Our Lady of the Rosary
Feast:
The month of October. The image of Our Lady of the Rosary, the work of unknown
artists, was finished in 1592. Commissioned by Friar Lopez de Montoya, a
Dominican priest, the statue was made completely of pure silver, but her robes
and pedestal are not visible, having been covered by elaborate garments and
ornaments. Her devotees claim that the coloring of her beautiful face changes
from bright pink to a much more faded shade whenever there is a conflict or
some national misfortune is imminent. The image has a large rosary in her right
hand and with her left one she holds the Child who seems to be trying to free
himself from her embrace. There is a popular tradition that theVirgin Mary went
out to travel through America and that the Child fell asleep when they reached
Guatemala, which is why she stayed there. In 1821 the leaders of the
independence movement proclaimed her Patroness of the new nation, and they took
an oath before her image that they would not rest until they freed Guatemala.
The Virgin of the Rosary was solemnly declared "Queen of Guatemala"
in 1833 and was crowned canonically on January 26, 1934 in a huge ceremony in
the principal plaza of Guatemala in front of the cathedral. The ceremony had to
be held in the open because there was no church large enough to hold the
multitude that had gathered. The crown which Archbishop Luis Durou placed on
the head of the blessed image is a valuable silver jewel with which the people
of Guatemala wanted to show their devotion and enthusiasm for their patroness.
The artists who made it used 121 emeralds, 44 diamonds, 80 pearls, 5 amethysts,
a gold rose, etc. The church and convent of St. Dominic, current shrine of the
Virgin of the Rosary, was begun in 1788 and completed in 1808. October, the
month dedicated to the rosary, is the most popular and important religious
happening for the Guatemalan people and nation. The entire month is occasion
for celebration, feasting, and constant pilgrimages to the Sanctuary of the
Virgin of the Rosary.
With grateful thanks to the
Mary Page.