Every September 24th, the devotion to Mary, the Virgin of Mercy (Virgen de las Mercedes), is commemorated. Her name, Mercedes, signifies “Mercy.” Her first apparition is recorded in the 13th century when she delivered a special message to Saint Peter Nolasco, a man dedicated to liberating Christian slaves from the Muslims, according to ‘Catholic News Herald’.
Driven by his courage and desire to free prisoners, Saint Peter Nolasco decided to sell his patrimony to rescue them from their plight. However, when his funds ran out, he resorted to begging, yet still lacked sufficient resources. It was then that he turned to God for help.
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It was at this critical juncture that the Virgin of Mercy appeared to Saint Peter Nolasco, saying: “Do not doubt, for it is God’s will that an order of this kind be founded in my honor; it will be an order whose brothers and professed, in imitation of my son Jesus Christ, will be set for the ruin and redemption of many in Israel, that is, among Christians, and will be a sign of contradiction for many.”
(Siga leyendo: Papa Francisco dice que, para Jesús, la ‘pureza’ no está ligada a ritos externos, sino a actitudes interiores).
Because of this divine mandate, this advocation of Mary is considered the patroness of prisoners, the impoverished, farmers, the armed forces, and the police. Her popularity is especially significant within the penitentiary system in Colombia and the city of Santiago de Cali, according to ‘Catholic.net’.
Oracion a la Virgen de las Mercedes for Repentant Prisoners
Oracion a la Virgen de las Mercedes, a devotional image of Our Lady of Mercy, patron saint of prisoners and those seeking redemption.
Oracion A La Virgen De Las Mercedes. Photo: iStock
O my Lady, O my Mother of Mercy; I offer myself entirely to you, and as proof of my filial affection, I consecrate to you this day: my eyes, my ears, my tongue, my heart; in a word, my whole being; as I am all yours, O Mother of goodness, keep me and defend me as your child and servant.
(De interés: Oración a San Ramón Nonato para pedir su intercesión por un parto seguro y feliz).
For our remedy, we ask you, dear Mother, to break the chains of our sin.
Virgin Mary of Mercy, kind Mother of God, resplendent star of the sea, purest moon, who gathers the rays of the sun of justice, and nourishes yourself with them to reflect them in the best way.
Listen, Mother, to our pleas; you who attended from heaven the sad laments of the poor captives who groaned inconsolably in harsh oppression and broke the chains that imprisoned them through your family of redeemers.
By your ardent charity, by your virginal womb in which the Son of God was incarnated for our remedy, we ask you, dear Mother, to break the chains of our sin, so that freed from them, we may conform to your Son, the Lord Jesus.
Amen.
Oración a San Judas Tadeo para casos imposibles y desesperados | El Tiempo
Prayer taken from ‘Colegio San Pedro Nolasco’.
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