Its purpose was to provide shelter for missionaries who fell ill on their way to Sierra Gorda.

It was the place where the remains of Miguel Hidalgo, Ignacio Allende, Mariano Jiménez, Francisco Javier Mina, and Pedro Moreno were laid in state.

Its facade is Baroque, made of quarry stone, and the upper part features three shields: La Merced, San Francisco, and Santo Domingo, while the interior is in Neoclassical style, providing a contrasting aesthetic.