Virgin of Candelaria

Virgin of Candelaria
Virgin of Candelaria, Saint Patron of the Canary Islands.[1]
Venerated inRoman Catholic Church
Major shrineBasilica of Candelaria (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria), Tenerife (Canary Islands). This is its main sanctuary, a place where it has its origin as a Marian invocation.[2]
FeastAugust 14–15 (on Tenerife and the Canary Islands), and on 2 February (also on this day in Tenerife, although minor festival). February 2 in Candelaria, Quezon, February 2 in Jaro, Iloilo City and the whole Western Visayas in the Philippines. Every February 2 (Tatala)[3] February 1–3 Silang, Cavite
AttributesBlack Madonna with baby in her right hand and a candle in her left hand, embroidered mantle, gilded coronation crown
PatronageCanary Islands as well as Cabildo de Tenerife; Oruro and La Paz (Bolivia), Medellín (Colombia), Puno (Peru), Lajas (Puerto Rico), Mayagüez (Puerto Rico), Manatí (Puerto Rico), Western Visayas (Philippines), Tatala, Binangonan, Rizal (Philippines), Paracale, Camarines Norte (Philippines), Silang, Cavite (Philippines) and Batasan, Macabebe, Pampanga (Philippines)

The Virgin of Candelaria or Our Lady of Candle (Spanish: Virgen de Candelaria or Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria) (Tagalog: Mahal na Birhen ng Candelaria, popularly called La Morenita, celebrates the Virgin Mary on the island of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands (Spain). The center of worship is located in the city of Candelaria in Tenerife. She is depicted as a Black Madonna. The "Royal Basilica Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Candelaria" (Basilica of Candelaria) is considered the main church dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the Canary Islands and she is the patroness saint of the Canary Islands.[1] Her feast is celebrated on February 2 (Fiesta de la Candelaria) and August 15, the patronal feast of the Canary Islands.

Her devotion is deeply rooted in other parts of Spain, and in countries such as Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Philippines, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela and others. Her patronage also extends to various cities and countries in America and other continents. This has made the Virgin of Candelaria the second most widespread Marian devotion on the American continent, after the Our Lady of Guadalupe, patron saint of Mexico.[4][5]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference autogenerated1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Presentación de Jesús al templo (Fiesta de la Candelaria) y origen de la advocación
  3. ^ "Tenerife Festivals". Whattenerife.com. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  4. ^ El Día de la Candela
  5. ^ La Virgen de la Candelaria