Today marks the day of the Virgin of la Altagracia

Worship and celebration in honor to the Virgin of la Altagracia, January 21, began as a national holiday by thanks to the victory of the battle of criollos to the French in the Limonade, the North of Haiti, in the year 1691.

Date brings together hundreds of people in the altagracianos Temple. In Santiago, La Altagracia Church is protection of the faithful during nine days attending events in honor of la Altagracia and the Basilica of Higu¨ey is also today the trail route of thousands of people wielding candles and serve penance.

In the book "Our Lady of la Altagracia" of Monsignor Ramón de la Rosa Benito, released in 1997, explains that the image of the Virgin Mary appeared in an orange tree and in the same place was built a chapel. For 1572 was built a sanctuary, the first of America

Now the Basilica of our Lady of la Altagracia is the Temple in his best-known honor in the country and was u000aconsecrated in 1972.

A document from 1650, written by Dominican Canon Jerónimo of Alcocer, concerns that the image was brought to Higu¨ey by brothers Antonio and Alonso Trejo to 1514 already residing in the town. This document was found in the National Library of Madrid by the historian Emilio Rodriguez Demorizi and published by him in 1942.

Symbolism of the image
in the books "History of our Lady the Virgin of la Altagracia" (from John Fleury) and "Our Lady of la Altagracia" (by Monsignor of the rose and Carpio) explains the symbolism of the Virgin Mary follows: the image is focused on the child Jesus with the message: "Look at him to him". The table represents a Nativity: the baby helpless, naked and lying on straw is God and is in our midst. The name of Altagracia means full of grace. The image is an illustration of the dogma of the divine motherhood: Mary is the mother of God. In the u000aimage appears Mary on background, Jose in third and Jesus in the first, since everything revolves around the child. The colors of the image allude to the tones of the flag Dominican.

, The Blue symbolizes divinity, red to humanity, the bright white light, the colour of celestial or transfigured glorious beings, also reflects purity and innocence. In the image blue covering means thanks to God, i.e. the divine divinity covering the humanity of Mary.

Activities
from Thursday, January 12 until the 21 is the ninth to the Virgin of la Altagracia in Santiago. During those days is the Eucharist with different themes and priests of nearby churches star in them. In the course of the week, the temples organized trips to Higu¨ey to visit the Temple of the Basilica.

Today several masses are celebrated from 5: 00 a.m. until 6: 00 in the afternoon. The devotees of the Virgin u000avisit the altar and bear flowers, velones and appreciate knees designed favors; take advantage of other people to make their requests.

Testimony
"when one of my grandchildren was detected with leukemia, according to medical tests, I panicked and I thought it would lose." One night I dreamed it speaking with the Virgin of la Altagracia and she told me, don't worry, the child is free of disease, and in dream I asked that take care you and I promised that if in the following analysis the result is negative, we we vestiríamos white two and with two candles were going to go to the altar to thank him for. "And so it was, she showed me his power and now my grandson this made a healthy man", tells Carmen Sánchez, resident in the Ensanche Espaillat.

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Meanings of the image ALTAGRACIA
hands and knees: love and happiness. The Virgin is kneeling before the crib. The position is a symbol of worship, of humility before the divine. The u000ahands together symbolize the attitude of prayer. Mary is the orante anytime and intercessor.

The corona: means that Mary is Queen and mother. Pearls reflect wealth, purity and virginity. The globe symbolizes the world created by God and redeemed by the passion and death of Jesucristo.

The figure of José: Holy Blessed, dressed in the costume of the workers of the time. Means the craft of San Jose: Carpenter. The Halo over his head is a sign of his Holiness; He is just, Holy. Sailing in their hands is a sign of the service offered by Mary to illuminate the night and the darkness of the cave.

Jesus: is the main figure in the manger. Naked there, symbolises his humanity born in humility and the weakness of the flesh, that needs care and protection. The straw around the Manger is symbol of poverty, because Jesus being divine status stripped himself, taking the u000astatus of servant, making less resembling men in sin. Diapers become the tablecloths of the altar and the shroud of the crucified. The sleeping child is sign of his death and resurrection.

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