Iglesia de La Merced, Antigua Guatemala facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Convent of the Mercedarians
Iglesia y convento de Nuestra Señora de Las Mercedes Convento e Iglesia de La Merced  (Spanish)
Main facade
General information
Status	Active church
Architectural style	Spanish seismic baroque
Location	Antigua Guatemala,  Guatemala
Coordinates	14°33′42.016″N 90°44′3.649″W / 14.56167111°N 90.73434694°W / 14.56167111; -90.73434694 ACoordinates: Extra unexpected parameters
Construction started	1751
Completed	1767
Owner	Secular clergy
Design and construction
Architect	Juan de Dios Estrada

The Church and Convent of La Merced is a Catholic church in Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala. Its construction started in 1749, led by architect Juan de Dios Estrada. The church officially opened its doors in 1767.

Discover the Church of La Merced

The beautiful Fountain of los Pescados in 1979.

This church shows off the Guatemalan Churrigueresque style, which is a very fancy and detailed way of building. It has two tall bell towers. On the front of the church, you'll see a sculpture of St. Peter Nolasco. He was the person who started the Mercedarian Order.

Below St. Peter Nolasco, there's a statue of the Virgin of Mercy and the Mercedarian shield. On the left side of the front, you can spot sculptures of St. Raymond Nonnatus and St. Pedro Armengol. On the right side, there are statues of St. Peter Pascual and St. Mary de Cervellione, who was the first Mercedarian nun.

The "Fountain of los Pescados" (Fountain of the Fish) was built in the 1700s. It's one of the biggest old fountains in Latin America, measuring 27 meters across! The fountain looks like a water lily, which is a flower often found in Guatemala's lakes. For the ancient Maya, the water lily was a symbol of creation.

A Look at History

The "Fountain of los Pescados" at the Mercedarian convent in 2011.

A view of the church's dome.

The coat of arms for the Order of Mercy.

A large painting called "Apotheosis of the Order of Mercy" inside the church.

The Mercedarian Order came to Central America with the Spanish explorers. Friar Marcos Dardón arrived in Guatemala around 1537 with Bishop Francisco Marroquín. The Mercedarians first settled in the Almolonga Valley. After a landslide from the Volcán de Agua volcano, they moved to the Panchoy Valley, which is now Antigua Guatemala.

Friar Marcos Dardón helped set up new religious houses in Honduras around 1550. These houses helped teach the native people about the Christian faith. In 1561, the Mercedarian Province of Our Lady of the Mercy of Guatemala was created. It covered a large area, including Guatemala, Honduras, San Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.

During the 1600s, the Mercedarians helped spread Christianity in towns near Santiago. They also owned sugar mills and built the San Gerónimo School. However, this school was taken by the government in 1763 because it didn't have a royal license. It was then used as a customs office.

In 1761, a new leader named Alonso Fernández de Heredia arrived. He gave four thousand pesos to help build the Iglesia de la Merced. The church was finished in 1767. It was built using new techniques that helped it survive the big Santa Marta Earthquakes just six years later.

Changes by the Spanish Crown

Image of La Merced in 1875. The church was in good shape after the 1773 earthquakes. Photo by Eadweard Muybridge.

Iglesia de La Merced in 1910.

Church of La Merced in 1943.

In 1754, the Spanish King made some changes called the Bourbon reforms. These reforms aimed to give the king more power over the colonies. They also wanted to collect more taxes. One change was that all church parishes run by religious orders were given to the regular priests.

The reforms also created special government controls over things like drinks, tobacco, and gunpowder. This meant the king's government had a monopoly, or total control, over these products. The Spanish Crown also wanted to reduce the power of the Catholic Church. They believed the Church had too much influence.

Their plan to reduce the Church's power included:

• Less focus on the ideas of the Jesuits.
• More focus on non-religious culture.
• Thinking more logically and scientifically.
• Valuing natural science over religious beliefs.
• Questioning the Church's role in society.
• Promoting regalism, which means the king has power over church matters.

The Santa Marta Earthquakes

In 1773, the city of Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala was badly damaged by the Santa Marta earthquakes. But the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, also known as "Oratorio de la Merced," was almost new. Because of its strong construction, it didn't suffer much damage. It stayed open for people to worship, keeping its statues and altars safe.

To make people move to the new capital city, the authorities decided to move important religious statues. In 1778, they ordered the transfer of the Jesús Nazareno de la Merced statue. This was a very sad event for the people of Antigua. They cried and prayed as the statue was moved.

The statue traveled a long way, stopping in several towns. It finally arrived in Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción at night. The Christ statue was placed where the new Mercedarian church would be built. Even though the new church wasn't ready, the old church in Antigua continued to be used.

The old city of Santiago became known as "ruined Guatemala" or "old city." Many government and church officials left. However, after Guatemala became independent in 1821, Antigua regained its city status. Later, the San Sebastián parish moved into the Mercedarian church, and it has been there ever since.

Moving the Jesús Nazareno Statue

This is the first Jesús Nazareno of La Merced. It was moved to the new capital in 1778.

In 1776, the capital city was moved to Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción. This happened after the Santa Marta earthquakes of 1773 destroyed Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala. The government used this chance to reduce the power of the Church. They forced religious orders to move from their grand convents to simpler buildings in the new city.

The Second Jesús Nazareno de la Merced

A procession of the second Jesús Nazareno de la Merced in 1934.

After the first Jesús Nazareno statue was moved in 1778, the La Merced church in Antigua didn't have a Nazarene statue. To avoid more problems, the authorities decided to leave another statue, Jesús Nazareno from the San Jerónimo hermitage, in Antigua. This statue was moved to the San Sebastián parish in 1804.

Later, it was moved permanently to the Iglesia de la Merced. This statue has become very important for Holy Week in Antigua Guatemala. People used to think it came from the Santa Cruz hermitage, but studies show it came from San Jerónimo.

Tourism and Pilgrimage

The Church of Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes is a key stop on the Brother Pedro Commemorative Tourist Route. This route lets you explore Antigua Guatemala by learning about the life and work of Saint Brother Pedro.

The route includes visiting places like Brother Pedro's looms and his tomb at the Church of San Francisco. It's a great way to experience the city's history and learn about an important figure.

Holy Week Celebrations

A beautiful carpet made of colored sawdust and decorated with fruits and vegetables in La Merced Church during Holy Week 2016.

Holy Week processions in Guatemala are a huge attraction in Antigua Guatemala. These traditions have been kept alive for centuries. Many of the original statues used in these processions are now in Guatemala City.

From La Merced, two famous processions take place during Holy Week:

Image Gallery

See also

In Spanish: Iglesia de La Merced (Antigua Guatemala) para niños

• Antigua Guatemala