The Brilliance of an Identity
For the Province of Our Lady of Candelaria, the month of February is more than just another date on the calendar. It is a reunion with our roots. From the mountains of Boyacá to the breezes of La Popa in Cartagena, the Virgin of Candelaria has been the light that has guided the path of the Augustinian Recollects in Colombia for more than four centuries. It is no coincidence that we were historically known as the “Candelarian Fathers”: our mission was born under her mantle.
The Desert of Candelaria: Where It All Began
History takes us back to 1604, to the banks of the Gachaneca River in Ráquira. There, the Augustinian Recollect charism found its first home in the “Desert of Candelaria.” What began as a hermitage of prayer and silence became the beacon of spirituality that continues to shape our novices today. It was under this invocation that the first Recollects, led by figures such as Father Mateo Delgado, sowed the seed of a life of interiority and community.
A Geography of Faith: From the Mountain to the Sea
Our Province is a map drawn by Marian devotion. In Cartagena, the Virgin of Candelaria is the guardian from the Convent of La Popa, an image with a unique honor: being the only one crowned personally by Saint John Paul II during his visit in 1986. But her light does not stop there:
- In the heart of Bogotá, the historic Temple of Candelaria gives its name to an entire sector of the capital.
- In the Eastern Plains, the parishes of Yopal and Orocué keep the missionary spirit alive.
- Her love extends to Magangué, Arjona, and Medellín, demonstrating that she is, truly, the Patroness of the Caribbean Coast and of our Province.
Our Charism: To Be Light in Community
As children of Saint Augustine, we see in the Candelaria the mystery of the Presentation of the Lord. She carries in her arms the “Light of the Nations.” Our charism invites us to that: to be, like her, bearers of Christ. The devotion to the Candelaria reminds us that our life should be an “burning lamp” of charity, unity, and prayer.
To celebrate the Candelaria is to celebrate our own history. It is to renew the commitment to be “one heart and one soul” oriented towards God, under the guidance of the one who taught us that true light always leads us to an encounter with Jesus.
