and devotion

The devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeia is universally linked to two main dates in the calendar of the Italian sanctuary: 8 May y first Sunday of October, days when the famous one is solemnly praying "Suplica a la Virgen de Pompeya", composed of Blessed Bartolo Longo. This practice has been widely disseminated in various countries and communities linked to the spirituality of Pompeii, especially where there is a strong presence of Italian immigration. Within this framework, the Ramos Mejía community particularly welcomes the first Sunday of October as the main feast of the Virgin of the Rosary of Pompeii, in line with the tradition of the Italian sanctuary and the date of the Rosary in the universal calendar.

Although there are no official figures of concurrence for the shrine of Ramos Mejía, by analogy with other communities dedicated to this advocation, it is common that around the main feast are held Novies, processions with the image, solemn masses, community prayers of the Rosary and the supplica to the Virgin of Pompeyaas well as various popular manifestations (floral offerings, promises, Marian songs). For numerical details of very specific local inflow or traditions, in the case of Ramos Mejía no constan statistical data published by the diocese or the sanctuary.

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Link to the Rosary

La advocación de Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeia is intrinsically linked to Holy Rosary. His origin is in the mission of Blessed Bartolo Longo, who received and promoted the message of the Virgin according to which salvation was closely linked to the spread of the Rosary; he consecrated his life to spread it and to restore faith in the valley of Pompeya. In the Italian sanctuary, the prayer itself is the Apply to the Virgin of the Rosary of Pompeia, solemnly prayed on May 8 and the first Sunday of October, along with the Rosary, and today extended to many communities in the world.

Therefore, in the parish-sanctuary of the Rosary of Pompeya de Ramos Mejía, this advocation is a privileged focus of Rosarian spirituality: the image visually refers to the gift of the Rosary, the main feast is in the framework of the month of the Rosary, and the most characteristic devotional practices (novias, processions, celebrations of May 8 and the first Sunday of October) revolve around the meditated prayer of the mysteries. Where no concrete data are available, it can be theologically stated that the Rosary, as an evangelical prayer centered on Christ with Mary, accompanies and feeds this devotionhelping the faithful to contemplate with the Virgin the mysteries of the life, death and resurrection of the Lord and to live them in daily life.