Our Lady of Mercy of Lima, venerated in the Basilica and Convent of La Merced of Lima

Marian devotion of Lima (Lima)

The Libyan devotion to Our Lady of the Merced it dates back to the time of the foundation of Lima and at the early start of the Mercedaria Order in the city. The image venerated in Lima was enthroned at the beginning of the 17th century in the merchant temple, and since then it was associated with the protection of the virreinal capital and, later, the republic.

Main data

Origin and history

The Libyan devotion to Our Lady of the Merced it dates back to the time of the foundation of Lima and at the early start of the Mercedaria Order in the city. The image venerated in Lima was enthroned at the beginning of the 17th century in the merchant temple, and since then it was associated with the protection of the virreinal capital and, later, the republic.

Between the facts Historically documented their proclamation as "Patrona de los Campos del Perú" por el Cabildo el 20 September 1730 and how "Patron of the Arms of the Republic" Congress 22 September 1823. The 24 September 1921in the centenary of independence, received the canonical coronation and the title of "Gran Mariscala del Perú"Since then, the date has been particularly linked to its public veneration in the country.

The image and the sanctuary

The image that is venerated in Lima is a vireinal image, described by the Catholic press as the "beautiful image" guarded in the Basilica of the Merced of Lima. The sources consulted do not accurately describe here the material or all the iconographic features; therefore, these data no constan in the documentation provided.

Se venera en la Basilica and Convent of Our Lady of the Mercedin the historical center of Lima, a merchant temple of great historical and devotional importance. The sources provided name it as basilica and convent, but The results do not contain an explicit data of minor basilica or national / diocesan sanctuary.

Sponsorship and coronation

His patronage is clearly linked to Peru: it was proclaimed Patrona de los Campos del Perú en 1730 y Pattern of the Arms of the Republic in 1823; in addition, in the Peruvian devotional tradition it appears as Gran Mariscala del Perú. Some sources also present it as National Patroness of Peru and as a patron of the Armed Forces, although this formulation appears as devotional appreciation or journalistic synthesis rather than as a single official formula in the sources consulted.

La canonical coronation consta en 1921on the occasion of the first centenary of the independence of Peru; a source attributes the ceremony to the Archbishop of Lima, Mons. Emilio Lissón and Chávez, por decreto de Benedict XV. With the data provided, it can be said that canonical coronation is documented in that year; the complementary liturgical details appear in the aforementioned Catholic press.

Party and devotion

La main party se celebra el September 24. On that day, he concentrates the public expressions of tribute to the Virgin in Lima and Peru, with a special institutional presence of the Armed Forces, which each year give him honors for his title of Mariscala del Perú.

The sources consulted highlight their strong popular roots and their relationship with the country's religious and civic identity. It is also mentioned that in 1970 the Lima lobby granted it the Key to the city and in 1971 received the Gran Cruz Peruana to the Naval Merit, signs of sustained and publicly recognized devotion. The results do not contain verifiable data on mass inflow figures or pilgrimages specific to the Libyan sanctuary.

Link to the Rosary

In the sources consulted no consta a specific and specific historical relationship of this advocation with the prayer of the Rosary. However, like any Marian advocation approved by the Church, its contemplation naturally fits the Rosary, because this prayer leads to meditating, with Mary, the mysteries of Christ in the history of salvation.