Last October 13, 2022, one subject dominated the headlines in most of the Catholic media world: Our Lady of Zapopan. The news outlets were reporting on the annual October 12^th procession of the diminutive 16^th century statue of Our Lady of Zapopan from the Guadalajara Cathedral to her own Basilica of Zapopan, a journey of about six miles. This tradition was awarded the Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2018.

And the reader must surely be asking at this point: Why would such an event garner the headlines to this degree? What made this procession so note-worthy? After all, was it not just a simple procession in the Catholic manner?

It was because of this: the journalists were simply astounded by the number of participants involved. A “record-breaking” 2.4 million people attended the event. This figure was confirmed by state governor Enrique Alfaro who said it was the highest number of participants in its 288- year-old- history

I would wager that the citizens of Guadalajara, however, were probably not astounded by these numbers at all. They are familiar with this phenomenon although not quite in numbers of this magnitude. Even the secular media, surprisingly, pays attention to Our Lady of Zapopan’s annual procession. And how could they not? “About half the city of Guadalajara (the second largest city in the country) joins in the procession,” said one media outlet. One tourist guide said that the numbers were beyond belief while another said “the legendary image of Our Lady of Zapopan has enjoyed generations of popularity so enormous that it must be seen to be believed.” This is true. I have been there. The Oct. 13, 2005 issue of The Miami Herald reported that one million participated in the event in 2005.

Amid great pomp and pageantry she is escorted back to her home, the Franciscan Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan, having travelled throughout the diocese of Guadalajara for the previous four months. She is accompanied by throngs of rejoicing pilgrims, Franciscan friars, honour guards, priests, nuns, military bands, charros (cowboys in traditional outfits), cyclists, Mariachi musicians, children’s choirs and Indian dancers in authentic costumes. Banners of Our Lady of Zapopan, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and The Sacred Heart of Jesus are everywhere. The air is filled with stirring hymns, endless rosaries and joyous shouts of “Viva Cristo Rey.” There are no diffident, half-hearted Catholics in this crowd! It is the Catholic faith on display in all its rich glory. And moving beyond words.

Most striking are the numbers of indigenous dancers. The Mural, Guadalajara’s Spanish-language newspaper reported that “16,000 Indian dancers” participated in the annual procession in 2008 (the year I attended). As I watched the spectacle, words of Dickens’ from  Hard Times came to mind: “A blaze of splendor.” He could have been describing the befeathered Indian dancers at Zapopan! Splashes of colour on the move: fire-engine reds, brilliant blues, emerald greens, all in exquisitely embroidered and beaded costumes. A dazzling sight.

Also dazzling was the sound of the ankle “rattlers.” A sound I will never forget. The rattlers are made from the shells of nuts which have been partially filled with small pebbles; these shells are then sewn on to leather ankle bands, producing a swishing type of sound, k-poosh, k-poosh, k-poosh. A sound like no other, melodious and captivating. Like a giant army on its way to heaven. The dancers spend a year in training, rehearsing weekly, sometimes daily, until all is just right, each step perfect, to offer to their beloved Lady of Zapopan.

It all began with the Franciscans. In 1524 the first group of twelve Franciscan missionaries from Spain landed on the coast of Veracruz in central Mexico. In 1525 the second group arrived, this time in the western part of the country in the area known as Nueva Galicia (the present-day state of Jalisco, of which Guadalajara is the capital). Among this group was Fray Antonio Segovia who was one of the first evangelizers of the area. The kindly and ascetic Fray Antonio (who loved the Indians as his sons) had a deep devotion to Our Lady and would always travel on his missionary journeys with her tiny statue around his neck. He claimed that it was she who was the evangelizer, not himself.

One of her titles is La Pacificadora, “the one who makes peace.” How she achieved this title occurred in a wondrous manner on one memorable day in 1540: While Fray Antonio was preaching “luminous rays issued from the statue.” It was declared by all present that “they were more beautiful than the light of the sun.” So impressed (and startled!) were the Indians with this divine manifestation that they laid down their arms (they had been warring with the Spanish) and begged to be baptized. Six thousand were brought into the Catholic faith at this time. Since the earliest days the indigenous peoples of Gaudalajara have been devoted to Our Lady. It has remained the most Catholic of Mexican states: during the years of persecution of the church in the 1920’s, statistics revealed that the most number of martyrs came from Jalisco. Not surprising perhaps because the headquarters for the Cristeros (“those who fought a war for Christ”) was located in Guadalajara.

