Our Lady of Vorbourg

Marian Advocation of Delémont (Jura)

La advocación de Our Lady of Vorbourg (Notre-Dame du Vorbourg) is linked to the old chapel above the city of Delémont, in a rocky promontory that dominated the old route of the Jura Valley. Since the Middle Ages there existed in this place a feudal castle inhabited by gentlemen, active between the 11th and 15th centuries, which was watching the passage through the Cluse of the Brise. In this defensive context, a first Marian chapel, whose exact origin is not well documented, also emerged. The current chapel was rebuilt in 1586, data in the official presentation of the site.

Main data

Origin and history

La advocación de Our Lady of Vorbourg (Notre-Dame du Vorbourg) is linked to the old chapel above the city of Delémont, in a rocky promontory that dominated the old route of the Jura Valley. Since the Middle Ages there existed in this place a feudal castle inhabited by gentlemen, active between the 11th and 15th centuries, which was watching the passage through the Cluse of the Brise. In this defensive context, a first Marian chapel, whose exact origin is not well documented, also emerged. The current chapel was rebuilt in 1586, data in the official presentation of the site.

According to the local traditionthe early chapel would have been consecrated by the Pope León IX in the year 1049, a fact that is remembered in a painting exposed in the chapel. This pious memory is part of the devotional history of the sanctuary, but it is not clearly shown at the historical level, so it should be distinguished as a tradition transmitted by the Christian community from the place.

As for the documented history of Marian cultlocal sources indicate that the Vorbourg became a very popular pilgrimage place in the Jura from the 17th century, coinciding with a remarkable rise in the veneration of the Virgin Mary in the region. The devotion was especially consolidated around the Miraculous status of the Virgin and the Child, of 17th centurylocated in the interior of the chapel, before which there are many exvotes that witness thanks received and the continuity of the pilgrimage. An important restoration of the sanctuary took place in 1969–1970which allowed to maintain and enhance its religious and heritage function.

The image and the sanctuary

In the inside of the Vorbourg chapel, a statue of the Virgin with the Child popular style 17th century, considered "miraculous" by the devotional tradition of the place. This is an image of Our Lady with the Child Jesus in her arms, typical of post-tridine Marian representations, to which numerous exvotes (paintings, plates and other objects), of remarkable artistic interest, which express the gratitude of the faithful for favors attributed to the intercession of the Virgin of Vorbourg. The sources consulted do not safely detail the material of the image (wood, stone or other), so no consta this date explicitly.

The sanctuary is known as Chapelle du Vorbourg o Chapel of Notre-Dame du Vorbourg. This is a hermitage-sanctuary located in height, on the city of Delémont, accessible by a pilgrimage road that ascends from the old part of the city. The current building, rebuilt in 1586 y restaurado en 1969–1970, presents the sobriety of a regional chapel, with interior collected and oriented to prayer. It is not known that the temple has received the title of minor basilica ni de National sanctuaryIt is rather a Marian regional and pilgrimage sanctuary within the diocese of Basel, much appreciated in the canton of the Jura.

Sponsorship and coronation

Our Lady of Vorbourg is considered, in the tradition of the region, as protectora del valle del Juraand the sanctuary is presented as an important Marian pilgrimage place of the Jura. The chapel directly dominates the city of Delemontthe capital of the canton, and its presence is part of the Christian identity of the environment, with an influence that also extends to canton del Jura. However, the data consulted did not find a formal proclamation (by decree) to designate it as a canonical patron of the city or canton, so that end no consta In a precise legal way.

As for the canonical coronationthe local documentation expressly mentions the In 1869, the Virgin of Vorbourg was raised to the tune as a decisive milestone in increasing devotion. However, the available sources do not clearly specify whether it was a pontifical canonical coronation (with the decree of the Holy See) do not indicate the name of the Pontiff or of the delegate who performed the rite. In the absence of explicit documentation on the canonical-pontifical character of this coronation, and following the criterion of historical rigour, it should be indicated: does not contain a documented canonical coronation in the terms required by the present liturgical right, although a solemn coronation of the image is attested 1869 within the local tradition.

Party and devotion

The sources consulted do not explicitly indicate a Fecha liturgica propia specific to Our Lady of Vorbourg (for example, a specific day different from the great Marian parties of the general calendar). Therefore, no consta an official main feast date beyond the usual Marian holidays (in particular the May celebrations, the Assumption and other solemnities of the Virgin, which often concentrate pilgrims in this type of regional sanctuaries).

The Vorbourg is described as a very popular pilgrimage place in the Jura, with a significant influx of faithful, especially since the 17th century and especially after the 1869 coronation. The rise to the chapel from the city of Delémont has become a traditional form of devotion: the journey, which is part of the old town, is marked by large stone crosses and allows a prayer itinerary to the sanctuary. In the interior, the numerous exvotes express the dimension of Thanksgiving y de trust in the intercession of the Virgin, typical features of Marian popular piety. The sanctuary is also a place of reconciliation and recovery, highly valued by the inhabitants of the valley and by visitors from all over the Jurassic region.

Link to the Rosary

The link of Our Lady of the Vorbourg with the Rosary is particularly visible on the way up to the sanctuary: the itinerary from the Vieille Ville de Delémont is jolted by 15 great stone crosses that materialize the 15 mysteries of the Rosary, according to the classic tradition of this Marian prayer. This provision makes the pilgrimage an authentic "rise of the Rosary"in which the faithful can meditate on the mysteries of Christ's life with Mary as they advance towards the chapel. The region's own tourist and religious presentation highlights the Rosary as Traditional prayer to the Virgin Mary associated with this place.

Apart from this explicit fact, there are no other specific practices of the Rosary that are exclusive of this advocation (as specific historical co-fradies of the Rosary linked to the Vorbourg, for example), so that such information no consta in the documents consulted. However, the whole of the sanctuary - the way of the mysteries, the image of the Virgin with the Child, exvotes of gratitude - clearly shows how the prayer of the Rosary natural fit in the spirituality of Our Lady of the Vorbourg: in this sanctuary, the contemplation of the mysteries of Christ from the hand of Mary joins the walking of the pilgrimwho goes up between the crosses of the Rosary until he meets the Mother of the Lord in the chapel, putting under his protection the personal, family and entire valley of the Jura.