In the year of 1592, Fray Andres De León, worthy franciscan missionary, put a Santisima Virgin Image on the hole of a oak, to protect it of the wild nomads indians incursions.
In certain moment, not along time after Monterrey foundation in 1596, a little simple shepherd that cared the goats of the family flock heard that since an oak called her with an all complete clearly and insistence by her own name. What a fantastic surprise when she discovered in the hole of the wild oak a little Santisima Virgin Image! Whit the pass of the time and the approval of the parish, priest the neighbors keep the promise to make the Virgin desires of to built her temple.
This image has been venerate until now in the actual Basilica of our lady of Roble in Monterrey, N.L. México an represent the Mother of God, in a sweet and welcoming posture, with the hands support one on the other a little down of the chest, hold on the head a gold crown and precious stones and posing with her virgin feet on the moon, in the waning moon stage. With 58 centimeters of measure, its made of corn paste with bulbs flowers, her vestments are in a triangular shape. She appears completely standing on a beautiful platform made of wood and silver plated, with a measure of 8 centimeters. Worthy of records are the lot of favors gotten from the Patron Saint during terrible epidemics in the years 1833 and 1854, like the destroyer floods or the large dryness, that had devastated to the region. However the most bigger grace is the spectacular potentiality economic of Monterrey city, that make think to the visitors undeniable protection from the Mother of God. The Sultana del Norte (Monterrey city), is a shape of Maria Santisima.
Is good to say that until 1964 were four the temples that regiomontanos built in honor of the Patron Saint. The actual was approved from the beautiful project of the architect Lisandro Peña who, inspired in the roman Basilicas of San Pablo Extramuros and of Santa Maria La Mayor, got combined in a wonderful way the modern expressions with the traditional moulds and designed the building in three principal parts: the great portic entrance, the majestic central nave and the slim bell tower. The construction was in charge of Ignacio Guajardo Engineer.
Is really display of the actual technique of the construction in reinforced concrete, the bell tower of our Lady of Roble remember the most poetic bell tower in the christian word and bring reminiscences, in special, of the Santa María “in Cosmedin” of the eternal city. The great portico entrance, that a first sight gives to the visitors and idea of the interior majestic of the temple, it hold of course a serial of eight columns made of marble and form corintio order, finished by capiteles and bronze bases.
The interior of the temple is simply overwhelmed and majestic. Designed in a shape of latin cross, include three naves. The central is more bigger that the other sides, has 17 meters of measure of wide. Twenty four columns of imposing beauty and jonico order, covered with mottling marble, with capiteles and bronze bases makes the division between the middle nave from the others, that measure 5 meters each one of wide. The eight columns form outside are from corintio order, and the 22 pilasters of the interior semi detached to the walls has the capiteles and bronze bases from corintio order.
The roof of the central nave, taller that the sides naves amazing us with a handmade design made by regiomontanos, that remember to the roman Basilicas. In each one of the side, in the top part of the central nave, show us a serial of artistic glass window and at the same time increase the natural light in the interior of the temple, it helps to increase the fervour of the faithful people, because enhance with a exquisiteness of the art the most culminated moments of the life of our Jesus Christ lord.
The central nave, since the apse until the atrium, has a measure of 90 meter of length.
All the great constructions are designed for the faithful people and even simple visitors from regio temple focus their eyes and, more than their eyes, their mind and their heart to te superior central place, where can see to Christ; and, at the back, the high altar, finished by the precious reliquary that save the most opulent treasure from Sultana del Norte: the holy and centenary image of our lady of Roble.
With the slightest doubt, the great promoter of this building site was Mr. Archbishop from Monterrey, D. Alfonso Espino y Silva, who declared the celebration of “Año Mariano del Roble” on May 31st 1963, until the consecration of the temple and Virgin´s Coronation, on May 31st, 1964, with the presence of the most high ecclesiastical authorities of México and the representatives of Vatican, in a middle of an indescribable happiness atmosphere and the contagious enthusiasm of the regiomontanos.
His holiness Pope Pablo Vi, gloriously reigning in those years, was who conceded the grace of the coronation of the board proclamation and service and mass owners of our lady Virgin of Roble.
Was on December 12th 1976 when the Pope Pablo VI had the privilege to elevate from temple to Basilica the temple built in honor of our lady Virgin of Roble, proclaimed with all dignity Patron Saint of Monterrey.