The image is made of pasta de Michoacan a type of cornstalk which has been mixed with glue, a substance ideal for crafting durable and lightweight statues. The 13” statue represents the Virgin Mary under her title of the Immaculate Conception. It has the honour of being the first image of the Virgin Mary to be venerated in the state of Jalisco.

Our Lady of Zapopan wears different costumes: for the October 12^th procession she is dressed in her travelling outfit, “a medieval pilgrim’s cloak and a broad-brimmed hat, looking like one of the pilgrims in an early woodcut of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales” according to Father Joseph Cassidy, author of Mexico: Land of Mary’s Wonders. She also carries a large satchel, for, as one writer said, “What lady can travel without her travel bag?” At other times she is seen wearing a gold-tasseled sash, indicating military rank, and carrying a “gold baston of command.” Military rank? A baston of command? For Our Lady? Well, yes: in 1821, Mexico’s “Year of Independence,” the government commissioned Our Lady of Zapopan to be “General of the Army and of the State.” At which time she was vested with the sash and the baton and also declared the Patroness of the state of Jalisco.

Many are the honours accorded to Our Lady of Zapopan: After reports of numerous miracles an ecclesiastical investigation in 1641 declared the image to be taumaturga  which means “wonder-working.” Among the verified miracles were the curing of a blind man and the restoration of a dead child to life. Further investigations in 1731, 1732 and 1733 confirmed twenty-six more miracles.

The construction of the shrine to Our Lady of Zapopan was completed and then dedicated on Sept. 8, 1730. The miraculous image was placed above the main altar where it can be seen at the present day.

In 1919 the Vatican authorized the pontifical coronation of the image and she was crowned on Jan. 18, 1921 by the saintly and revered Archbishop of Guadalajara,  Francisco Orozco y Jimenez.

In 1940 Pope Pius XII elevated the shrine of Zapopan to the status of a basilica. Another singular honour was the visit of that most Marian of popes, St. Pope John Paul II, to the Basilica of Zapopan in 1979. A statue of him on the Basilica grounds commemorates the event.

In September 1988 the Archbishop of Guadalajara, Don Juan Jesus Posadas O Campo proclaimed Our Lady of Zapopan the Patroness of the diocese of Guadalajara. He was elevated to the position of Cardinal by St. Pope John Paul ll in 1991. Shockingly, two years later, he was assassinated at the Guadalajara International Airport. He died “in a hail of gunfire.” A government inquiry stated that he was “caught in a shootout between rival cocaine cartels.” The much-loved Cardinal had been a vigorous and outspoken critic of the drug cartels and a staunch defender of the faith. His remains are in the crypt of the Guadalajara Cathedral. To this date his case is still unsolved.

Through the centuries Our Lady of Zapopan has protected her people of Guadalajara from misfortune of all kinds: In 1734 the city was struck by a terrible pestilence. The Most Reverend Gomez de Cervantes issued a decree, directing that the statue of Our Lady of Zapopan be brought to the various suburbs of the city. The civil and religious authorites noticed that, “upon taking the statue to every suburb the pestilence stopped immediately.” From then on she was declared Patroness of epidemics and thunderstorms as well (the city is known to experience some vicious thunderstorms during the rainy season). She is also, not surprisingly, the patron of travel agents!

In 1946 the water levels of nearby Lake Chapala dropped to drastic levels. At the beginning of 1956 the city “underwent an unbelievable shortage of water.” The whole city prayed for a miracle and the statue was taken in procession to the lake. After this visitation the waters once again rose to near-normal levels. The citizens of Guadalajara have never stopped thanking Our Lady of Zapopan for her care and protection through almost five centuries.

St. Pope John Paul II spoke these words during his time at the shrine of Zapopan: “This sanctuary of Zapopan is, in effect, a proof most palpable and consoling of the intense devotion that the Mexican people profess to the Virgin Immaculate.”

And they demonstrate this love with a most robust enthusiasm! Every October 12^th.

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The elegant city of Guadalajara in the westernmost state of Jalisco is known as “the Pearl of the West.” It is considered to have an almost perfect climate. It is home to many Canadian and American ex-pats who say it has the best climate in the world, next only to Nairobi in Kenya. It is the second largest city in the country and is referred to as Mexico’s Silicone Valley, housing a large and thriving electronics industry.

The enormous and sumptuous Cathedral-Basilica of the Assumption dominates the skyline of the central historical section of the city, and, according to many travel guides, it the most famous landmark in the city.

