Nuestra Señora de la Paz, Patrona
https://udayton.edu/imri/mary/l/latin-american-titles-of-mary.php#anchor11
Country
El Salvador
Description
In 1682, a mysterious box washed up on the shore of Mar del Sur, El Salvador. The merchants who discovered it were unable to open it, so they decided to send it to the city of San Miguel so that it could be opened there. They imagined it must contain something valuable seeing how tightly fastened the box was. They put the box on the back of a donkey and sent it to San Miguel, where it arrived on November 21. When the donkey arrived, it kneeled in front of a church. People then realized they could open the box, and inside the box was an image of Madonna and Child. The opening of the box prompted a laying down of weapons in a local skirmish, which is why the image became known as Our Lady of Peace.
Another miracle attributed to Our Lady of peace has to do with the golden palm leaf the image holds in her hand. It is symbolic of the eruption of the San Miguel volcano, also known as Chaparrastique, whose eruption had almost destroyed the city of San Miguel. On September 23, 1787, clouds in the shape of palm leaves appeared to be emerging from the volcano’s crater signaling the end of the eruption. It is said that when the frightened inhabitants set the statue of Mary against the front door of the cathedral, the direction of the lava flow changed, and so their town was saved.
Benedict XVI authorized the crowning of the image on November 21, 1921, on her feast day. The crown is comprised of gold, diamonds, and a large emerald. A shrine was dedicated to Our Lady of Peace in 1953.
Reference:
“Latin American Titles of Mary.“ University of Dayton. Accessed April 12, 2024.
Researched by Corinne M. Woodruff
Popular Devotions
Feast Day is November 21
Patroness of El Salvador
Shrine
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.