Virgen de Altagracia - January 21th, 2026 | No Greater Delight
No Greater Delight is a daily Marian podcast meant to start the day with a Marian touch. After examining the Marian feasts celebrated throughout the world on a given day, Fr. Nate offers a brief reflection to help make our love for Our Lady concrete in daily living. The title "No Greater Delight" is inspired by a homily of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, wherein he expresses his joy in preaching about the Virgin Mother, even though he acknowledges the challenge of adequately praising her. Mary's greatness is beyond words. 0:00 Feasts of Mary Today 04:21 The Imitation of Mary WhatsApp Channel: Catholic Voice Links: catholicvoice | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree
Our Lady of Grace
Our Lady of High Grace
Protector and Queen of the hearts of the Dominicans
Tatica from Higuey
Virgen de la Altagracia
Virgin of Altagracia
Memorial
21 January
formerly 15 August
Profile
A portrait of the Virgin Mary in a Nativity scene. It is 13 inches (33 centimeters) wide by 18 inches (45 centimeters) high, and is painted on cloth. It is a primitive work of the Spanish school, painted c.1500. The Spanish brothers Alfonso and Antonio Trejo, two of the first European settlers on Santo Domingo, brought the portrait to the island some time prior to 1502, and eventually donated it to the parish church at Higuey. It’s first shrine was finished in 1572, and in 1971 it was moved to its present Basilica. The image was crowned on 15 August 1922 during the pontificate of Pius XI. Due to its age, centuries of handling by the faithful, and exposure to candle smoke, it was in sad shape, and was restored in 1978. On 25 January 1979 by Pope John Paul II crowned the image with a gold and silver tiara, his gift to the Virgin. It’s frame is made of gold, enamel and precious stones, and was constructed by an unknown 18th century artisan.
The Dominicans see the image as exemplifying Our Lady watching over the island and the growth of Christianity there. The feast day is marked by services, all-night vigils, singing, dancing, and festivals in many of the towns.
Legend says that the pious daughter of a rich merchant asked her father to bring her a portrait of Our Lady of Altagracia from Santo Domingo, but no one had heard of that title. The merchant, staying overnight at a friend’s house in Higuey, described his problem as they sat outdoors after dinner. An old man with a long beard, who just happened to be passing by, pulled a rolled up painting from his bindle, gave it to the merchant, and said, “This is what you are looking for.” It was the Virgin of Altagracia. They gave the old man a place to stay for the night, but by dawn he was gone, not to be seen again. The merchant placed the image on their mantle, but it repeatedly disappeared only to be found outside, and the family finally returned it to the church.
Patronage
Dominican Republic
Das wunderthätige Muttergottes-Bild der Herzogspital-Kirche.1690
Mayer - Münchner Stadtbuch (1868)
Herzog Albert V. erbaute im Jahre 1550 das Herzogspital sammt einer Kirche in der Röhrenspeckergasse, welche seitdem die Herzogspitalgasse genannt wird, und bestimmte dasselbe besonders für kranke Hofbediente. Baumeister desselben war Georg Schöttl, ein geborener Münchener.
In diese Kirche verfertigte der Bildhauer Tobias Bader, dessen Portrait in der Sakristei sich befindet, um das Jahr 1650 das Bildniß der schmerzhaften Mutter Gottes unter dem Kreuze, berühmt durch Wunderwerke, und heute noch der Gegenstand des Zudranges der Andächtigen.
Die Geschichte des Wunders dieses Bildnisses ist folgende: Am 21. Januar 1690, an einem Samstage, während Abends die Litanei gesungen wurde, bemerkte ein zehnjähriges Mädchen, Namens Maria Franziska Juliana Schott, die sich unter der Menge der Andächtigen in dieser Kirche befand, daß das Mutter
Gottesbild seine Augen gegen Christus den Gekreuzigten über sich, dann unter sich gegen die Erde und nach beiden Seiten, endlich aber nach der zunächst stehenden Krippe wendete. Das Mädchen, darüber verwundert, wagte nicht in der Kirche hierüber eine Aeusserung zu machen, erzählte aber, zu Hause angekommen, das Gesehene ihren Aeltern. Die Mutter verbreitete diese Erzählung weiter und es verfügten sich nun mehrere Personen in die Kirche, um am Gnadenbilde das Wunder wahrzunehmen. Da nun viele Leute versicherten, dasselbe wunderbare Ereigniß wahrgenommen zu haben, so gelangte die Kunde hievon bald zum bischöflichen Ordinariate in Freising, welches eine Untersuchung hierüber anordnete, und zu diesem Zwecke mehrere geistliche Räthe nach München absandte. Durch eidlich gepflogene Vernehmungen ergab sich nun, daß das Muttergottes-Bild eine geraume Zeit lang Morgens und Abends beim Sonnenlichte und beim Scheine brennender Kerzen die Augen auf- und abwärts, dann auch nach beiden Seiten bewegt habe, und daß dieses von mehreren geistlichen und weltlichen Personen, von Männern und Frauen verschiedenen Alters und Standes bemerkt worden sei. Nachdem nun über das Resultat dieser Untersuchung Bericht an das bischöfliche Ordinariat erstattet worden war, hat Josef Clemens, Erzbischof von Köln und Bischof zu Freising nach Einsicht der Akten in einer am 6. April 1691 gegebenen Urkunde dieses Wunder als wirklich geschehen feierlich erklärt, und die Gläubigen zur Verehrung dieses Gnadenbildes aufgefordert.
Altagracia Cookies
This post was written by Catholic Cuisine contributor, Charlotte from Waltzing Matilda.
Legend says that the pious daughter of a rich merchant asked him to bring her a portrait of Our Lady of Altagracia from Santo Domingo, but no one had heard of that title. The merchant, staying overnight at a friend's house in Higuey, described his problem as they sat outdoors after dinner. An old man with a long beard, who just happened to be passing by, pulled a rolled up painting from his bindle, gave it to the merchant, and said, "This is what you are looking for." It was the Virgin of Altagracia. They gave the old man a place to stay for the night, but by dawn he was gone, not to be seen again. The merchant placed the image on their mantle, but it repeatedly disappeared only to be found outside. They finally returned it to the church.
In the picture book, A Gift of Gracias, by Julie Lavarez, a connection is made between this special feast day and oranges. These Orange Carrot Cookies would be a delightful treat for the Feast of Our Lady of Altagracia, coming up on January 21st, especially paired with a reading of the book. You can find the original recipe over at Dawn's blog, By Sun and Candlelight. I made a few changes that I will post here. Just FYI, these are soft, almost muffin-top like cookies, not crispy or crunchy cookies.
Altagracia Cookies
1 egg, room temperature
1/2 C. unsalted butter, softened
1/2 - 3/4 C. sugar (I used less.)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
the zest of 1/2 an orange (about 1 Tbl.)
1 C. mashed, cooked carrots
2 C. all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
(sugar sprinkles, optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine baking powder and flour and set aside. Cream the egg, butter, sugar and vanilla. Add carrots and zest and mix well. Slowly incorporate flour mixture being careful not to over mix. Drop by tablespoons onto parchment covered cookie sheets. Add sugar sprinkles if desired. Bake 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven and let cookies cool on a wire rack.