Our Lady of Mercy, patron saint of Ushuaia

Patron Saint of Ushuaia

No sources have been found to document a specific advocation of Our Lady of the Merced as patron of Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego, Argentina) nor the existence of a merchant parish sanctuary in that citynor does it contain a "Ushuaia" in the department of Tierra del Fuego of Colombia. Consequently, the local data indicated (patronage of Ushuaia, sanctuary in that city and location in Colombia) do not consist of verifiable sources and should be considered as information to be reinvestigated.

Main data

Origin and history

No sources have been found to document a specific advocation of Our Lady of the Merced as patron of Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego, Argentina) nor the existence of a merchant parish sanctuary in that citynor does it contain a "Ushuaia" in the department of Tierra del Fuego of Colombia. Consequently, the local data indicated (patronage of Ushuaia, sanctuary in that city and location in Colombia) do not consist of verifiable sources and should be considered as information to be reinvestigated.

In general terms, the Our Lady of the Merced (or Mercedes) is born linked to the Order of the Market, founded by St Peter Nolasco in the 13th century, in Barcelona, with the charism of the redemption of Christian captives in the power of Muslims. According to tradition, the night of August 1-2, 1218 (other sources speak of September 24) the Virgin would have appeared to St. Peter Nolasco, King James I and St. Ramon of Peñafort, asking them for the foundation of the Order dedicated to the release of captives. This part belongs to the TRADITION / LEYENDA, very widespread in merchant spirituality, but not documented as a historical fact in a strict sense.

In the plan of the HISTORIA DOCUMENTADA, the Order of the Merced effectively arises in the 13th century and, over time, devotion to Mary under the title of the Merced is expanding through Spain and America. Pope Innocent XII extended the feast of Our Lady of the Merced to the whole Church and set his liturgical celebration on September 24 about 1696. Today the Virgin of the Merced is patron of many cities and nations (among others, Barcelona, the Dominican Republic, different dioceses and armed forces), and is particularly associated with the and to the prison world. For the specific case of Ushuaia and the so-called "end of the world," information about a local commercial patronage is not currently in official sources.

The image and the sanctuary

The available sources do not describe a concrete image of Our Lady of the Revered Market as Patron in Ushuaia ni un sanctuary or parish officially recognized under this title in that city. It does not therefore contain the type of image (size, sculpture, painting), material, size, or a specific iconography linked to that possible local sanctuary. These data should be considered "in research": does not contain documented information.

In general, the traditional iconography of Our Lady of the Merced presents it as an image of Mary with the Child Jesus, the coated menudo commercial white habit y manto, carrying el Order of the Market shieldsometimes with broken chains or captives at their feet, a sign of their liberating mission. This description is of a general nature and cannot be attributed to the image supposedly venerated in Ushuaia, since no consta the image has been officially described in the sources consulted.

Nor has reliable reference been found to a "Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Market" in Ushuaia which has recognition as a minor basilica, national or diocesan sanctuary. The official name of the templeand its specific canonical range; therefore, the mention of a parish-merchant sanctuary in Ushuaia remains, for now, as data without documentary confirmation.

Sponsorship and coronation

In the general sources on patronings of Our Lady of the Merced, many cities and realities are mentioned (Barcelona, Quito, Guayaquil, Cali, the Dominican Republic, armed forces of several countries, prison institutions, etc.), but Ushuaia does not appear ni se menciona un official patronage over that city or region of Tierra del Fuego. Therefore, with regard to the specific invocation described in the consultation, there is no documented official recognition of the patronage of Ushuaia.

The Virgin of the Merced is, however, of the prison system and prisoners in Colombiaas well as from various dioceses and cities of that country, but no serious source links this patronage to a city called Ushuaia or to a "department of Tierra del Fuego" in Colombia. The geographical data indicated in the consultation no coincide with the Colombian administrative reality and should be considered wrong or confused.

As for a canonical coronation of the image of Our Lady of the Merced as patron of Ushuaia, no documented canonical coronation in the ecclesial, merchant or Catholic press sources consulted.

Party and devotion

A nivel universal, the liturgical feast of Our Lady of the Merced se celebra el September 24the date set for the whole Church by Pope Innocent XII in the 17th century. In many places this day we live with Solemn, Processions and Novies and with popular celebrations and acts of charity, especially towards prisoners and persons deprived of their liberty.

Merchant devotion is very linked to the work of mercy to visit and relieve the captiveswhich explains that, in several countries, this day has a special dimension linked to the Prison institutions. In some contexts, pilgrimages to merchant sanctuaries and penitential or solidarity acts are organized with the poorest and excluded. However, for the specific situation of Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego), there are no specific data on pilgrimages, inflow or local traditions of their own. in honor of Our Lady of the Market.

Therefore, in the fact sheet that is prepared for a website of devotion, it is appropriate to present as safe only that The Feast of the Merced is September 24 and that, in the global market context, that day is often celebrated with great fervor, leaving in suspense any local details about Ushuaia as long as they are not verified in diocesan or direct parish sources.

Link to the Rosary

The sources consulted do not indicate a specific and documented link between a local advocation of Our Lady of the Merced in Ushuaia and the prayer of the Rosary (for example, co-fradies of the Rosary, own promises, rosaries of sailors in the "end of the world," etc.). Therefore, in the strict sense, it must be said that there is no documented particular link between this local advocation and the Rosary.

In a broader plane, devotion to Our Lady of the Market is fully inserted into the Marian Classical Spirituality of the Churchwhere Rosary It occupies a central place. The prayer of the Rosary, by meditating on the mysteries of the life of Christ from the hand of Mary, is very well aligned with the charism of the mercy and liberation:: The mysteries of Incarnation and Redemption illuminate the Christian sense of all forms of captivity (material or spiritual), and the glorious mysteries sustain hope in the definitive liberation in Christ. In many Marian shrines, including the merchant tradition, the Rosary becomes a subsidiary trust schoolwhere the faithful welcome themselves under the protection of Mary, Mother of the Merced, asking for the grace of inner freedom and mercy for those who suffer prison or enslavement of any kind.