Our Lady of Mercy of Cordoba

Marian devotion of Cordoba (Cordoba)

La advocación de Our Lady of the Merced It's connected to there. Order of the Market, founded in the 13th century with the specific charism of redemption of captives Christians in the power of Muslims. According to the merchant tradition, the Virgin appeared on the night of the 1-2 August 1218 a San Pedro Nolascoto the king Jaime I de Aragón y a San Ramón de Peñafort, asking them to establish an order dedicated to the liberation of the captives. This narrative belongs to the field of TRANSITION and is part of the spiritual memory of the merchant family.

Main data

Origin and history

La advocación de Our Lady of the Merced It's connected to there. Order of the Market, founded in the 13th century with the specific charism of redemption of captives Christians in the power of Muslims. According to the merchant tradition, the Virgin appeared on the night of the 1-2 August 1218 a San Pedro Nolascoto the king Jaime I de Aragón y a San Ramón de Peñafort, asking them to establish an order dedicated to the liberation of the captives. This narrative belongs to the field of TRANSITION and is part of the spiritual memory of the merchant family.

In the plan of the HISTORIA DOCUMENTADAthe Order of the Market It was founded in Barcelona and approved by the Church in the 13th century, with its own rules and structure, and was extended by Spain and later by America. The liturgical feast of Our Lady of the Merced was extended to the whole Church by the Pope Inocencio XII en 1696, the September 24. This date remains today the liturgical memory of the advocation in the Roman calendar.

As for a specific advocation of Our Lady of the Merced in Córdoba (Colombia), no constan diocesan, merchant or historical online sources that clearly document their own origin (local miracle, image finding, foundation of colonial merchant sanctuary) or that present it as official patron of the city, as is the case in other merchant nations or cities (e.g., Dominican Republic or Barcelona, Spain).

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The image and the sanctuary

In the general iconographic tradition, Our Lady of the Merced is usually represented as a dress image or round package size, with habit white the market, sometimes with manto y evapulario, sometimes carrying broken chains o handcuffs as a symbol of the release of captives, and the merchant shield in the chest. This iconography is widely spread in the world's merchant temples, although each local image has its own artistic features according to time and place.

On a concrete image de Our Lady of the Merced venerada en una "Basilínica de la Merced" in Córdoba (department of Córdoba, Colombia), no consta documentation in accessible and reliable sources (official pages of dioceses, religious orders, basilicas records, Catholic press) describing:

– tipo de imagen (talla, material, autor, época), – características iconográficas propias, – ni la existencia de un official title de minor basilica, National sanctuary o diocesan sanctuary with that name in Córdoba (Colombia).

The references found to a Basílica de la Merced the most well-known are, above all, the merchant temples of other countries (e.g. Barcelona or Lima), and the hermandades of the Merced in Córdoba, Spain. For Córdoba (Colombia) and its department, no consta In the sources consulted a secure identification of a colonial merchant temple with a lower basilica rank under this title.

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Sponsorship and coronation

La advocación de Our Lady of the Merced has various patronazgos at the universal level: is, for example, a patron of the Dominican Republic and is also linked as a patron to armed forces and certain cities in America and Spain. Their figure is traditionally also linked to the and prisoners and to prison institutions.

However, as regards specifically Córdoba (department of Córdoba, Colombia):

– No consta documented in the sources consulted that Our Lady of the Market has been proclaimed official patron of the city or municipality mediante decreto eclesiástico o civil. – No documented canonical coronation of a local image of Our Lady of the Merced in Córdoba (Colombia) endorsed by the decree of the Holy See or the competent episcopal authority, as recorded in other Marian shrines of America when such coronation exists.

While there is a popular or parish-level recognition of the Virgin of Mercy as the spiritual patron of a specific community within the department of Córdoba, it is not included in widely accessible official or academic sources.

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Party and devotion

La litigation fiesta universal de Our Lady of the Merced se celebra el September 24, a date established for the whole Church since the 17th century. On that day, in many merchant countries and cities, they are held misas solemnes, processions, novenas and other expressions of popular piety.

As for a local party specific to Our Lady of the Market in Córdoba (Colombia), no constan verifiable data on:

– diocesan pilgrimages, – number of faithful or documented influx, – own popular traditions (promises, processions, vigils, dances), – nor civil celebrations linked to Marian patronage.

By analogy with other cities where the advocation is rooted, it is reasonable to assume that, where there is a parish or temple under the title of Our Lady of the Merced, el September 24 is lived as a patron feast of the parish community, with a previous ninth, prayer of the Rosary, solemn eucharisties and, if necessary, procession with the image. But, since there is no specific documentary record for Córdoba (Colombia), this data must be at the level of possible unverified local practice.

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Link to the Rosary

In Catholic spirituality, the advocation of Our Lady of the Merced is deeply linked to the contemplation of the mystery of Mary as Mother of mercy and liberator of the captives. El Rosary is one of the most widespread forms of Marian prayer in the merchant sanctuaries, as a means to meditate on the mysteries of Christ in the company of the Virgin and to pray for those who suffer various forms of slavery (material, moral or spiritual).

For a local advocation of Our Lady of the Market in Córdoba (Colombia), no consta in the sources consulted an explicit reference to a vínculo particular with the prayer of the Rosary (for example, the Rosary fellowship linked to the sanctuary, specific promises to pray the Rosary for the captives, etc.).

However, from a general Marian perspective, the Rosary acompaña de modo natural la devoción a la Virgen de la Merced: – permite contemplar la