Crowned Madonnas / Madonne Incoronate
The coronation of sacred images, of Madonnas in particular, a rite that began around 1500, was performed with special solemn liturgies approved by Capitolo Vaticano. The Benedizionale makes clear that the decision so to honor an image of the Virgin Mary is the responsibility of the diocesan bishop and local community. However such honor is bestowed only on images of the Virgin Mary that have inspired and sustain genuine and widespread devotion. The devotion of Pope Clemens VIII (1592-1605) to the image of Salus Populi Romani, venerated in the Basilica of S. Maria Maggiore, contributed to its coronation.
In 1960, the coronation of the Black Madonna of Oropa followed. This rite, subsequently incorporated in Pontificale Romano, was greatly promoted by Count Alessandro Sforza Piacentini who paid for the coronation of a good number of images, among which Madonna della Vittoria and S. Maria in Portico. (When Baby Jesus was part of the image, he too was crowned.) In Spain, the first images canonically crowned, are the Virgen del Monserrat (Barcelona) and Virgen de los Reyes (Seviglia).
– Patrizia Fontana Roca
Translated by Mariolina Salvatori
For a more detailed account of this rite,
and for a stunning gallery of crowned images,
please visit Patrizia’s website @ www.cartantica.it