Construction of the cathedral began in 1568 and the second bishop of Nueva Galicia (present-day Jalisco), Fray Pedro de Alaya, placed the first stone. The first structure was built in 1541 on the site of the primitive, thatched-roof church which was constructed of adobe. The new cathedral was completed in 1618. Because of the extensive length of the construction period the result is “an amalgam of several architectural styles including Renaissance, Neoclassical, Baroque and Gothic. Bishop Fray Manuel de Mimbela consecrated the church in 1716.

Earthquakes have plagued the city for centuries. The original towers were destroyed by an earthquake in 1818 and new neo-gothic towers were built by architect Manuel Gomez Ibarra and were completed in 1854. It took three years to complete the project. Notice the blue and yellow colours in this structure! They are the colours of Guadalajara. Six more earthquakes caused damage to the cathedral between the years from 1932 to 2003.

Stepping into the interior of the church is like stepping into a summer’s day! It is filled with light. It is airy, bright, spacious and majestic. Its atmosphere fits Guadalajara’s balmy, “eternal spring” climate. The three-naved church has side altars dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption, The Virgin of Zapopan (the Patrona of the city), St. Dominic, St. Peter, The Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Conception.

The church boasts paintings from Spanish and Mexican masters: Mexico’s Cristobal de Villalpando and Miguel Cabrera and the famed 17th century Spanish painter, Bartolome Estaban  Murillo. In the sacristy is the famed chocolatera, the room where they served hot chocolate to the canons!

In the crypt of the cathedral one can view the remains of Cardinal Juan Jesus Posadas Ocampo who was assassinated in the parking lot of the Guadalajara International airport in 1993. He died in “a hail of gunfire.” To this date, a quarter of a century later, “there is still no person sentenced for the crime.” A government inquiry stated that he was “caught in a shootout between rival cocaine cartels.” Others believe that he had been targeted. He had been a vigorous and outspoken critic of the drug cartels.

It is fitting that the Cathedral was named in honour of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary because the city of Guadalajara “has aways been distinguished by its religious fervour to the Holy Virgin.”

Pope Pius XII elevated the church to the rank of a minor basilica in 1939.

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Zacatecas. It’s one of those places that travel writers rave about. A mountainous city in north central Mexico, it’s a place of superlatives.  Considered one of the finest of Mexico’s colonial cities it was once the largest silver-producing city in the world and for three centuries was one of the country’s most prosperous areas. And that’s not all: It is renowned for having the only cable-car system in the world to traverse an entire city. It is no wonder that it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993.

And that cable-car leads directly to the shrine of LA VIRGEN  DEL PATROCINIO, majestically situated atop the Cerro de la Bufa (Hill of the Bufa). The Bufa is a dramatic outropping of rock which overlooks the city. With its altitude of 2,267 metres, it is a strategic landmark for miles around.

This shrine is closely tied to the history of Zacatecas. The statue of Our Lady of Patrocinio was brought from Spain by the Spanish conquistador, D. Diego de Ibarra. It was recorded as being present in 1546 at the founding of the city by Juan de Tolosa and three other conquistadores.

In 1588 Spanish King Felipe ll ordered a coat of arms for the city. Prominent on the shield was an image of the Virgin Mary standing on clouds atop the hill of the Bufa, between the moon and the sun. The four founding Spanish conquistadores are depicted at the foot of the hill.

And why would Our Lady be featured on such a shield? It was because she played a significant role in the city’s history. This role can be traced back to a tradition that is almost 500 years old: Initially the Chichema Indians of the region were terrified of the Spaniards. They took refuge in the Cerro de la Bufa, hiding in the woods at the encroachment of the invading foreigners, fortifying themselves with supplies and possible weapons. Then came the events of 1535!

During a “bloody battle” between the two factions, the parties were astounded by a vision in the sky—“A Lady of great beauty appeared on the Bufa with a child in her arms.” She advised the Indians to make peace with the Spaniards. All present were startled, indigenous and Spaniards alike, and shouted, “Milagro! Milagro!” (miracle). From that time on peace ensued between the two groups and the conversion of the Chichema to Christianity proceeded rapidly.

The Zacatecans have received many favours from their Patrona (she is the Patron of the city) throughout the centuries. She is known for her powers of healing. On many occasions, in times of epidemics, drought, calamity, natural disasters and revolution, she was led in procession from her hilltop mount to the Cathedral of Zacatecas.

The statue is made of cedar wood and measures 1.25 metres in height. It is enshrined above the main altar, flanked by graceful columns. Neoclassical architecture dominates the interior of the church. The small church has undergone several renovations in its lifetime with the present church being completed in 1795.

