Timeline

START
1630

The miracle of the cart takes place in Rosendo’s ranch and the small image is taken to an altar in the already mentioned ranch.

1633

A hermitage is built on Rosendo’s ranch and Negro Manuel is assigned as a slave of the Virgin in order to look after the cult of the Holy Image.

1671

The Holy Image is moved to the ranch of the woman Ana de Matos. Negro Manuel, faithful servant of Mary, accompanies his Lady, serving her until his death.

1682

Donation of land by Ana de Matos to the Virgin of Luján, which is the beginning of the city of Lujan.

1685

The Virgin is moved to the first chapel built in her honor by the first chaplain, Fr. Peter de Montalbo, who, when he was gravely ill, had gone on pilgrimage to Luján in order to ask the Virgin’s intercession for his health, and being miraculously cured, he remained until his death in her service. 

1730

The chapel of Luján is raised to a parish.

1737

Canonical visit to the sanctuary Luján during which the writing down of all that is known for certain concerning the Holy Image is ordered. The only valuable testimony remaining to us of this important visit is that of the Mercedarian Peter Nolasco de Santa Maria, who is considered the first chronicler of the Virgin.

1767

The Holy Image is translated to a new sanctuary built by the first administrator of Luján, John of Lezica and Torrezuri.

January 18th 1824

On the day when the Chair of St. Peter is celebrated, the canon, John Mastai Ferretti, who will assume the government of the Catholic Church under the name of Pius XI and will be the pope who will promote the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, visits Luján.

December 3rd 1871

The first large pilgrimage of the catholic Argentinians to the sanctuary of Luján. The young priest, George Mary Salvaire, Vincentian missionary of French origin, recently arrived at his new mission in Argentina, visits the sanctuary for the first time.

1872

The congregation of Vincentian priests take charge of the attention of the sanctuary of Luján.

1885

Fr. George M. Salvaire, a debtor of the Most Holy Virgin under the advocation of Luján because of a miracle granted by her, writes his “History of Our Lady of Luján”

1886

Fr. Salvaire travels to Rome to ask His Holiness Leo XIII for the great and important grace of the Pontifical Coronation of the Holy Image. The precious crown had been made in France with jewels offered by Argentinian ladies.

May 8th 1887

The solemn coronation of the Holy Image by the hands of the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Monseigneur Federico Aneiros, in the name of and as a representative of the Supreme Pontiff.

May 15th 1887

The laying and blessing of the first stone of the new Basilica designed by Fr. Salvaire.

May 25th 1889

Fr. Salvaire is named pastor of Luján

February 4th 1899

Death of Fr. Salvaire in Luján.

December 4th 1904

The Holy Image is translated from its former temple to the magnificent Basilica built in its honor.

September 8th 1930

Pope Pius XI names the Virgin of Luján patroness of Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

October 6th 1930

The consecration of the new temple takes place, designed, planned, and initiated by Fr. Salvaire, who could not see it completed, but arranged everything so it would be made as worthy as possible for such a great Lady. 

October 15th 1934

The Papal legate for the XXXII International Eucharistic Congress, the then Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, later Pius XII, visits Luján and finds there “the heart of the great Argentinian people”.

November 30th 1969

At the end of a pilgrimage of 15 km on foot, the then president of the Republic of Argentina, John Charles Onganía, consecrates the nation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Luján.

June 11th 1982

The Holy Father John Paul II, during his visit to Argentina, celebrates the Holy Mass in Luján and presents to the Image the distinguished Golden Rose.

April 12th 1987

Pope John Paul II, in his second visit to Argentina, consecrates the country to the Virgin of Luján at the conclusion of a highly attended Mass for Palm Sunday on 9th of July Avenue, in the center of Buenos Aires.

1998

The same pope enthrones in Rome, in the Argentinian National Church, a replica of the Holy Image of Luján

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