Our Lady of the Assumption / Transit of Metrenco

Marian vocation of Father Las Casas (La Araucanía)

In general repertories on Marian advocacy and in the synthesis on Marian shrines of Latin America there is not documented a specific advocation with the title "Our Lady of the Assumption / Transit of Metrenco" linked to an officially recognized sanctuary in the Church.

Main data

Origin and history

In general repertories on Marian advocacy and in the synthesis on Marian shrines of Latin America there is not documented a specific advocation with the title "Our Lady of the Assumption / Transit of Metrenco" linked to an officially recognized sanctuary in the Church.

The existence of the commune of Father Las Casas y del sector de Metrenco is documented in the Region of La Araucanía, Chileas part of the urban area associated with the city of Temuco, within the Chilean political-administrative division. It is not clear, in the sources consulted of an ecclesial or Marian character, that there is officially recognition of a Marian sanctuary under the title indicated, nor that there is a widely spread historical tradition about the origin of this advocation in that place.

Therefore, no documented history (foundation, date of erection of the sanctuary, promoters, bishops involved, etc.) of the advocation Our Lady of the Assumption / Transit of Metrenco. No reports of local tradition or legend sufficiently verifiable in diocesan, parish or Catholic press sources.

The image and the sanctuary

The accessible sources do not describe any officially linked Marian image to a sanctuary of "Nuestra Señora de la Asunción / del Tránsito de Metrenco" in Padre Las Casas (La Araucanía, Chile). Therefore:

– Image type, material and iconography: There is no reliable information on the type of sculpture or painting, its material (wood, plaster, metal, canvas, etc.) or on its own iconographic features (for example, explicit representation of the Assumption, the Transit of Mary, the presence of angels, apostles, etc.). In the absence of data, it is not possible to describe the image without incurring assumptions.

– Sanctuary or temple:: The existence of a temple with formal recognition of the "Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Assumption / Transit of Metrenco" (whether diocesan, national or international). Nor does it know that this temple has been elevated to the dignity of minor basilica by la Santa Sede.

As a result, it can only be said rigorously that does not contain an official description of the image or the sanctuary in the available documentation under this advocation.

Sponsorship and coronation

– Patronage: No consta que Our Lady of the Assumption / Transit of Metrenco has been officially proclaimed patron of the corresponding diocese, of the commune of Padre Las Casas, of the Region of La Araucanía, or of another civil or ecclesiastical constituency. In the usual catalogues of national and diocesan Marian patronings in Latin America this title is not recorded.

– Canonical coronation: There is no documented canonical coronation. In particular, no reference has been found to the decree of the Holy See or to the pontifical delegation that has made any coronation of the image under this title, or to a "diocesan" coronation officially collected from verifiable sources of the local Church.

Party and devotion

El August 15, solemnidad de la Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Maryit is a universal liturgical feast in the Catholic Church, and around this date many local devotions to the Assumption are concentrated throughout the world. It is reasonable to think that, if there is a local devotion in Metrenco under the title of the Assumption or Transit, it would hold its main feast on this date, in line with the Roman calendar; however, there is no explicit mention in the consulted sources of a feast of "Our Lady of the Assumption / Transit of Metrenco".

No verifiable data are available on:

– peregrinaciones organizadas oficialmente hacia un santuario con este título; – número estimado de fieles o datos de afluencia anual; – tradiciones populares concretas (procesiones, novenas, cantos propios, promesas específicas, etc.).

So, as far as party and devotionit is only possible to indicate that the date of the August 15 corresponds to the solemnity of the Assumption throughout the Church, and that No specific details of a celebration properly linked to the apvocation of Metrenco beyond what might be the common parish practice.

Link to the Rosary

No revised source specific link between the advocation "Our Lady of the Assumption / Transit of Metrenco" and the prayer of the Rosary (for example, the Rosary's cofradies canonically erected in that sanctuary, particular indulgences, or the Rosary's parties linked to this image).

From a general mariological perspective, the Assumption of Mary and the mystery of his Transit are considered in a privileged way in the glorious mysteries of the Rosarywho invites us to meditate on the full participation of the Virgin in the Paschal victory of Christ. Any local devotion to Mary in her Assumption, even without concrete data from Metrenco, is naturally aligned with the practice of the Rosary, as this:

– hace recorrer los mysteries of Christ's life with Mary, culminando en la glorificación de la Madre del Señor; – sostiene la popular piety mariana en torno a las grandes fiestas litúrgicas, como la Asunción del 15 de agosto; – ayuda a los fieles a unir la propia esperanza de resurrección y de vida eterna a la de la Virgen ya glorificada.

In the absence of documentary evidence of its own nexus between this advocation and the Rosary, it can only be said, with rigour, that general theological and spiritual connection between the Assumption of Mary and the prayer of the Rosary, without attributing practices, promises or particular characteristics that do not contain.