The image has received church approval at the highest levels. On September 23, 1796, Pope Pius Vl granted a plenary indulgence to all who would visit the shrine. The statue was crowned canonically with the authority of Pope Paul Vl in 1967. Cardinal Jose Garibi Rivera solemnly crowned the statue of El Patrocinio in the presence of 15,000 of the faithful.

“Zacatecas has always been the city of Mary,” he said, “right from the beginning.”

One more point about Zacatecas, that city of superlatives: It is most likely the only church in the western hemisphere that can be reached by cable car. And the views from the shrine? They are superb, panoramic—and without a doubt, heavenly!

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The city of San Cristobal de las Casas was founded in 1528 under the Spanish command of Diego de Mazariego who later became governor of Cuba. It was named San Cristobal in honour of the city’s patron, St. Christopher, and Fray Bartolomew de las Casas (1474-1566), a Dominican friar who spent his life protecting the dignity and rights of the indigenous peoples of the Americas. He was the first bishop of Chiapas.

This city of 40,000 people in the southern state of Chiapas exudes colonial charm with its white stucco walls, red-tiled roofs and cobblestone streets. No one was surprised when it was declared a national historic monument in 1974. It lies in a valley surrounded by the Chiapas mountains and is 2,120 m. (6,954 ft.) above sea level. The atmosphere is not Spanish, however. It is decidedly indigenous and is teeming with Indians in traditional dress who live in the outlying villages. They come to this city because it is the principal market town of the area. Most of these are Mayan-speaking and they come to sell their wares in this city, so favoured by tourists.

The Indian males from nearby Chamula wear black, grey or white wool tunics and a jorongo (a sort of sleeveless jacket) and the males from the town of Zinacante wear reddish-pink tunics and hats adorned with colourful ribbons. And these ribbons are meant to send a message! If a man is married he ties the ribbons down tight. If he is single he lets the ribbons wave in the breeze—signalling that he is available! Women wear the traditional huipil, a white dress decorated with colourful embroidery, a black wool skirt and a red or blue shawl.

With these Christian origins it is not surprising that churches dominate the architectural landscape. The most emblematic symbol of the city is the iconic cathedral. Built originally in 1528 as a modest church devoted to Our Lady of the Assumption it was later remodelled in the Baroque style and completed in 1721. It displays a most unusual façade with “stylized floral details” which provides a striking background for photos. Its colours, in red, yellow, white and black represent the four directions in the Maya world view. The main altar is dedicated to both the Virgin of the Assumption and St. Christopher.

One of the most beloved churches in the city is that of LA CARIDAD which was founded in 1715. The statue of La Caridad, holding the Infant Jesus, is featured on the main altar—and she is shown in military garb, carrying a baton! She was declared the patrona and protectress of the city. The church was  established as the first hospital for the Indians in the area. LA CARIDAD is an image of Our Lady which honours the Immaculate Conception. LA CARIDAD is featured as the main photo heading today’s story.

Another Marian church in the city is that of LA MERCED, which was originally built as a male monastery in 1537. It was established by the Mercedarios friars from Guatemala who founded the first convent in the city. Later, in 1749, architect Juan Dios began work on the building of the church you see today. It was finished in 1767. At the centre of the church is the statue of Our Lady of LA MERCED, holding the Infant Jesus. She is celebrated on Sept. 24 with great enthusiasm and the procession in her honour is accompanied by floats and throngs of people dressed in multi-coloured costumes.

Another famous Marian church in the city is that of Santo Domingo, which was constructed in 1547. Its intricate Baroque façade is considered one of the most beautiful and impressive in the city. For this reason it insures that it is also one of the most photographed churches in the entire area. Although the interior is rather plain (in contrast to its exterior) the gilded and sumptuous altarpiece of the chapel of the Rosary is not! It is home to the statue of OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY, notable for its image of the Infant Jesus who is asleep in His mother’s arms!

Any lover of Marian churches would be delighted with San Cristobal de las Casas!

Despite its remote location the shrine of Our Lady of Juquila in Oaxaca is one of the most important religious sites in the state. Two million people travel there annually. The shrine is located half-way between the city of Oaxaca and the town of Puerto Escondido on the coast. And what a marvel of a trip it is! It is an experience of stupendous, beautiful mountainous scenery with untold hairpin turns! Definitely not for the faint of heart!

