Today, September 24, the Church celebrates the memory of Our Lady of Mercy, also known as the Virgin of Mercedes or Virgin of Mercy. This Marian devotion, deeply rooted in Spain and America, highlights the mercy of the Mother of God and her intercession for the most needy.
The origin of the devotion
The story dates back to the 13th century, when the Mediterranean coasts suffered Muslim incursions that led many Christians into slavery in Africa. In the midst of this tragedy arose Pedro Nolasco, a merchant who used his fortune to free captives and who, moved by a revelation from the Virgin Mary, founded the Order of Mercy in 1218.
Tradition recounts that the Virgin appeared simultaneously to Saint Peter Nolasco, Saint Raymond of Peñafort, and King James I of Aragon, asking them to create a congregation dedicated to the redemption of captives, so that they would not lose their faith amid oppression. Thus was born a religious family consecrated to imitating Christ the Redeemer and Mary, the liberating Mother.
An immense work of charity
The Mercedarians pooled their goods and risked their lives to rescue prisoners. It is estimated that around three hundred thousand people were freed thanks to their work. From its foundation, the Order extended its mission and devotion to the Virgin of Mercy throughout Spain, France, and Italy, and later, with evangelization, to America, where its presence was decisive in cities like Lima, Cuzco, and Quito.
In 1696, Pope Innocent XII extended the feast of the Virgin of Mercy to the entire Church on September 24. Although after the Second Vatican Council the memorial disappeared from the universal calendar, in many nations it continues to be celebrated with fervor.
Iconography and spirituality
The Virgin of Mercy is usually depicted dressed in the white Mercedarian habit, bearing the shield of the Order and, on occasions, chains and shackles that symbolize the liberation of captives. She may appear with the Child Jesus in her arms, with a scapular, or in the form of the Virgin of Mercy, sheltering the faithful and religious under her mantle.
Her message remains relevant today: God’s mercy knows no bounds, and the Virgin Mary continues to be an example of compassion and redemption, inviting Christians to live their faith through concrete works of charity.
Source: Catholic.net