2023-09-24 13:00:00
Every September 24, the Catholic Church celebrates the Virgin Mary under the dedication of the Virgen de la Merced, or Virgen de las Mercedes.
The origins date back to the 13th century, when The Virgin appeared to Saint Peter Nolasco to encourage him to free the Christians who had fallen prisoners in the hands of the Muslims.
At that time it was common for the so-called “moors” loot the towns coastal areas of the Mediterranean and enslave their prisoners.
Generally, the victims were Christians who were transported to North Africa. There they were subjected to forced labor and faced with this panorama most ended up losing faith in God.
Nolasco “bought slaves” or exchanged them for merchandise, and then return them to freedom.
Nolasco asked God to help him and it was in that prayer that the Virgin Mary appeared to him and asked him to found a congregation that was dedicated exclusively to saving to the captives.
In 1687 The Cabildo named Our Lady of Mercedes as Patroness and Lawyer of Tucumán, for the many favors that the Virgin did to the people of Tucumán.
Prayer to Our Lady of Mercy – General of the Argentine Army
«We turn to you, oh Virgin General of our Armies, to implore your maternal protection over this Argentine Homeland.
We remind you that the altar where the Eucharistic Jesus was glorified before the entire world was raised here; that our flag was raised in the august presence of your divine Son; that the national colors cross your chest like the coat of arms of the General of the Argentine Army.
For all this we ask that you protect our country, erected according to divine designs, and that from one border to the other the people know how to honor it and that when we prostrate ourselves before your image of the Virgin General, this unanimous acclamation resounds:
You are the glory of our country. You are the honor of our people! You the General of our Army!«.
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