Our Lady of Mercy (Dominican Republic)

Our Lady of Mercy is a public holiday in the Dominican Republic, observed on September 24 each year. The holiday commemorates the Virgin of Mercy, the Patron Saint of the Dominican Republic.

The Indigenous people had been farming, fishing, and hunting on the island of Hispaniola for centuries before Christopher Columbus arrived in 1492 when he claimed the land under the Spanish crown.

According to the legend, Christopher Columbus erected a cross atop a hill in the Cibao region before leaving the island in 1495. After he left, a battle between the indigenous people and the Spanish settlers occurred near the hill. The Virgin of Mercy appeared and helped the Spanish win the battle.

After the first appearance, the Virgin of Mercy appeared several times at the site, which made the settlers build a church on the spot dedicating it to the Virgin of Mercy. The saint is respected as the patroness of the Dominican Republic and the entire island of Hispaniola.

The following is the list of Our Lady of Mercy in the Dominican Republic from 2022 to 2026.

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