And our Lady of Juquila has the most fascinating history—

In 1522 Dominican friar Jordan de Santa Caterina arrived in Oaxaca, bringing with him a diminutive wooden statue (she is only 30 cm tall) from Spain. He was the first missionary to bring Christianity to the region and was also the Master of Novices for his Order. The petite statue accompanied him everywhere in his work of evangelization. When he was leaving Oaxaca to work in another location, he gave his beloved statue to a young servant who loved the statue as much as he did. He lived in the village of Amialtepec and placed the statue on an altar in his hut.

And soon—miracles abounded! She became known as “The Virgin of the Afflicted” who answered so many prayers. So many miracles occurred that her fame “exploded.”

In time church authorities built a church for her in Amialtepec but disaster occurred in 1633. The entire town, including the church, was destroyed by fire! “But what became of the miraculous statue?” you might well ask.

Well, to everyone’s shock, the statue survived the flames intact. Not even its robes or its hair was damaged by the fire. It was the only object in the entire town which survived the holocaust. With this miraculous event, her fame spread even more!

In 1716 Bishop Angel Maldonado issued a decree that the image be moved to Santa Catarina Juquila where a sumptuous temple was built in her honour. It was constructed between the 18^th and 19^th centuries and is a masterpiece of understated neoclassical and baroque elements.

“A constant flow of pilgrims” arrives to pay homage to Our Lady of Juquila, particularly on her Dec. 8^th feastday. She has transformed the once-sleepy town of Juquila into a “miraculous little place.” On Oct. 8, 2014, she was papally crowned, “joining her previously crowned Oaxaca sister, Our Lady of Soledad,” who was crowned in 1909.

You can read the story of La Soledad in the Madonnas of Mexico website archives of May 2021.

Santo Domingo Church, in the historical centre of Mexico City, is the Mother Church of the Dominican Order in Mexico. According to chroniclers it is rated as “one of the finest churches in the capital as well as one of the oldest.”

The original church was built in 1571 just a few years after the conquest of Mexico by the Spanish conquistador, Hernan Cortez. Because of the “sinking of the city” (due to the city being built on subterranean, sandy soil)) it was, by 1607, “almost nine feet out of the perpendicular”!! At this point King Philip ll ordered the church to be restored, but by 1716 it had sunk again!

The original Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, also in Mexico City, suffered the same fate. You can see the old Basilica beside the new Basilica. When you are inside the old Basilica you will notice this “sinking” aspect as soon as you enter the building. It has a decided slant to it!

The present-day Dominican church had to be rebuilt on its foundations and was completed in 1736. It was consecrated in 1754 by Dominican bishop, Fray Francisco Pallas and is considered “one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in Mexico.”

Its stunning Rosary chapel is the setting for the church’s “principal treasure,” a “jewel-life figure of Our Lady of the Rosary. According to one historian, the life-sized statue of Our Lady of the Rosary “seems to be a living figure.” “The eyes appear to move, the figure to respire and the face to be alight with a thousand changes of expression. Even the Infant on His Mother’s arm looks as though He were about to speak.” You may be able to notice this phenomenon even from the photograph posted in this article.

La Capilla del Rosario—The Rosary Chapel—is the shrine and spiritual headquarters for the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary. It was founded in 1538 “only a few years after Cortes conquered the armies of Moctezuma”. The Dominican chronicler, Fray Juan Jose Moya, writing in 1757, affirms that the work of the Confraternity was already remarkable even in the early years of its existence. They did many works of mercy for the poor and struggling in the city. The devotion to THE PERPETUAL ROSARY has its headquarters at the shrine and at any hour of the day one is sure to see several people praying the Rosary before the altar.

On October 14, 1945, “by the authority of His Holiness Pius XII, the coronation of Our Lady of the Rosary with the pontifical crown took place.” A sublime honour for Our Lady of the Rosary!

And there she resigns today in her golden chapel.

Salve Regina!

Our Lady of the Regla is the patrona of the archdiocese of Chihuahua, the largest and most prosperous state in the country (its surface area covers 70% of that of Spain). As travel guides state: “It was silver that put Chihuahua on the map.” It is Mexico’s leading producer of silver. The northern city was founded in 1709 after lodes of silver were discovered in its environs. Not surprisingly, the first Spanish settlers in the region were miners!

But back to the subject of our discussion: Our Lady of the Regla. What do we know of her? What are her origins? How did she get her name? Most people have never heard of her and hers is a most dramatic history! A history involving one of our most beloved saints, and a history involving one of our most famous explorers.

