An "Incorruptible" in America? (UPDATED 5/29/2023)

There's an interesting piece of news that's currently being widely circulated among Catholic websites and private circles - it has to do with an American nun-founder from Gower, Missouri, named Sr. Wilhelmina Lancaster.  She died in 2019... and her body was discovered incorrupt this past week during its transfer into the chapel of her congregation.  (Note: Her corpse was never embalmed!)

Below is an article that was emailed to me this morning and I have to say - it's quite compelling!

I've never heard of this nun prior to this morning and I'm sure there are many others like me... so here's a brief bio about Sr. Wilhelmina that I gathered from online sources: She was born Mary Elizabeth Lancaster on April 13, 1924 and, starting from the age of 2, she was alleged to have experienced a few private visits from Our Lady.  Then, at her First Holy Communion in April 1934, she had a decisive mystical experience involving Jesus, who invited her to be His; immediately enamored with our Lord, the youngster said "Yes".

At 13, Mary Elizabeth decided that she wanted to become a nun.  She entered the Oblate Sisters of Providence in 1941 - taking Sr. Wilhelmina, as her religious name - and was a teaching Sister for several decades in various US cities.

In 1995, at the age of 70, Sr. Wilhelmina left the Oblates to follow an apparent divine inspiration, which was to establish a new conservative and contemplative community called the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles; she was its first prioress.

A staunch traditionalist at heart, the founder’s long life was marked by a deep love for Jesus and a reverence for the Latin Mass... along with a strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin who she sought to emulate.  Her faith-example left a lasting positive impression upon those who knew her.

Sr. Wilhelmina Lancaster in life.

Sr. Wilhelmina Lancaster died on May 29, 2019 with a beaming smile on her face and a reputation for sanctity.  As the article states, she was 95 at the time of her passing.

Although the preliminary information we have about this nun looks promising that we're dealing with a genuine miracle here (her life reads similar to many of the Beatified/Canonized founders already featured in this blog), the Church ultimately has the final say.

Moving forward, it's going to be interesting and exciting to see if graces and favors will be reported through the deceased founder's intercession; whether a formal investigation will be initiated by the Diocese in regards to her remains or whether a Cause for Canonization for Sr. Wilhelmina will eventually result from all this.  Remember - nothing happens by chance.

In the meantime, let us pray for the Holy Spirit to guide the local Bishop in Missouri!

* * *  U P D A T E  * * *

A local mortician and funeral home owner - Jack Klein - who issued Sr. Wilhelmina's death certificate and was present at her burial, has confirmed that the nun's body was never embalmed.  He was also quoted as saying that he "can't understand" how her body is in the preserved state it's in given the circumstances of her burial.

The local Bishop - Bishop James Johnston, Jr. - is also quite aware of the situation and has issued a statement of which the full text is found here.  In short, at this point in time, he has not committed to an investigation of any sort, but wisely invites prayer:

  "I invite all the Faithful to continue praying during this time of evaluation and determination for God’s will in the lives of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles; for all women religious; and all the baptized in our common vocation to holiness, with hope and trust in the Lord."

Crowds are still flocking to the monastery to view the body of Sr. Wilhelmina up close, and to touch it, while they still can through the end of May.  In June, the sisters will be enclosing their founder’s body in a glass-sided urn, especially constructed for it, through which pilgrims may still view the remains.

To read more about the phenomenon of

Saintly Incorruptibility, click here.

Mexico Pilgrimage, April 2023 - Part II: Relics and Other Wonders

In this blog - Part II of my 3-part series about my Mexican pilgrimage - I will focus on sacred relics and other miraculous images I saw on this trip.  Let us begin...

THE CHURCH OF SANTIAGO TLATELOLCO, MEXICO CITY

     

The outside of Santiago Tlatelolco and

the baptismal font where St. Juan Diego

and other converts were baptized.

This site is technically not a relic or a miracle, but it is a special place closely connected to the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Juan Diego.  This Franciscan church, built on a dismantled Aztec temple, and its adjacent monastery was the center of the Faith in Mexico at the time of the apparitions.   In fact, this is where Juan Diego received religious instruction and was baptized in a large stone basin still found within the church; he was on his way here when the Virgin appeared.  And, according to our tour guide, the Saint also opened his Tilma to Bishop Juan de Zumarraga at this location, revealing the miraculous roses and the image of Our Lady.

