Mercedes Day on Santa Cerro

Mercedes Day, the feast of Our Lady of Mercy on September 24th has been celebrated in the Dominican Republic the since the Pope declared Our Lady of Mercy Patroness of the Dominican Republic in 1844.  This feast originated in 1218 in Spain with the Order of Our Lady of Mercy and the Redemption of the Captives, also known as Our Lady of Ransom.  In the Dominican Republic the sanctuary of Our Lady of Mercy is located on Santo Cerro (Holy Hill) in the middle of the Dominican Republic.  Our Lady of Mercy is also Patroness for the Dominican cities of Cabrera, Constanza, Hato Mayor, Imbert, Pimentel and Sabana Grande de Palenque. Hundreds of people make an annual pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Mercy on Santo Cerro to pray, to offer flowers and take part in symbolic rituals. According to some accounts Our Lady of Mercy first appeared on Santo Cerro on March 25, 1495 when Columbus erected a cross on the hill and the natives attempted to take it down.  If verified, this would be the first recorded appearance of Our Lady in the new world.