The endearing, (DISCLOSURE: it is one of my favourite images of Our Lady in Mexico)  life-sized statue of Our Lady of the Regla can be found above the major altar in the magnificent cathedral of Chihuahua, a church known for its “marvellous” baroque-façade adorned with statues of the twelve Apostles. It is reputed to be one of the most beautiful structures in northern Mexico. The church was begun in 1725 by Bishop Benito Crespo y Montroy and was completed in 1789. The “impressive” twin-towered church is constructed of ochre-coloured stone and was built by Jose de la Cruz, the master builder who was in charge of the construction until his death in 1734. In 1891 Chihuahua was established as a bishopric at which time the church was raised to the level of a cathedral. Quite a transformation of the once small, adobe chapel! An elegant marble altar was imported from Italy by Bishop Guizar y Valencia (his story can be found in the archives here for June 2021) and set in place in the cathedral in 1930.

May 10, 1990, was a historic day for the citizens of Chihuahua: St.Pope John Paul ll visited the cathedral on that day. The chair upon which he presided is found in the museum adjoining the nave of the church.

But how did the statue find its way into the cathedral?

One of the wealthy miners of a mine in Chihuahua, Don Antonio de Transvira y Retes, had a fervent devotion to Our Lady of Regla, an image he brought from Spain; he donated it to the cathedral. The statue can be seen by visitors to the cathedral to the present day.

More about the fascinating story of her origins:

From a 17^th century written chronicle we read about her history: “It was the year 430.” The vandals invaded North Africa and were near the city of Hippo, home of St. Augustine, the founder of the Augustinian religious Order. He had in his possession his treasured, sacred image of Our Lady of the Regla. Thirty years after his death some Augustinian monks brought the “precious” image to the area of Cadiz. In subsequent years Don Alfonso Perez de Guzman, who founded a monastery of canon regulars, built a castle named Regla. Thus, the name of our statue!

During the Arab invasion of Spain in 713, the friars hid the image in a well underneath a fig tree on the grounds of the monastery. It remained hidden for 616 years until 1329 when it was found by a canon regular of the Cathedral of Leon. Once discovered, the Virgin “received great devotion” principally in the south of Spain, especially in the province of Cadiz, where was built the sanctuary of Chipiona, in her honour. The statue became revered because of its many miracles and devotion to her spread throughout Spain and also to Cuba, Bolivia, Santo Domingo, the Philippines and Mexico.

It is interesting to note that the sanctuary was originally a castle fortress owned by the family of the explorer Ponce de Leon, of history book fame. Juan Ponce de Leon (1474-1521) is known for leading the first European expedition to Florida. He also served as the first governor of Puerto Rico (Wikipedia). Members of the Ponce de Leon family donated the castle to the Augustinian hermit monks in 1399, who converted it into a church in honour of Our Lady of the Regla, today known as the elegant sanctuary of Chipiona.

A prayer to Our Lady of the Regla found in the cathedral of Chihuahua:

“Oh, Mother, Holy Mary of the Regla, the people of Chihuahua live under your powerful protection!  Guide us by your light and that of your Son and bring us securely to the port of salvation.”

‘The story of Our Lady of Valvanera began in the ninth century in the lush wooded valley of Valvenera, Spain, a place of stunning scenery high in the Pyrenees mountains of northern Spain. The first history of Valvenera was written by Abbot Don Gonzalo de Berceo in the 10^th century.

The main character in our history is a ne’er do well known as Nuno Onez who was born in Montenegro. Nuno’s problem? He refused to work! Instead, he turned to a life of crime and robbery, much to his parents’ chagrin. “They wept daily over their wayward son,” reports this earliest chronicle.

One day while hiding in the woods near his home, Nuno spied his next victim: A farmworker. Nuno sharpened his knife and prepared to pounce on the innocent peasant. Crouching ever nearer to his latest victim, Nuno was surprised to hear the fellow talking. “But who was he talking to?” wondered the startled robber. There was no one else around. Nuno crept even closer. To his amazement the farmworker was on his knees—praying to God! Nuno listened. Rapt. In wonderment. At the sight of this humble man pouring out his heart to God. At this moment Nuno experienced total repentance and begged God for pardon for his life of crime. “I am the worst of men!” he cried out. Nuno’s “heart of stone” was changed in an instant.

The humbled Nuno retired to a cave, close to the city of Anguiano, to pray and do penance for his life of depravity. In a short while he was joined by a priest known as Domingo from the town of Brieva.

