Our Lady of the Rosary of the Reconquest and Defense, venerated in the Basilica of Santo Domingo in Buenos Aires

Marian title of Buenos Aires City (Buenos Aires)

La advocación de Our Lady of the Rosary of the Reconquest and Defense of Buenos Aires It is closely linked to the English invasions to the Rio de la Plata (1806-1807) and the subsequent victory of the Creole militias that reconquered the city. According to historical documentation, Santiago de Liniers voted to offer the trophies of victory to the Virgin of the Rosary in the church of the Dominicans, a gesture that explains the presence of enemy flags at the feet of the image. Since then, the Virgin of the Rosary venerated in the Dominican temple was associated with the "Reconquist and Defense" of Buenos Aires.

Main data

Origin and history

La advocación de Our Lady of the Rosary of the Reconquest and Defense of Buenos Aires It is closely linked to the English invasions to the Rio de la Plata (1806-1807) and the subsequent victory of the Creole militias that reconquered the city. According to historical documentation, Santiago de Liniers voted to offer the trophies of victory to the Virgin of the Rosary in the church of the Dominicans, a gesture that explains the presence of enemy flags at the feet of the image. Since then, the Virgin of the Rosary venerated in the Dominican temple was associated with the "Reconquist and Defense" of Buenos Aires.

As for the origins of the image, the Dominican sources point out that it was brought to the Rio de la Plata around 1585-1586 and to be venerated in the convent of the Dominicans since its foundation in 1602. The cult of the Virgin of the Rosary in Buenos Aires has been known especially since the end of the 16th century, with the installation of the convent and the erection of cofradies and hermandades dedicated to this advocation. The present temple was consecrated in honor of the Blessed Virgin of the Most Holy Rosary 19 October 1783.

From the point of view of tradition and popular memory, the image of the Virgin has been consolidated as of the city in the face of the foreign attacks, "Protector of the city that you saved against the attacks of the enemies," according to a petition spread by the Dominicans. This providential reading of the facts, which attributes to the Virgin of the Rosary the decisive protection in the Reconquist and Defense, belongs to the area of the devotional tradition and the believing interpretation of history, while Liniers' vows and the offering of flags in the Dominican temple are based on historical documentation.

> Note: the advocation and sanctuary described are located in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It does not contain a sanctuary of this title in "Ciudad de Buenos Aires, department of Buenos Aires, Colombia"; that location seems to be a geographical error.

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The image and the sanctuary

La image of the Virgin of the Rosary of the Reconquest and Defense is described by the Dominicans as a wood carving of the Virgin with the Child Jesus in her arms. Over the centuries, he has suffered several adjustments, but he retains his character as a traditional Marian image, deeply linked to Dominican spirituality and the prayer of the Rosary. In his shrimp, the crowned image, flanked by historical military trophies related to English invasions, is preserved today.

The sanctuary where it is venerated is the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary and Convent of Santo Domingoin Buenos Aires City. It is the main temple of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) in the Argentine capital, of a strong Marian character and linked from its origin to the veneration of the Rosary. The temple was consecrated in 1783 and later to the Minor Basilica el August 23, 1909. The flags taken from the Scottish Infantry Regiment No. 71, placed at the foot of the Virgin by Liniers, and two emblems taken by Manuel Belgrano to the Spanish realistic army and offered to the Virgin. In the atrium is also the mausoleum with the remains of Belgrano, an illustrious devotee of this advocation.

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Sponsorship and coronation

Various Argentine historical sources place this image among the so-called "Vírgenes Generalas, "i.e. Marian images specially linked to military companies, although the category is applied more as devotional and symbolic recognition than as a strictly defined legal title. In the pleas and texts of piety spread by the Dominicans, the Virgin of the Rosary of the Reconquest and Defense is invoked as of the city of Buenos Aires, "Protector of the city you saved" and "Protector of the City of the Most Holy Trinity, Puerto de Santa María de los Buenos Aires." However, in the sources consulted there is no specific decree declaring it as the principal or secondary patron of the Archdiocese; it is recognized above all as Historical and Marian Protector of the City.

As for the coronationthe Dominican and Catholic press sources agree that the image received the pontific coronation in the year 1922. Se celebró el 22 October 1922with the permission of the Pope Pío XIon the occasion of the pontifical recognition of his secular devotion and the historical role of the advocation in the religious and civic life of Buenos Aires. This coronation is especially commemorated, and in 2022 was celebrated the centenary with a hymn and a music video prepared by the Dominican friars.

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Party and devotion

La main party of the Virgin of the Rosary of the Reconquest and Defense is celebrated the 7 Octoberin communion with the liturgical memory of Our Lady of the Rosary in the universal Church. Around that date, the convent of Santo Domingo organizes novies, solemn celebrations and, according to recent programming, a procession through the streets of Buenos Aires (in 2022, for example, took place on Sunday, October 9, near the party).

Devotion is characterized by a strong historical-patriotic seal united with Marian piety: the Reconquist and Defense of Buenos Aires is remembered, the flags taken to the enemy are exposed and the consecration of the city to the Virgin of the Rosary is renewed. Many faithful come to the temple moved by both Marian devotion and the historical interest of the place (English invasions, Belgrano mausoleum, military trophies). No official figures of inflow in the sources consulted, but the advocation is described as one of the Marian images more emblematic and ancient of Argentinawith constant devotion over the centuries.

The devotional traditions include the own prayers and prayersas the "Replica to Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of the Reconquist and Defense of Buenos Aires," in which her status as Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, protector of the city and guarantor of the faith and the homeland, is highlighted. Also important is the memory of historical devout figures of this Virgin, especially Manuel Belgranowhose link to the image reinforces the national character of devotion.

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Link to the Rosary

The link of this advocation to the Rosary is essential and structuralas its name indicates: Our Lady of the Rosary of the Reconquest and Defense. His veneration is born and developed within the framework of the Dominic frailes, historical promoters of the Rosary prayer in the Church. The basilica is consecrated to the Blessed Virgin of the Most Holy Rosary, and the co-fradies and hermandades that led this devotion from the 16th and 17th centuries were articulated precisely around the prayer of the Rosary.

In practice, this advocation presents the Rosary as school of grateful memoryThe faithful, in disgracing it, contemplate the mysteries of Christ with Mary and, at the same time, remember the benefits received in the concrete history of the city (protection in invasions, care for the homeland, intercession at critical times). Although the sources consulted do not explicitly detail particular forms of prayer (e.g. patriotic rosaries or other specific modalities), all the spirituality of this sanctuary is structured around