Our Lady Mediatrix of All Graces has been declared "Queen of the Gaucho People," announced Archbishop Leomar Antônio Brustolin of Santa Maria (RS), president of the South 3 region of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB), during a Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady Mediatrix on Friday, May 31, the feast day of the patroness of Rio Grande do Sul.
According to Archbishop Leomar, "the Decree of Consecration of the State of Rio Grande do Sul to the Virgin Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces" came from the Dicastery for Divine Worship and was timely "in this period of trial due to the catastrophe of the rains that have fallen" on southern Brazil.
"This Pontifical Coronation helps to strengthen Marian spirituality throughout the entire State and to renew hope for a future that demands the commitment of all for the reconstruction of life," stated the Archbishop.
"The Decree proposes the Pontifical Coronation of the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces, and that she be invoked as 'Queen of the Gaucho People'," added Archbishop Leomar.
The coronation of the image of the Mediatrix will take place in the basilica dedicated to the saint, in Santa Maria (RS), on August 15, the solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady and the anniversary of the basilica, at 7:00 PM.
According to Archbishop Leomar, from now on, a novena in honor of Our Lady Mediatrix will take place each year in the month of May, concluding on May 31, the date of the liturgical feast of the patroness of Rio Grande do Sul.
Devotion to Our Lady Mediatrix
Devotion to Our Lady Mediatrix in Santa Maria (RS) began in 1928, thanks to the encouragement of Father Ignácio Rafael Valle, but it became popular starting in 1929, when Pope Pius XI granted the Diocese of Santa Maria the honor of celebrating Our Lady Mediatrix with its own feast day.
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On September 5, 1930, 23 women prepared a procession to Our Lady Mediatrix to ask for protection for the city of Santa Maria, which was threatened by the Revolution of 1930. Their prayers were answered and a few days later, the revolution ended peacefully.
On August 15, 1935, the then-Bishop of Santa Maria, Bishop Antônio Reis, began the construction of the shrine dedicated to Our Lady Mediatrix.
Our Lady Mediatrix was declared the patroness of Rio Grande do Sul on October 25, 1942, by the then-Archbishop of Porto Alegre, Archbishop João Becker, and the other bishops of the State. She was also proclaimed patroness of the Ecclesiastical Province of Santa Maria (RS) on March 17, 2022.
On December 12, 1943, Bishop Antônio Reis organized the first state pilgrimage to Our Lady Mediatrix. Today, the pilgrimage takes place on the second Sunday of November and attracts more than 300,000 people.
The Gaucho People
The term "Gaucho" refers to the inhabitants of the pampas, a vast grassland region that extends mainly in Argentina, but also in Uruguay and Brazil, particularly in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. Gauchos are often compared to North American cowboys and are known for their distinct culture, which includes skills in horsemanship, cattle ranching, and a rich musical and culinary tradition. The figure of the Gaucho is an important symbol of regional and national identity in these countries.
This article is a translation of [ACI Digital] (Link to original article).