One day while Nuno was in his cave, he was visited by an angel “with a joyful face.” The angel directed him to go to Valvanera where he would find a giant oak tree, “outstanding in its height,” towering over all the other trees in the forest. “Inside that tree you will find an image of the Virgin,” the angel told an astonished Nuno. Nuno promptly set out for Valvanera to find the Virgin. In the meantime Domingo returned to the cave and found it empty. “Where could Nuno be?” he pondered, perplexed. In a short while he found Nuno and heard the incredible story about the angel.

Together they ventured through the forest and found the giant tree. In the cavity of the tree they were amazed to find a statue of Our Lady caressing her Son on her knee. Just as the angel had foretold. She was swarmed by a hive of worker bees! At the foot of the tree a fountain had sprouted forth. The pair were ecstatic to discover such a marvel and set about to construct a small chapel to house their “magnificent treasure.”

One of the first pilgrims to visit the image of Our Lady of Valvanera was Nuno’s sister, Coloma, who was blind. She was cured of her blindness immediately. Within several years one hundred and six hermits formed a community of Benedictine monks to serve Our Lady of Valvanera.

Devotion to Our Lady of Valvanera spread throughout Spain, from “Gerona to Coruna, from Asturia to Seville.” Generations of pilgrims through the centuries visited the shrine devoted to Our Lady of Valvanera. Such noble personages as Queen Isabella “La Catolica” and saints such as St. Dominic also visited the shrine.

Devotion to Our Lady of Valvanera arrived in Mexico with the Spanish missionaries in the 16^th century. One of her principal shrines in Mexico is that of the majestic and immense Maronite cathedral of Our Lady of Valvanera and the sanctuary of St. Charbel. Its actual name is CATEDRAL MARONITA TEMPLO DE NTRA. DE VALVANERA Y SANCTUARIO DE SAN CHARBEL. It is located in the historical centre of Mexico City, a short walk from the zocalo (the city’s central plaza). The church was originally built in the 16^th century and in 1922 it became a church of the Maronite Order in response to the growing number of immigrants from Lebanon who had arrived in the diocese.

You might well ask: “But who is St. Charbel?” If you have visited any number of churches in Mexico you would soon know who he is! He seems to be ubiquitous in the country! His statue is generally depicted with streams of brightly-coloured ribbons dangling from his figure. These are testimonials from petitioners who are intensely grateful for the saint’s intercession.

St. Charbel (whose birth name was Youssef Anton Makhlouf) was named after one of the martyrs in second century Antioch. He was born in 1828 in Lebanon and was ordained a priest in the Maronite Catholic rite in 1859. Living as a hermit and a monk, he was known for his copious miracles both during and after his life. He died in 1898 and for 45 days after his death, dazzling lights were seen emanating from his grave. In 1952 his body was exhumed and found perfectly incorrupt. St. Charbel was canonized by St. Pope Paul VI in 1977.

A prayer to Our Lady of Valvanera is found in a booklet NOVENA A SANTAMARIA DE VALVANERA which was available in the church: It is asking Our Lord to lead us to the home of the Father and asking Our Lady of Valvanera, Queen of heaven and earth, to pray for us!

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I simply could not wait to visit the shrine of LA SOLEDAD, “this magnificent temple,” built in the neo-classical style, which I had heard so much about. It was reputed to be one of the most beautiful churches in this mountainous, northern state of Zacatecas. I had read about the “peace of the sanctuary”, “the beauty of its architecture” and the “tenderness of Our Lady of Solitude”— this “maternal figure” which resides over the main altar of the church named in her honour.

I was not disappointed. Stepping inside of this church, which was built in 1805, is like stepping into the middle of a serene and lovely summer afternoon—all is full of light and brightness and cheer.

The figure of LA SOLEDAD, known as the Mother of the Jerezanos, is the town’s patron. In 1824 she was proclaimed the Patrona of this charming, colonial city of Jerez, located 57 km (35 mi.) from the capital city of Zacatecas.

Devotion to Our Lady of  Solitude began in the 18^th century in this area of Mexico. And what an intriguing history she has! It all began one day when two young men arrived in a barrio of the town of Jerez, known as Barrio de San Miguel Arcangel.  They brought a mule with them who was carrying a wooden box on its back. They were passing through the town and spoke to a married Indian woman who was a recent convert to Christianity. They asked her about lodging for the night and she joyfully admitted the strangers to her home.

