Mystical
Roses
Our Lady of Altagracia
- Also known as
- Our Lady of High Grace; Protector and Queen of the hearts of the
Dominicans; Tatica from Higuey; Virgen de la Altagracia; Virgin
of Altagracia
-
- Memorial
- 21
January
- Profile
- A portrait of the Virgin
Mary in a Nativity scene. It is 13 inches (33 centimeters)
wide by 18 inches (45 centimeters) high, and is painted on
cloth. It is a primitive work of the Spanish
school,
painted c.1500.
The Spanish
brothers Alfonso and Antonio Trejo, two of the first European
settlers on Santo Domingo, brought the portrait to the island
some time prior to 1502,
and eventually donated it to the parish church at Higuey. It's
first shrine was finished in 1572,
and in 1971
it was moved to its present Basilica. The image was crowned on 15
August 1922
during the pontificate
of Pius XI.
Due to its age, centuries of handling by the faithful, and
exposure to candle smoke, it was in sad shape, and was restored
in 1978.
On 25
January 1979
by Pope
John
Paul II who crowned the image with a gold and silver tiara,
his gift to the Virgin. It's frame is made of gold, enamel and
precious stones, and was constructed by an unknown 18th
century artisan.
The Dominicans
see the image as exemplifying Our
Lady watching over the island and the growth of Christianity
there. The feast day is marked by services, all-night vigils,
singing, dancing, and festivals in many of the towns.
Legend says that the pious daughter of a rich
merchant
asked him to bring her a portrait of Our Lady of Altagracia
from Santo Domingo, but no one had heard of that title. The merchant,
staying overnight at a friend's house in Higuey, described his
problem as they sat outdoors after dinner. An old man with a
long beard, who just happened to be passing by, pulled a rolled
up painting from his bindle, gave it to the merchant,
and said, "This is what you are looking for." It was
the Virgin of Altagracia. They gave the old man a place to stay
for the night, but by dawn he was gone, not to be seen again.
The merchant
placed the image on their mantle, but it repeatedly disappeared
only to be found outside. They finally returned it to the
church.
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-
Patronage
- Dominican Republic
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