dominican popular religiousness Mgr. Juan Antonio Flores Santana B Cults to the Virgin Mary B Our Lady of Mercy
site and that –since then– a unique veneration has been conferred to Our Lady of Mercy at that site; that Columbus ordered that a chapel be built in that area, and that it was there where he experienced a special protection from the Virgin Mary, which moved him to remember her with love and gratitude at his moment of death B It is also unquestionable that, according to historians, upon the occurrence of the above events many miracles and wonders took place at the site through the intersection of the cross of Our Lady of Mercy and that, in the olden times, the site was the object of frequent processions, including some that would come all the way from Haiti B It has all the elements of a true sanctuary and its association with the first evangelization of the New World is unquestionable (Please refer to our book: La Isla Española, Cuna de la Evangelización de América, Primicias en La Vega Real/The Island of Hispaniola, Crib of the Evangelization of the Americas, First Events in La Vega Real (Pages 129-139).
Traditional Devotion to Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes (Our Lady of Mercy) Chosen readings: Genesis 3, 14-15; Galatas 5, 13-24; John 2, 1-11; John 19, 25-27.
Throughout the entire year, but most particularly on 24th September, Dominicans from all the corners of the nation organize and undertake pilgrimages to the Santo Cerro, the historical sacred hill that lies in front of the valley of La Vega Real. They come to honor the first cross, and symbol of our faith, to be established in the New World. They also come to venerate the Mother of God, who is our Mother as well, Our Lady of Mercy who was invoked for the first time in America from this very site. Hail, Mother, Hail, redeemer of the oppressed. We your children salute you; we sing to you and offer you our hearts. She greets us with an open heart and opened arms and shows us her Son, the divine Christ. He is our Redeemer and our Savior. All the graces and virtues that she –as a loving Mother– Bestows upon us She obtains from her Son Jesus, the author of life. By honoring her we are, primarily, glorifying her Son; we glorify God the Father. Where from does our Lady of Mercy obtain such greatness and so vast a power to bestow upon us? It comes from God; because she is the Mother of God. God, in his immense kindness, became man in order to save us and chose her as Mother. In being born through her, she becomes the mother of the Savior, mother of God. She became “forever bonded with the redeemer Son.” And through her graces and unique virtues she is also bonded to the Church” and to us who are her children (Vat. II). She listened attentively to the word of God; and she was obedient of the Lord. That is why –in the words of Saint Augustine– before conceiving Jesus in her womb, she conceived Him in the faith, in her heart. According to Saint Thomas Aquinas, when something,
Interior of the Church of the Santo Cerro B A woman carrying the image of Our Lady of Mercy B Pilgrims.
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