Our Lady of the Rosary, Patroness of Guatemala

Feast: October

The image of Our Lady of the Rosary, work of unknown artists, was finished around 1592. Commissioned by the Dominican priest Fray López de Montoya, it was made entirely of pure silver. Its original form cannot be appreciated, since the image is presented to the faithful dressed in elaborate vestments and ornaments.

The Virgin has a beautiful face that, according to her devotees, changes from a fiery pink color to a much paler one when a conflict arises or some misfortune for the nation approaches.

The image carries a large rosary in her right hand and the other hand holds the Child who appears confidently asleep while his mother holds them.

The popular tradition says that the Virgin Mary went out to travel the Americas and the Child fell asleep when arriving to Guatemala, that is why he stayed in the image like this.

The leaders of the independence proclaimed her Patroness of the new nation in 1821 and before her they swore not to rest until they obtained the freedom of Guatemala.

The Virgin of the Rosary was solemnly declared "Queen of Guatemala" in 1833 and canonically crowned on January 28, 1934. The great ceremony took place in the main square, in front of the façade of the Cathedral, during the pontificate of Pius XI. The coronation of the image had to take place in the open air because no temple large enough to accommodate the crowd could be found.

The crown that Archbishop Luis Durou placed on the head of the blessed image, is a valuable work of goldsmithing that shows the devotion and popular enthusiasm of the Guatemalans.

The Church and Convent of Santo Domingo, current sanctuary of the Virgin of the Rosary, is a temple of wide naves, of brick and lime vault that began to be built in 1788 and was finished in 1808.

October, month dedicated to the Rosary, is the most important religious and popular event for the Guatemalan people and nation. The whole month becomes an occasion for celebration, festivities and constant pilgrimages to the Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Rosary.