Our Lady of Mercy of La Villa de Los Santos

Patron saint of Barcelona in Spain

The invocation Our Lady of the Merced (or Mercedes, or Mercy) is one of the great Marian devotions of the Church, historically linked to the Order of the Market and the work of redemption of captives. [] [] His universal party is held September 24, the date set for the whole Church by Pope Innocent XII in 1696. [...] This liturgical memory and the expansion of the Merchant Order made it easier for the Virgin of the Merced to take strong root in many territories of Hispanic tradition, both in Spain and in Latin America. [] []

Main data

Origin and history

The invocation Our Lady of the Merced (or Mercedes, or Mercy) is one of the great Marian devotions of the Church, historically linked to the Order of the Market and the work of redemption of captives. [] [] His universal party is held September 24, the date set for the whole Church by Pope Innocent XII in 1696. [...] This liturgical memory and the expansion of the Merchant Order made it easier for the Virgin of the Merced to take strong root in many territories of Hispanic tradition, both in Spain and in Latin America. [] []

As to the specific invocation "Nuestra Señora de la Merced de La Villa de Los Santos" in the department of Los Santos (Colombia), no constan in general sources consulted precise historical data on the origin of this local devotion, the date of introduction of its cult, nor the founders or concrete promoters. [] [] Nor does it contain, in these same sources, documentation of miraculous events, apparitions or extraordinary events specifically associated with this image or sanctuary. For the moment, any account of possible "miraculous" origins or prodigious findings should be considered undocumented local tradition or legend until it can be verified in parish, diocesan or academic records.

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The image and the sanctuary

In the current state of accessible information, no consta a detailed description of the concrete image de Nuestra Señora de la Merced venerada en La Villa de Los Santos (type of size, material, dimensions, author, specific iconography or time of realization). The traditional representations of the Virgin of the Merced usually show Mary covered with the white merchant habit, sometimes with scapular and mantle, crowned and sometimes carrying broken chains as a sign of release from the captives, but no consta that this iconography corresponds exactly to the image of La Villa de Los Santos. [] []

Nor does it include, in the general sources consulted, the official name of the temple (parish, sanctuary, chapel) where this advocation is venerated in the indicated locality, nor its canonical rank (minor basilica, national or diocesan sanctuary, etc.). There is no verifiable information on the date of construction of the temple, its architectural characteristics or possible declarations as a historical monument or property set. Since it is indicated that it is an advocation "venerated in the historical whole of the Villa," it is likely that the cult is integrated into a church of local historical relevance, but this cannot be strictly affirmed without direct consultation of the diocese or the parish itself, so the formula is maintained: no consta.

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Sponsorship and coronation

At the general level, Our Lady of the Merced It has the patronage of many cities and civil and ecclesial realities in the Hispanic world (for example, the main patron of the city of Barcelona in Spain, the patron of the Dominican Republic, the main patron of Santiago de Cali and the prison system of Colombia, among others). [] [] However, these sources of general scope no mencionan a specific patronage under the title "Nuestra Señora de la Merced de La Villa de Los Santos" for that town or for the department of Los Santos in Colombia. [] [] For this specific patronage, it should therefore be indicated: no consta.

As for a canonical coronation of the image, the sources consulted on the Virgin of the Merced collect various patterns and devotions, but do not record a documented canonical coronation for an image with the title "La Villa de Los Santos" in Colombia. [] [] Accordingly, in accordance with the instruction given, it is appropriate to state: "there is no documented canonical coronation."

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Party and devotion

La fiesta litúrgica de Our Lady of the Merced in the universal Church the September 24, a date that has also become a main holiday in most of the merchant shrines and the communities where this title is the title. [] [] In the case of the advocation of La Villa de Los Santos, it is indicated as party on September 24, which coincides with the general calendar of the Merced and is consistent with the merchant tradition.

On the concrete devotion in La Villa de Los Santos (processions, novenas, pilgrimages, approximate number of faithful, promises, dances or associated popular traditions), no verifiable data in sources of national or international scope consulted. No figures are available for the influx, no official descriptions of the patronal celebrations, no number of pilgrimages organized from other parishes or dioceses. It is reasonable to assume, by reference to an arraigo in the "Sandinean colonial religiosity," that it can be a devotion with traditional practices such as previous novenas, solemn procession on 24 September and manifestations of popular piety, but, in the absence of accessible and contrasting documentation, the expression must be maintained: no consta to avoid any unproven claims.

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Link to the Rosary

The specific sources on the Virgin of the Merced underline its link with the mercy, la release and charity towards the most needy (originally the captives), but do not point out, in a particular way, an exclusive association of this advocation with the prayer of the Rosary beyond the general practice of the Church and religious orders. [] [] For the local title "Our Lady of the Merced of La Villa de Los Santos" no consta a documented tradition that explicitly links this image with the Rosary, aurora rosaries or other specific forms of this Marian prayer.

From a general mariological perspective, the Rosary It is one of the most deeply rooted ways of contemplating the mysteries of Christ from the hand of Mary, and naturally accompanies almost all Marian asvocations, and also the merchant ones. [] [] Where the Virgin of the Merced is venerated, the Rosary helps to meditate on the Redeeming incarnation of Christ and Mary's participation in the work of salvation, in tune with the charism of the Order of the Market: to free the human being from all forms of slavery, especially spiritual. Although it does not contain a specific rosarian tradition linked to this advocation in La Villa de Los Santos, it can be said that the prayer of the Rosary, lived in a merchant spirit, drives charity, mercy and the defence of the dignity of people, aspects very consistent with the spirituality of Our Lady of the Merced.