LAS MERCEDES SANCTUARY.

THE SOUL OF NATAGA

(By Gasca Suaza Fabiana)

The sanctuary of Nuestra Seora de las Mercedes is the greatest source of pride and the
foundation of spirituality to the inhabitants from nataga, a laborious coffee maker
population
located
in
the
western
mountains
in
Huila
department.
Amount of stories of miracles, pilgrimage and efforts are hiding in its imposing
architecture. The temples architecture of Arabica pilgrimage was built around fifty
years ago, at the beginning of the process of vicentino priest Juan Felix Londoo, a paisa
citizen with highlighting characteristics of entrepreneur and energetics.
The priest Londoo in Nataga, led to the first dump truck
for the construction of the monumental work. The
sanctuary has three structures. The first is the main
chapel, where stands out the image of the Mercedes, the
large stained glass windows and paint from its top. As in a
medieval labyrinth led by stairs zigzagging, you arrive at the
crypt, located in the depth of the temple. Over there is
celebrated the funeral acts and lie the mortal remains of
many residents of the town, accompanied by different holy
images of the saints.
The religious structure complements a colonial temple, where it stands in a museum with
old pictures and objects of paramount historical interest that accompanied the work of
the priest Londoo in his life. Unfortunately the promoter of this project did not see his
work completed by an unexpected transference
to Tierradentro, Cauca, where he was assigned
with other obligations.
When priest Londoo was the head of the temple
construction, it was only up to half of that was
personified in the original design. Later, the
exterior landscape became green meadows which

were cared for with zeal and discipline by Ismael Perdomo Chavarro, the parish priest and
spiritual guide of the town.
The sanctuary became a representative place of devotion to the virgin of las Mercedes,
without mistakes many prayers could consider that the religious creed to Jesus mother is
infinite; in the other hand, the architecture of the temple is dazzling.
Since the virgin image arrived to the town, each September 24 th the festival of the patron
is celebrated in order to give thankfulness for accomplished demands and during two days,
the sanctuary is not enough big to handle the hundreds of pilgrims from Huila, Cauca, Valle
and Tolima, whose come in search of a miracle or giving thanks to the protective virgin.