Our Lady of Altagracia: Protector and Queen of the Hearts of Dominicans

Imagine an entire nation pausing its everyday activities to honor an image of Mary. Imagine how this image of Mary had found a home in the hearts of a whole nation. Imagine how this image has served as a reminder of God’s constant care. This is the impact that the image of Our Lady of Altagracia, or Our Lady of High Grace, has had on the people of the Dominican Republic. And, on January 21, her feast day, she will be remembered and celebrated by Dominicans (and others!) throughout the world. 

The Story of Our Lady of Altagracia 

There are many legends surrounding the origins of this devotion. The most popular centers on two Spanish brothers, Antonio and Alonso de Trejo, who settled in Higüey with their families in the beginning of the 16th Century. One of the men had two daughters. The youngest had a dream in which the Virgin Mary told her to ask her father to bring back an image of Our Lady of Altagracia for her on his next trip to Santo Domingo. At this point, no one had heard of this title of Mary before. Nonetheless, the father searched for this image with no avail. On his way home, he shared his failed mission at a local inn. Another traveler, an elderly man, presented the father with a 13x18in image of Our Lady of Altagracia.

Overjoyed at the image her father brought her, the daughter displayed the image in the family’s home. Upon waking the next morning, the image had vanished. It mysteriously reappeared in an orange grove. The family brought the image home; however, every time the image mysteriously wound up in the orange grove. Eventually, a church was built at the site of the orange grove so that all could come and pray with Our Lady of Altagracia.

This image was painted by an unknown  Spanish artist and depicts the holy family. The image focuses on the Virgin Mary with her hand folded in prayer, lovingly gazing down on the Christ child lying in a manger. In the distant background of the picture, St Joseph is looking at Mother and child. Mary is

wearing a crown and a mantel covered in stars and is surrounded by a sunburst. The colors on Mary’s clothing, red, blue, and white, are thought to be an inspiration for the colors of the Dominican Flag. This image has been crowned by two popes, Pope Pius XI and Pope John Paul II, and Pope Francis sent golden roses to be placed in front of the image, highlighting the scales of the devotion to Our Lady of Altagracia.

Three Lessons from Our Lady of Altagracia

The first thing that stands out to me when I look at this image is the way Mary gazes down at her child. It is a look of love and awe at the child she has just brought into the world. It brings me back to when I would look down at my own child in their bassinet. In an overwhelming and often chaotic time in my life, those moments when you would get drawn into a gaze of pure love sustained me through the challenges of the newborn stage. The challenge that Mary offers us in this image is to gaze with love and awe not only at our own children but at each and every person, recognizing Jesus in them.

The second thing that stands out to me is Mary’s role as a “bridge.” In 2022, the bishops of the Dominican Republic issued a document on Our Lady of Altagracia. In it, they wrote, “The mystery of the Virgin of Altagracia brings us closer to the mystery of her son and, at the same time, the mystery of who we are and who we are called to be.” Mary is a bridge to God. If we place ourselves in the role of Mary in the image, we naturally reflect on the Christ child. What does our hearts reveal when we pause and look with love and awe at her Son? This quote for the Dominican bishop really resonates with me because when we have an authentic encounter with Jesus, we are changed. And so, Mary is also a bridge to our true selves. When we meditate with Mary on the mystery of her son, we become more of the person we are called to be. 

The third lesson is the importance of Our Lady of Altagracia to the Dominican people. She elicits a sense of national and spiritual pride. Her devotion, which will be celebrated later this week, is a beautiful blend of faith and community. Mary is truly our universal Mother. Through the world, she has appeared and has galvanized the hearts of people from every nation. Through apparitions and images, Mary calls out to her children and inspires us to continue on our journey of knowing and loving her son and ourselves. 

Our Lady of Altagracia, pray for us!