From the Friars: Quick! Search for an Image of Our Lady of Altagracia
She is the Protectress of those from the Dominican Republic. ¡Vámonos! (Let’s go!).
Virgen de la Altagracia, by Jose Miguel Rodriguez de Carvalho – Own work, Public Domain, link
1. The image depicts the Nativity Scene, perfect for the Feast Day—January 21st!
2. It was most likely painted in Sevilla, Spain around the year 1510-1515.
3. The painter is unknown but belonged to an artistic school called “Alejo Fernandez”.
4. There were six parishes in Extremadura, Spain that venerated Our Lady of Altagracia. However, this image is unique because most veneration was through small statues.
5. The baby Jesus is in the forefront, wrapped in swaddling clothes like in the tomb.
6. The image is very dark due to the theory that Jesus was born in a cave. This was the early church tradition believed first by St. Justin Martry (150 a.d.), Origen (250), St. Jerome and then Emperor Constantine. Jesus is the Light (Is. 9:1), the brightest part of the image.
7. Mary is kneeling with her hands in prayer. She adores Jesus Who is God!
8. There are two sets of eight stars on her blue mantle. According to the Fernandez School, ‘eight’ symbolizes God (the eternal day) and blue is ‘divinity’. Red symbolizes ‘humanity’ and white ‘purity’. Thus, Mary is covered with divinity (blue mantle), accompanied by two divine Persons (eight stars on each shoulder) and clothed with red from within which shows that She is a human person.
9. The white ray of light on Our Lady’s chest symbolizes Mary’s Perpetual Virginity. Mary loses nothing of Her ‘purity’ by giving birth to Jesus. It increases the light in the world!
10. Mary is crowned with twelve stars and with a ‘closed’ royal crown. During the time of the painting, only ‘open’ crowns were used by rulers of nations.
11. To the right of the crown is seen the Star of Bethlehem. It has eight points, two of which form a tail. The star of the magi continues to guide the Holy Family out of the cave.
12. St. Joseph is seen in the background. He is clothed with red (humanity) and holds a candle in his left hand. He uses his right hand to reflect light on The Light of the World!
Thus, four Marian Dogmas are seen in the image:
- The Divine Maternity (Mary and Baby Jesus);
- Perpetual Virginity & Immaculate Conception (white ray of light);
- Assumption (closed crown).
Que la Virgen de Altagracia nos protega (“May Our Lady of Altagracia protect us!”).
Fr. Francis