Virgin Purísima de Macas, venerated in the Cathedral - National Sanctuary of the Purísima de Macas

Marian Advocation of Macas (Morona Santiago)

La Our Lady Purísima de Macas is a very deep-rooted Marian invocation in the Amazon region of Ecuador, particularly in the city of Macas, capital of the province of Morona Santiago. It is not a Colombian advocation: Macas is found in the Ecuadorian Amazon, and devotion is closely linked to the mission history and subsequent development of this city.

Main data

Origin and history

La Our Lady Purísima de Macas is a very deep-rooted Marian invocation in the Amazon region of Ecuador, particularly in the city of Macas, capital of the province of Morona Santiago. It is not a Colombian advocation: Macas is found in the Ecuadorian Amazon, and devotion is closely linked to the mission history and subsequent development of this city.

# # Tradition and legend According to the tradition collected in local chronicles and devotional stories, the Pursima de Macas is linked to the special protection of the Virgin in times of danger to the population, which led the people to do a oath solemn to celebrate it with "sworn party" in thanksgiving. In memory of an event considered miraculous (salvation in the face of a serious threat or danger), the inhabitants of Macas promised to proclaim the Blessed Virgin as Queen and Patron of Macasand committed to holding a solemn celebration every year 5 August. These stories are mainly transmitted in pious key and do not reflect in detail in critical historical documentation.

# # # Documented history On the historical plane, sources agree that devotion was consolidated around a ancient image of the Immaculate venerated in Macas from the time of the mission, the heiress of evangelization in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The city, located in the valley of the Upano and under the presence of the Sangay volcano, was shaping its religious identity around this advocation, until the main temple became the Catedral de la Purísima and, subsequently, Marian Sanctuary of Reference for the Ecuadorian Amazon. The recognition of Macas as a center of religious tourism around the Pursima is documented, highlighting both the spiritual dimension and the cultural and tourist impact of devotion.

The image and the sanctuary

The image image of the Blessed Virgin of Macas is a representation of Mary Immaculate (Purso), that is, the Virgin conceived without original sin. It is venerated as a historical image of missional times, although the precise technical data (author, exact date, original material) are not certain in the sources consulted. Iconographically, it follows the classic model of the Immaculate: Virgin standing, associated with Marian purity, recognized and venerated by the faithful as a sign of maternal protection over the city and the Amazon region.

The sanctuary The image will be venerated in the Catedral de la Purísimalocated in the heart of the city of Macas. It is the main temple of the city and one of the most representative buildings of the province of Morona Santiago. It's, at the same time, catedral y Marian sanctuary, and in various sources it is presented as an important "sanctuary dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, with the title of La Pursima," considered the centre of Marian devotion of the Ecuadorian Amazon.

The modern cathedral was built time after the first military stages, and its interior was enriched with artistic elements, such as vitrals made in Cali (Colombia), which narrate the history of devotion and transformation of the Pursima de Macas over time. In the sources consulted no consta the temple has officially received the title of minor basilicabut it is recognized as Marian shrine and diocesan cathedral.

Sponsorship and coronation

La Our Lady Purísima de Macas is recognized as religious patron of the city of Macas and its inhabitants. Various local testimonies and information notes also indicate that it is considered Patrona of the province of Morona Santiago, reflecting the extent of devotion from the capital city to the entire provincial territory. This status of patronage is linked to the people's oath to proclaim it. Queen and Patron of Macasafter the protection experience attributed to his intercession.

As for a canonical coronation (i.e. an official liturgical act approved by the Holy See to crown a Marian image in a stable manner), in the sources consulted does not contain a documented canonical coronation: no secure date data, decree or pontifical delegate for a formal coronation.

Party and devotion

The devotion to the Purple of Macas is especially expressed by sworn parties, linked to the old city oath. The sources indicate two main dates:

– 5 August: Swear and solemn feast, born of the city's oath to celebrate each year in action of thanks to the Purso of Macas. This celebration is strongly associated with pilgrimages, walks and popular manifestations of piety, and has been highlighted as a factor for promoting religious tourism in the region.

– 18 February: Another sworn party, also well-established, commemorating the protection of the Virgin and celebrated with great participation of the population. It is mentioned that traditionally, in Macas, the 5 August has priostes mainly women and the 18 February priostes men, within the popular organization of the parties.

In practice, these two dates concentrate processions, novies, solemn masses and an intense participation of local faithful and pilgrims from other areas of the Ecuadorian Amazon. The pilgrimage best known starts in the canton Sucúain the parish of the same name; the faithful gather in the Amazon Ecuador Park or in the Church Maria Auxiliadora and walk on the road Sucúa-Macas to the cathedral, where they conclude with the Eucharist and the acts of veneration to the Pursima.

Although this advocation has a strong roots around the parties of August and February, its Marian content naturally links with the spirituality of the Immaculate Conceptionand is therefore also invoked with special intensity in the context of the celebrations of the 8 December, the universal feast of the Immaculate, although this date does not appear as the main "sworn" feast of the advocation in Macas.

Link to the Rosary

In the specific sources on the Our Lady Purísima de Macas there is no explicit particular or historical relationship with the prayer of the Rosary (for example, the foundation of the Rosary's cofradies or special obligations to pray to the oath). There is no mention of a unique practice of the Rosary that distinguishes this advocation from other Marian devotions.

However, as Invocation of the Immaculate and patron of a strongly Marian local Church, the Pursima de Macas is part of the traditional spirituality of the Church, in which the Rosary is one of the privileged ways of contemplating the mysteries of Christ with the eyes of Mary. In the novies, processions and pilgrimages to the cathedral sanctuary, the prayer of the Rosary is naturally integrated into the piety of the people, as it pleads for the protection of the Virgin over the city of Macas, the province of Morona Santiago and the entire Ecuadorian Amazon.