Santa Maria la Antigua

Marian Advocation of Panama City (Panama)

La of Santa Maria la Antigua in the isthmus of Panama comes from the ancient Sevillian devotion to Our Lady of the Ancient, venerated in the Cathedral of Seville since the Middle Ages. This Sevillian image was much loved by the sailors and conquerors, and its cult was spread to American lands from the early years of evangelization.

Main data

Origin and history

La of Santa Maria la Antigua in the isthmus of Panama comes from the ancient Sevillian devotion to Our Lady of the Ancient, venerated in the Cathedral of Seville since the Middle Ages. This Sevillian image was much loved by the sailors and conquerors, and its cult was spread to American lands from the early years of evangelization.

According to the Panamanian historical tradition, Santa María la Antigua habría sido la first Marian advocation officially invoked in the isthmus, brought by the Spaniards linked to the diocese of Seville, on which the American territories were initially dependent. She has been considered a spiritual patron since the beginning of the city of Panama and the first ecclesial organization in the region; however, the specific details of the arrival of a specific image and of acts of proclamation in the XVI-XVII centuries do not always contain comprehensive documentation. When the isthmus was part of the Virreinate of New Granada and after the Republic of Colombia, devotion to Santa Maria la Antigua remained united to the life of the local Church, especially in the cathedral of Panama City.

En el ámbito documented and recentthe advocation was recognized and consolidated in a special way with the official proclamation of Santa María la Antigua as patron of the Republic of Panama, confirmed by the Holy See, 2001. The devotion today is mainly linked to the Basilica Cathedral Santa Maria la Antigua of Panama City, which preserves and promotes this Marian title as a sign of the country's Catholic identity.

(No exhaustive and verifiable details on a concrete account of the apparition, prodigious finding or foundational miracle associated with this image in Panama have been found in the consulted sources; therefore, there is no clearly documented specific legend.)

The image and the sanctuary

The available sources of easy access do not offer a complete and secure technical description (size, exact material, author, precise date) of the image of Santa Maria la Antigua currently venerated in the Basilica Cathedral of Panama City; therefore, on these ends no consta information sufficiently documented in the references consulted.

In continuity with the iconography of the Virgin of the Old of Seville, this advocation is often represented as classic style Marian imagestanding, with the Child Jesus in arms and with elements that remember his antiquity and his link to the Hispanic tradition; however, the specific iconographic details of the Panamanian image (attributes, garments, added elements or restorations) are not accurately recorded in the verified sources.

The main sanctuary of this devotion is the Basilica Cathedral Santa Maria la Antigualocated in the historic centre of Panama City. It is the Catholic church of the archdiocese and has been recognized as minor basilicaIt is the main Catholic temple of the country and the symbolic center of national devotion to this Marian advocation. In addition to its ordinary liturgical function, the cathedral acts in fact as National sanctuary of Santa Maria la Antigua, especially since the confirmation of his patronage in 2001.

Sponsorship and coronation

Santa Maria la Antigua is official patron of the Republic of Panama, patronazgo confirmed by the Holy See in 2001. In the historical context, the cult of this advocation was initially developed in the city of Panama (when the territory was part of Colombia) and, over time, it was consolidated as Marian main country reference.

As regards a possible canonical coronation of the image of Santa María la Antigua in Panama, the sources consulted (general type and reference) do not provide clear, unanimous and verifiable data on an act of canonical coronation with date and pontifical or delegated authority. In the absence of reliable accessible documentation, the following must be reported: does not contain a documented canonical coronation.

Party and devotion

La main party of Santa María la Antigua in Panama is celebrated 9 Septemberthe date that the sources point out as the day of their liturgical and civil commemoration as national patron. Around this date, solemn celebrations are organized in Panama City at the Basilica Cathedral Santa Maria la Antiguawith the Eucharist, acts of veneration and pastoral activities.

The devotion to Santa Maria la Antigua is linked to the religious identity of the Panamanian people. The patron party is attended by ecclesiastical and civil authorities, and the faithful are gathered from different dioceses of the country; however, the sources consulted do not provide verifiable flow figures (approximate number of pilgrims or other quantifiable data), so such figures no constan. It is clear that the advocation is lived as Marian symbol of national unity and is linked to the historical memory of the isthmus and its Catholic tradition.

Among the devotional expressions are the Misas solemnes, la veneration of the image in the cathedraland other pious practices of the Panamanian pastoral calendar, especially around 9 September; however, specific details of external processions, specific tours or other particular popular traditions are not accurately recorded in the reference sources used.

Link to the Rosary

In the sources consulted there is no specific historical link between the advocation of Santa María la Antigua in Panama and a concrete fact related to the prayer of the Rosary (foundation of own rosarian cofradies, apparition linked to the Rosary, miracles explicitly associated with this practice, etc.); therefore, no consta a unique relationship documented in this regard.

However, as in every truly ecclesial Marian devotion, the Rosary It is a natural place in the mercy of the faithful who venerate Saint Mary the Old. The Rosary, in meditating on the mysteries of Christ's life with Mary, allows to contemplate the Mother of the Lord as old and ever present presence in the history of salvation and in the life of the Church. In this way, the prayer of the Rosary becomes a privileged way to welcome the patronage of Saint Mary the Old over Panama: by accompanying Mary in the mysteries of Christ, the believing people feel sustained by their intercession in the joys and trials of national and personal life.

In the ordinary pastoral of the Basilica Cathedral and the parishes of the country, the prayer of the Rosary is naturally integrated in the celebrations dedicated to this advocation, especially in the novies and vigil preparatory to the feast of 9 September, although specific details of local times and forms of this practice no constan in general sources consulted.