Nuestra Señora de Itatí
Fontenla, J. L. (1947). Historia de Nuestra Señora de Itatí. Corrientes: publisher not identified.
Country
Argentina
Description
In 1538, Franciscans established a community on the shores of the Paraná river. They had brought an image of the Immaculate Conception with them that the Guaraní Indians venerated alongside them. When things took a turn and the Indians attacked the settlement, the image was said to have disappeared only to reappear, bathed in white light and radiating music, on one of the white stones in the river close to a small chapel that had been dedicated to the Virgin. The Franciscans removed her from the river again and again, until they finally decided to move the entire community to her preferred location.
According to legend, Nuestra Señora de Itatí saved Jesuit missionary Luis de Bolanos’ life by stopping a battle between two Indian tribes. She is said to have done this by opening huge trenches in the earth so that the invading Indians could not pass and in another instance by parting the river. In 1900, Pope Leo XIII gave the image a Canonical Coronation and named her the patron Saint of Corrientes. Fifty years later, a basilica was built in her honor, where thousands of people travel to each year in pilgrimage.
Reference:
Fontenla, J. L. Historia de Nuestra Señora de Itatí. Corrientes: Diócesis de Corrientes, 1947.
“Virgen de Itatí.” Wikipedia. February 25, 2024.
Researched by Abigail M. Sturgill
Popular Devotions
Tiernísima Madre de Dios y de los
hombres que, bajo la advocación de la pura y limpia
Concepción de Nuestra Señora de Itatí miraste con
ojos de misericordia por más de cuatro siglos a todos
los que te han implorado, no deseches ahora las
súplicas de este tu hijo, que humildemente recurre a
ti. Atiende mis necesidades, que tú mejor que yo las
conoces. Y, sobre todo, Madre mia, concedeme un
gran amor a tu divino Hijo Jesús y un corazón puro,
humilde y prudente, paciencia en la vida, fortaleza en
las tentaciones y consuelo en la muerte. Asi sea.
Amen.
Nuestra Senora de Itati is
celebrated every 16th of each month.
Hail Mary
Dios te salve, María.
Llena eres de gracia: El Señor es contigo.
Bendita tú eres entre todas las mujeres.
Y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre: Jesús.
Santa María, Madre de Dios,
ruega por nosotros pecadores,
ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte.
Amen.
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