Embedded Files
Nuestra Senora de los Treinta y Tres, Marian holy cards collection ML. 031 Box 28, circa 1675-2018. Marian Library, University of Dayton Libraries, Dayton, Ohio.
Country
Uruguay
Description
Our Lady of the Thirty-Three is the patroness of Uruguay. “Thirty-three” in Our Lady’s title refers to thirty-three patriots that fought for Uruguay’s independence. This number is also very symbolic for Christians, being the age of Christ at the time of His death. This coincidence might be by accident or design, but Tradition holds that thirty-three patriots led by Juan Antonio Lavalleja landed on the beaches of Agraciada, a village in Uruguay, on April 19, 1825, to fight for the liberation of Uruguay from Brazil. Then, the men traveled to a small church in Florida, Uruguay, where they went to the Blessed Mother and placed the future of the country at her feet.
Four months later, on August 25, 1825, Uruguay officially declared for its independence from Brazil. Following the liberation from the Brazilians, the Constitutional Court of Uruguay bowed down before the image of Our Lady and declared that their country would be under her protection. The image of Our lady and the Florida church in which it is housed were declared historical monuments on the 150th anniversary of Uruguay’s independence. In 1857, one of the original thirty-three patriots became the President of Uruguay. He gifted the statue of Our Lady a golden crown covered in precious stones, which became the distinct characteristic of the Marian image. In 1962, Pope John XXIII proclaimed Our Lady of the Thirty-Three the Patroness of Uruguay. Her feast day is November 8.
References:
Redemptorist Pastoral Publication. Mary Throughout Latin America. Liguori: Liguori Publications, 2005.
Santoro, Nicholas Joseph. Mary in Our Life: Atlas of the Names and Titles of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Bloomington: iUniverse, 2011.
Researched by Thomas R. Clontz
Popular Devotions
“Loving Mother, at crucial moment in Uruguay’s history, you inspired the thirty-three patriots to ask God’s assistance in their pursuit of freedom. Grant courage to all your sons and daughters committed to the pursuit of freedom.” Amen.
Mary throughout Latin America. Liguori, 2005.
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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