The next morning, however, the two men had disappeared, and, to everyone’s shock, the mule was found dead in the woman’s yard. The wooden box had been abandoned and was found alongside the mule. The woman told her priest about the strange occurrence. He decided that the couple should bring the box to the church on several consecutive Sundays and he would make the announcement about the mysterious box from the pulpit. But no one came forward to claim it!

At this juncture the priest decided that the box should be opened in the presence of several witnesses. The mayor and several town officials gathered in the town’s central plaza to open the box. To their astonishment they discovered a bust of the Virgin Mary inside the box! She became known as La Senora de la Soledad. She would become associated with many miracles in the years to come. She became a favourite of the miners in the rich mines of Zacatecas. Even before this time, as early as the 16^th century, the miners had had a fervent devotion to the Virgin Mary. They claimed La Soledad as their own when her discovery became known!

As early as 1714 one of the altars in the sanctuary of San Miguel was dedicated to her. This church became the earliest home for La Soledad. Historical records indicate her popularity: that statues of her image could be found in several houses of the town in the 1700’s. Records reveal that a letter by a priest in 1729 showed that his grandmother had an image of La Soledad in her home in Jerez

The statue of Our Lady, “young, serene and of singular beauty” measures 1 m. 47 cm (a little over 4 ft. tall). It has been restored several times. Her   eyes are lowered, saddened, reflecting the sorrows of her heart after her Son’s Crucifixion.

A solemn honour was bestowed on the image of Our Lady of Solitude several decades ago: On Nov. 11, 1959, she was pontifically crowned with the authorization of Pope John XXlll.

One devotee (Victor Villa) wrote this prayer as he was departing from the church of La Soledad:

“Good-bye my Mother, my Mother of Consolation. Be my protection and guide in the forces of my life. Good-bye Holy Mary, Mother of my life.”

OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY: SANTO DOMINGO CHURCH, OAXACA, OAXACA

Tourists flock to the city of Oaxaca, a “charming, colonial gem” which boasts of a superb climate. It is a five-hour drive southeast of Mexico City and is located in a valley surrounded by the towering Sierra Madre Del Sur mountains. Oaxaca’s historical centre was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. The city was conquered by the Spanish in 1533 and was originally a  Zapotec and Mixtec settlement.

There are more than twenty-seven churches in the city and the enormous Church of Santo Domingo (named after the Spanish founder of the Dominican Order, Dominic Guzman) is one of the most prized. “None can equal the splendor of this one’s interior,” says one guidebook. Another says: “Of the many churches in the city, this is the one most likely to take your breath away.” It was begun in 1572 by the Dominican Order and is considered one of the finest Baroque churches in the western world. We are told not to be misled by the simple façade! It hides “an interior that dazzles with gilded plaster and coloured stucco in a sublime combination of Gothic, Romanesque, Baroque and Moorish styles.”

The “remarkable” Capilla del Rosario is exceptional and is considered the most stunning of the church’s twelve side altars. This is only fitting given the central role of the Rosary in the Dominican Order! They spared no expense in building this outstanding chapel. It was constructed in 1731 and at its centre is the “white-robed virgin” flanked by four golden, spiral columns. She was brought from Italy in 1725. Its chapel is considered the most “rococo” (Baroque) altar in the country!

The church functioned as a convent from 1608 until 1857. During the wars of independence it was used as a barracks for the soldiers. As a result of the Reform Laws it was abandoned by the Dominicans, only to be occupied by the army. From 1866 to 1902 it was closed for worship, and was “looted and wrecked.” During those tumultuous times the treasured statue of Our Lady of the Rosary (and many others) was hidden in private homes, safe from the marauding mobs. In 1938 the church was given back to the clergy.

The members of the Dominican Order were missionaries from the beginning. The Order was founded by Spanish Dominic de Guzman in 1215 and was sanctioned by Pope Innocent lll. The Dominicans arrived in America in the 16^th century in answer to a call from Hernan Cortez,. The first Dominicans arrived in Mexico in 1526, two years after the arrival of the first evangelizers, the Franciscans, who arrived after the Spanish Conquest in 1521.

In 1529, Fray Domingo de Betanzos, the first Dominican Provincial of New Spain, ordered his community to establish a Dominican presence in Oaxaca. In 1552 twelve friars were sent to oversee the construction of the first monastery. The church was damaged by several earthquakes over the centuries (Oaxaca is an earthquake-prone state) and in 1902 Archbishop Gillow began the work of restoration. Through wars and earthquakes and looting and sabotage, Our Lady of the Rosary has always protected the magnificent church of Santo Domingo and her flock in Oaxaca!