Our Lady of the Mercedes de Portobelo

Marian title of Portobelo (Colón)

The General Invocation of Our Lady of Mercy (or de la Merced) has its origin in Barcelona (Spain) in the 13th century, linked to the apparitions of the Virgin to St Peter Nolasco, King James I and St. Raimundo of Peñafort, according to the tradition of the merchant. This devotion, approved by the Church and linked to the Order of the Merced, was then widely expanded by Spain and many Latin American territories.

Main data

Origin and history

The General Invocation of Our Lady of Mercy (or de la Merced) has its origin in Barcelona (Spain) in the 13th century, linked to the apparitions of the Virgin to St Peter Nolasco, King James I and St. Raimundo of Peñafort, according to the tradition of the merchant. This devotion, approved by the Church and linked to the Order of the Merced, was then widely expanded by Spain and many Latin American territories.

As for an advocation with the precise title "Our Lady of the Mercedes de Portobelo"no documented references have been found in ecclesial, historical or devotional sources of public access (diocese pages, religious orders, sanctuaries repertory, Catholic press or specialized databases). There is therefore no specific documented history (foundation, date of introduction, promise, miracle, city vote, etc.) that uniquely links this advocation to the town of Portobelo (neither in Panama nor in the department of Colón in Colombia).

From the perspective of the general tradition of the Virgin of the Mercedes in America, it is true that there exist or have been local images of the Merced in various parishes or chapels of the Caribbean area, as is the case in many other places in Colombia and Panama, but in the absence of specific documentation, such a link remains in the plan of the Hypothesis in verified and cannot be described as a proven story.

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The image and the sanctuary

For a so-called "Our Lady of the Portobelo Mercedes":

– No consta en fuentes accesibles una descripción fiable de la imagen (tipo de talla, material, altura, estilo, iconografía propia, autor, ni siglo). – Tampoco consta un official name of a diocesan or national Marian temple or sanctuary dedicated under this specific title in Portobelo or in the department of Colón (Colombia), according to the regular repertories of churches and shrines consulted.

In general, the images of the Virgin of the Mercedes they are often represented as a size of the Virgin with the Child Jesus, sometimes bearing the merchant scapular and symbols of redemption (broken chains, shackles), but applying this description to Portobelo would be only a typological extrapolation, no un dato documented on a specific image in that place.

Similarly, no reference has been found to the temple linked to this advocation in Portobelo having the rank of minor basilica, national or diocesan sanctuary, or specific mention in official sites of the Church that will make it possible to detail its architecture, canonical category or particular pastoral functions.

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Sponsorship and coronation

– Patronage: It is not in the sources consulted that "Our Lady of the Mercedes de Portobelo" has been officially declared patron of the city, municipality, diocese or region by ecclesiastical or civil decree. Other patronings of the Virgin of the Merced (Barcelona, some cities of America, patron of armed forces in certain countries, etc.) are well documented, but do not include a specific mention of Portobelo.

– Canon coronation: There is no canonical coronation documented for a Marian image with the specific title "Our Lady of the Mercedes de Portobelo." The canonical coronations of the Virgin of the Mercedes that are registered correspond to other shrines and cities, and do not refer to Portobelo.

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Party and devotion

La litigation fiesta universal of the Virgin of the Merced / the Mercedes is celebrated the September 24the date adopted in the Latin Church since the 17th century and spread throughout the entire merchant family and in numerous national calendars. This date is therefore the usual framework for the celebrations of the Virgin of Mercedes throughout the world.

With regard to local parties, novenas, processions or pilgrimages concrete in honor of "Our Lady of the Mercedes de Portobelo," there is no documented data: there is no record of official programs of patronal parties, municipal or diocesan declarations, or statistics of the influx of faithful that allow to describe a tradition of Portobelo associated with this advocation.

In many places in America where the Virgin of the Mercedes is venerated, it is common for 24 September to be held with solemn Mass, procession, Marian songs and acts of consecration to the Virgin; however, applying these traits to Portobelo without a specific testimony would be only a devotional analogy, not a verified information.

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Link to the Rosary

The documentation consulted does not contain a specific and documented relationship between an image or sanctuary of "Our Lady of the Mercedes de Portobelo" and the prayer of the Rosary (typical of the Rosary, official times, promises linked to this prayer, etc.).

In terms General Marian, la Virgen de las Mercedes, como advocación de María, se integra plenamente en la espiritualidad del Rosario: – El Rosario permite contemplar los misterios de la vida de Cristo en compañía de María, y la devoción mercedaria subraya precisamente la misericordia de Dios y la redención, temas muy presentes en los misterios dolorosos y gloriosos. – Allí donde se venera a la Virgen de las Mercedes, el Rosario suele ser una práctica cotidiana o destacada en novenas, vísperas de la fiesta del 24 de septiembre y peregrinaciones, aunque en el caso de Portobelo no hay datos published to describe a local tradition of its own.

Since the specific Marian advocation requested (Our Lady of the Mercedes of Portobelo, Colón) does not appear in a documented way in the usual sources, any extension with names, dates or customs of its own would be conjectural and, by fidelity to historical and ecclesial truth, is not incorporated in this document.