Our Lady of Mercedes

(Our Lady of Mercy)

Patron saint of the Dominican Republic. Her party is celebrated on September 24.

The Virgen de las Mercedes (Our Lady of Mercy) is the Patron Saint of the Dominican Republic. The devotion of her by the Catholic population of the country begins almost from the discovery of the island. The Marian title of Mercy dates back to the founding of the religious Order of Mercedarians on August 10, 1218, in Barcelona, Spain. While Diego Gómez de Sandoval was Governor of Hispaniola, on September 8, 1615, a strong earthquake (grade IX on the Mercalli scale) occurred on the island, with numerous aftershocks lasting at least 40 days. The city of Santo Domingo was severely affected, with around 24 people dying. Then the Cabildo de Santo Domingo declared the Virgen de las Mercedes “Patron Saint of Hispaniola”.

His cult was celebrated on the anniversaries of the aforementioned earthquake, September 8. In 1740. By Royal Decree, his festivity was changed to September 24. Every year in our country, thousands of parishioners move to the province of La Vega, specifically to Santo Cerro, from different towns in the country to venerate her and celebrate her feast, on September 24. The faithful consecrate themselves in the hope of obtaining some benefit and offering vows and promises to the Virgin. Several towns celebrate every September 24, their patron saint festivities in honor of the Virgen de las Mercedes, considered their spiritual patron saint. Some of those places are Azua, Hato Mayor, Constanza, Imbert, Pimentel and Gualete-la Isabela in Puerto Plata.

Novena to Our Lady of Mercy

By the sign of the Holy Cross, deliver us from our enemies, Lord, our God.
My Lord Jesus Christ, God and true Man, Creator, Father and my Redeemer; because you are who you are, Infinite Kindness, and because I love you above all things, it weighs me with all my heart that I have offended you; it also weighs me down because you can punish me with the pains of hell. Helped by your divine grace, I firmly propose never to sin again, confess and fulfill the penance that was imposed on me. Amen.

PREPARATORY PRAYER FOR EVERY DAY

Sovereign Virgin Mary, Queen of Angels, Empress of heaven, chosen Mother of God, conceived in grace, to whom all the choirs of Angels and Saints in heaven pay veneration. I approach you to beg you, since you came down from heaven to earth declaring that you are the Mother of Mercy and Mercy, use your mercy with this humble devotee of yours. And to further force you, Mother of sinners, consolation of the afflicted, relief of all needs, I consecrate myself once again to you, as your slave and servant. Direct me, direct me and protect me, my Lady and Mother, so that I can succeed in serving you and achieve what I ask and desire in this novena, if it is to the liking of your precious Son Jesus, who lives and reigns with God the Father, in unity with the Holy Spirit. , God forever and ever. Amen

Pray below the prayer of the corresponding day:

FIRST DAY

Lord, Almighty and Merciful God, that in order to free your chosen people from the slavery of Egypt you spoke to Moses on Mount Horeb, from a bush that burned without being consumed, likewise you spoke in Barcelona to the Patriarch Saint Peter Nolasco so that he rescued the Christian captives, being the messenger your Most Holy Mother, the Virgin Mary, who came down from heaven and from the first moment of her life was like a miraculous bush, since the flame of guilt never touched her, nor did she lose the beauty of grace, nor its original purity; I beg you that through the intercession of your Holy Mother herself, my body does not burn in the flames of impurity, nor my soul be stained with the sin of sensuality, so that, in imitation of this heavenly Lady, my heart exhales purity fragrances.