Nuestra Señora de la Fundación

Santiago, Luis R. de. Nuestra Señora De La Fundación. 1961.

Country

Uruguay

Description

The city of Montevideo was founded in 1726, and ever since its founding, a little image of the Immaculate Conception could be found on the High Altar of the Cathedral of that city.  In time, the image became known as Our Lady of the Foundation because of that link and the Cathedral became known as the “Iglesia Matrix” or Mother Church for housing the beautiful artifact.  For reasons that are lost to history, the image was replaced by another one that had been commissioned from Italy.  The original image was stored away and then forgotten about.

In 1952, it was rediscovered by workmen who brought it to the attention of the bishop overseeing the renovation.  She was restored, blessed and placed in a chapel in the same Cathedral, until Cardinal Antonio María Barbieri decided dedicate a small but beautiful little chapel called Solymar to Our Lady of the Foundation, which stands in the diocese of Canelones, which is a costal settlement.

References:

1. de Santiago, Luis R., Nuestra Señora de la Fundación. Montevideo: Impresora Rex S. A. Gaboto, 1961.

2. “El primer cardenal uruguayo y Nuestra Señora de la Fundación.” Conferencia Episcopal del Uruguay. June 8, 2015.

Researched by Thomas R. Clontz

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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