Our Lady of Relief, patron of the communal village of Relief

Patrona de El Socorro

La advocación de Our Lady of Perpetual Help in the communal village of Socorro (Santander, Colombia) is part of the ancient Augustinian devotion to the Virgin of Socorro, born in Italy in the early 14th century and spread throughout Europe by the Augustines. This Marian devotion, focused on Mary as assistance and protection In the face of danger, he passed to Spain and from there he arrived in New Granada.

Main data

Origin and history

La advocación de Our Lady of Perpetual Help in the communal village of Socorro (Santander, Colombia) is part of the ancient Augustinian devotion to the Virgin of Socorro, born in Italy in the early 14th century and spread throughout Europe by the Augustines. This Marian devotion, focused on Mary as assistance and protection In the face of danger, he passed to Spain and from there he arrived in New Granada.

According to local historical studies, devotion to Our Lady of Relief in the then Province of Guane (now the province of Santander) began to 1680. An academic article cites an affidavit of January 10, 1684 by Andrés Murillo, in which he refers to the existence of this devotion in the area. The investigation indicates that the Jesuit Father Francisco Veraiz took devotion to New Granada in the early 17th century, and it was Don Juan López de Paredes who introduced the canvas of the Virgin of Relief in the region of the Guanes around 1680, beginning the construction of the chapel that would become the parish of Our Lady of Relief.

As for the link with communal history, the local tradition presents Our Lady of Relief as "Community people's tutelar lighthouse" and spiritual patron of the village where the insurrection of the Communeros was established in 1781, but the sources consulted are limited to affirming the continued importance of this invocation in the religious and social life of the municipality, without detailed specific miraculous episodes linked to the uprising. It can therefore be said that there is a historical and symbolic relationship between the advocation and the communal identity of the city, but there is no accurate legendary narration or specific miracle directly associated with the 1781 movement in the verified sources.

The image and the sanctuary

The documentation on the concrete image venerated in the cathedral / temple of relief is limited in accessible sources. The material (wood, canvas, size, etc.) and a detailed and documented iconographic description of the main image currently venerated are not safely included; the studies on the advocation of Relief describe, in general, the traditional Augustinian iconography, but do not specify the particular characteristics of the image of Relief (Santander, Colombia). Therefore, no consta in a documentary way, in the sources consulted, the exact type of image (size, painting, dress sculpture) and all its specific iconographic attributes in this sanctuary.

With regard to the temple, the advocation is venerated in the main church of the city, traditionally linked to the parish and today the cathedral of the municipality of Socorro, in the department of Santander. The local sources refer to the construction of an important temple driven by devotion to Our Lady of Relief, whose project of a church of greater dimensions is documented in the 19th century (for example, in 1873, mention is made of the beginning of a significant work linked to this devotion). However, in the sources consulted, the current official name (for example, if it is "Cathedral of Our Lady of Relief" or "Basilica" with such a title) it is not known that it has been declared minor basilica o National sanctuary published in a Pontifical Decree. As a result, it can only be said that it is the Templo principal/catedraulic where the city honors its patron, without attributing specific canon titles that are not clearly documented.

Sponsorship and coronation

The Virgin of Help is recognized as patron of the city of El Socorro, Santanderwhose own toponymy and historical development are linked to this Marian advocation. Fuentes sobre la apvocación del Socorro explicitly collect that la Virgen del Socorro is patron of the city of El Socorro (Santander, Colombia). At the diocesan or national level, there is no explicit recognition in the sources consulted that it is present as a patron of a whole diocese or of Colombia as a whole; therefore, only its patronage about the city / municipality of Socorro is clear.

As regards a possible canonical coronation, the revised sources (database on relief advocacy, historical studies, lists of advocacy and devotional sources) do not contain any decree of pontifical or diocesan canonical coronation for the image of Our Lady of Relief Relief (Santander). Nor is there any certain mention of a date or name of the Pontiff or delegate who presided over such an act. Accordingly, following the requested criterion: does not contain a documented canonical coronation for this advocation in Socorro (Santander, Colombia).

Party and devotion

The Order of Saint Augustine celebrates liturgically to Our Lady of Relief on May 13, according to the sources of the Augustinian region that reflect the global spread of this advocation. This date, which is widely associated with the affluence in the agustinian field, offers a plausible reference for the local celebration, although the sources consulted do not expressly indicate the specific calendar of the parish / cathedral of the Socorro (Santander). That is why it can be said that the litigation fiesta general agustiniana of Our Lady of Relief is celebrated the 13 May, while the specific date of the main patron party in the city of Socorro no con seguridad in the verified sources.

The devotion to Our Lady of Relief in the municipality has been described as a constant reference in its religious and civil history: a study on the advocation states that, since the end of the 17th century, this Virgin has been "Community village tutelar lighthouse, "accompanying the growth of the town and its identity. It is mentioned that, in response to the" great devotion "of the people of Africa, it was undertaken in 1873 the construction of an important temple dedicated to the Virgin of Help, which shows a deep-rooted and sustained devotion, capable of mobilizing resources and community efforts. However, there are no quantitative data of influx (number of pilgrims, annual statistics) or a detailed description, with verified sources, of specific processions, novenas or unique popular traditions beyond the general recognition of their central role in the religious life of the municipality.

Link to the Rosary

The specific sources on Our Lady of Relief (Santander) do not explicitly mention a of the Rosarya particular title linked to the Rosary or a unique official practice that directly relates this advocation to the prayer of the Rosary as a defining feature of its sanctuary; therefore, no constain the documentation consulted, a specific legal or devotional link and documented with the Rosary (for example, as the national sanctuary of the Rosary or the seat of a historical fellowship of this prayer).

However, as in the vast majority of the Marian shrines of Hispanic America, devotion to Our Lady of Relief is naturally inserted into the spirituality of the Rosary. The Rosary is the most widespread popular way to contemplate the mysteries of Christ's life with Mary and to go to her "relief" in personal, family and social needs. In a city that recognizes the Virgin of Help as a patron and "guardian lighthouse," it is consistent that the prayer of the Rosary has an important place in daily piety, in the novies and in the patronal parties, although these specific details are not documented in the sources consulted. Thus, even without a specific mention, the Rosario aparece como fireplace privileged to live confidence in the help of Mary under this advocation and to unite the common history of Relief to the prayer contemplation of the Gospel with the Mother of the Lord.