Our Lady of the Lion Market

Marian Advocation of León (León)

La advocación de Our Lady of the Merred venerated in the city of León It is linked to the merchant presence in the ancient Diocese of León and to the general spread of the merchant devotion in Hispanoamerica since the colonial era. However, the information available refers consistently to León, Nicaraguaand there is no specific and differentiated documentation for an advocation of "León, department of León, Colombia". An autonomous Marian tradition with this title linked to a city called León in Colombia does not appear in ecclesial, academic or Catholic press sources: therefore, the most secure geographical reference is the city of León, in the department of León, Nicaragua.

Main data

Origin and history

La advocación de Our Lady of the Merred venerated in the city of León It is linked to the merchant presence in the ancient Diocese of León and to the general spread of the merchant devotion in Hispanoamerica since the colonial era. However, the information available refers consistently to León, Nicaraguaand there is no specific and differentiated documentation for an advocation of "León, department of León, Colombia". An autonomous Marian tradition with this title linked to a city called León in Colombia does not appear in ecclesial, academic or Catholic press sources: therefore, the most secure geographical reference is the city of León, in the department of León, Nicaragua.

In the documented history of León (Nicaragua), the Virgin of the Merced was declared patron of the city el 17 July 1912 by the Bishop Simeon Pereira and Castellónin recognition of the special protection given to the Virgin and the increase in her veneration. These sources insist that was not patron of Old Lion in the 16th centurybut the merchant patronage over the city is a relatively recent reality compared to other colonial devotions. The liturgical feast is celebrated, in accordance with the calendar and the tradition of the Order of the Merced, the September 24.

As for the devotional tradition, Our Lady of the Market is attributed a role of protection of the city against volcanic tremors and eruptionsas in other Latin American cities where she is invoked as a defender in natural disasters; however, the sources consulted for León only mention her "special protections" in a general way without detailing specific episodes of earthquakes or eruptions, so no consta with historical precision a specific local legend dated and documented.

Since no verifiable data are found for a differentiated advocation as "Our Lady of the Market of León (Colombia)," everything that is presented here concerns the Our Lady of the Market in León, Nicaraguawhich is the one that counts the current sources.

The image and the sanctuary

The image of Our Lady of the Merred venerated in León (Nicaragua) is an image of dress, in the traditional way mercantile and colonial, although the available sources do not describe in detail their material or all its iconographic characteristics. In the merchant tradition, Our Lady is often represented as Mother and Queen of the Merced, carrying el white habit of the Order of the Market and sometimes the merchant shieldbut for the concrete image of Leon no consta a more specific official description in the sources consulted.

The main place of worship is the Diocesan Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Mercedin the city of León, Nicaragua, temple style late colonial baroque with elements neoclassical on the facade. It is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary in this advocation and belongs to the Diocese of León. The sanctuary is located next to the park of La Merced, integrating into the urban space through a front court at street level. It has been declared Historical and Cultural Heritage of the Nation Nicaragua's Act No. 782, published in the Official Journal La Gaceta on 15 February 2012. It does not know that it has the title of minor basilicanor that it has been declared a national sanctuary; the sources present it and name it as diocesan sanctuary.

Sponsorship and coronation

In the city of León (Nicaragua), Our Lady of the Merced is patron of the city of Santiago de los Knights de León. The patronage was officially declared the 17 July 1912 by the Bishop Simeon Pereira and Castellónwho also consecrated the sanctuary in his honor. Current civic-religious sources continue to refer to it as the "Patroncita de León", confirming the validity of the patronage.

On a canonical coronation, in the sources consulted (Wikipedia, official tourist pages of León, historical articles and communications of the diocese) does not contain a documented canonical coronation given by the Holy See or by a pontifical delegate to the image of Our Lady of the Lion Market. If there is a local or devotional coronation, it does not appear in the accessible documentation.

For the location indicated in the consultation (León, department of León, Colombia) no consta a diocesan or municipal patronage or a canonical coronation of a specific Marian advocation with the title "Our Lady of the Lion Market"; therefore, only the patronage of the Virgin of the Merced on the city of León in Nicaragua.

Party and devotion

La liturgical feast of Our Lady of the Market is celebrated the September 24the date of this advocation in the universal Church and also assumed in Lion. In the Nicaraguan city are held every year in solemn September employers' holidays in his honor, with masses, novenas and processions. Civil institutions and security forces participate in the celebrations, recognizing their role as patron of the city.

Popular devotion includes the process output of the image from his shrimp inside the sanctuary, with great participation of faithful and manifestations of traditional piety, such as promises, Marian songs and offerings. The media and channels of the sanctuary itself document a significant influx of devotees during the September holidays, though no specific official figures number of pilgrims. The consciousness of his protection over the cityin continuity with the merchant spirituality that presents the Virgin as a mother of mercy and liberating from spiritual dangers and captives.

For a possible Marian sanctuary under this title in "León, department of León, Colombia," no specific data on own parties, pilgrimages or local devotions have been found, so no consta a documented tradition other than that in León (Nicaragua).

Link to the Rosary

The sources consulted on the Virgin of the Merced in León do not mention a unique practice of the Rosary own and exclusive of this advocation (for example, co-fradies of the Rosary specifically linked to its sanctuary or promises with special ways of praying it). Therefore, no consta a differentiated form of prayer of the Rosary historically associated with Our Lady of the Lion Market.

No obstante, en la traditional Marian spiritualityespecially in contexts of strong patronal devotion such as that of Leon, the Rosary It occupies a central place as daily prayer and as preparation for parties, novies and processions. In the framework of devotion to Our Lady of the Merced, the Rosary helps to meditate on the mysteries of Redemption and to contemplate Mary as Mother of mercy y Help of the faithful: every ten can be offered for the release of the current "captivities" (sin, violence, injustice, fear) and for the protection of the city and families. Thus, even if there is no specific ritual link documented, the Rosario naturally accompanies devotional life around this advocation, integrating the memory of Mary of the Merced into the Christological contemplation of mysteries.