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 history dates back to the 13th century, when the Mediterranean coasts suffered Muslim incursions that led many Christians to slavery in Africa. In the midst of this tragedy, Pedro Nolasco emerged, 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 narrates that the Virgin appeared simultaneously to Saint Peter Nolasco, to Saint Raymond of Peñafort, and to 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 put their goods in common and risked their lives to rescue the 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 Our Lady 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 Our Lady 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
Our Lady of Mercy is usually represented 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 current: God's mercy knows no limits and the Virgin Mary continues to be an example of compassion and redemption, inviting Christians to live their faith with concrete works of charity.
Source: Catholic.net
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