So, being a die-hard devotee of the Virgin of Guadalupe, this place took on a profound personal significance.  The site made the Guadalupe Apparitions story more real and alive for me and, in a strange but good way, I felt I was part of the Tilma's history during the time we spent in this church.  For other Guadalupanas out there, it's a place definitely worth visiting.

THE BRONZE CRUCIFIX OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE - BASILICA OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, MEXICO CITY

Another object of devotion found in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a large bronze crucifix in a display case in the right wing of the church (shown below).  The crucifix is considered special because of an event that occurred on November 14, 1921.

On that fateful day, anti-clerical government agents conspired to destroy the Tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe by planting a bomb in a vase directly under the holy image when it was enshrined in the old basilica.  The bomb went off, blowing out windows in the basilica; destroying parts of the altar and sanctuary; and bending backwards the crucifix that stood near the altar through the sheer force of the explosion.  The Tilma, however, was miraculously untouched; its glass covering remaining intact.

After the bombing, many attributed the inexplicable preservation of the Tilma to the crucifix; suggesting that our Lord, through the crucifix, "absorbed" the impact of the explosion to protect his mother's image.  It's been venerated ever since with pilgrims leaving written petitions beside it in the new basilica, as shown in the above-photo.

RELIC OF ST. JOSE SANCHEZ DEL RIO - BASILICA OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, MEXICO CITY

Although the major portion of his bodily relics are conserved in Sahuayo, Michoacan, in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe there can also be found a reliquary with a large bone fragment from the remains of St. Jose Sanchez del Rio.  It is located in a display case mounted on a wall in the right wing of the basilica.

In front of St. Jose's reliquary

For those not familiar with his life, St. Jose was a devout youth who fought on the side of the rebels against the anti-clerical Mexican Government during the Cristero War.  He was captured on the battlefield after giving up his own horse to another soldier so the man could escape.   Jose was subsequently threatened then tortured by his jailers in an effort to force him to renounce the Catholic Faith, but the boy heroically remained steadfast.  Instead, he prayed constantly during his captivity and wrote to his mother expressing his willingness and resignation to die for Christ.

Jose was shot to death on February 10, 1928, at the young age of 14.  Recognized as an official Martyr of the Church, Jose was Canonized on October 16, 2016.  Devotion to him has since spread throughout the globe, making him a role-model of faith and courage for Catholics of all ages.

EL SENOR DEL VENENO - METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL, MEXICO CITY

Upon entering the grand Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City, one will see to the immediate left, a section railed off from the rest of the church, but still accessible to the public through a designated opening.  At the front of this area is a striking, near-life-sized black crucifix, which gave me a sense of the supernatural as soon as I looked at it.  So I asked our local tour guide, Vero, about it and she explained that the crucifix was considered miraculous and revered in the city because it once used to be pale in color but mysteriously turned black.

I did some quick googling and found additional details about the image... and what I learned was fascinating!

The crucifix is called by two names:  El Cristo Negro (the Black Christ) or El Senor del Veneno (the Lord of the Venom/Poison) and it was handcrafted sometime in the 17th century by an indigenous craftsman.  The statue was originally installed in the Chapel of Porta Coelli (Gate of Heaven), where it was venerated by the chapel's Dominican custodians.  In particular, there was a priest who was highly devoted to the crucifix, and who made it a point to pray daily before it then, afterwards, kissing the foot of the corpus.

On a certain day, a penitent came to confess to the same priest but was refused absolution until he had made reparation for his criminal actions.  Angered, the man smeared a poison on the statue's feet in an attempt to murder his confessor.  Sure enough, in keeping with his daily routine, the priest said his prayers before the crucifix and, as he approached to kiss the foot of the corpus, the statue miraculously shifted to avoid his lips while also changing to the shiny black color it is today.  Needless to say, the priest was saved and the statue became a popular object of public devotion once word of the wonder spread.

     

Two other views of the miraculous

crucifix at the Altar of Forgiveness.

In 1935, during the Cristero War, the Chapel of Porta Coelli was closed and the crucifix was transferred to the cathedral to ensure its safety.  It has remained there ever since, behind the "Altar of Forgiveness", where it is visited by devotees because of the many signal graces reportedly obtained in its presence.

During my time in the cathedral, I was able to stay a length of time before the sacred crucifix in reflection and prayer... and observed the steady coming and goings of locals who venerated the image.  The affection for El Senor del Veneno was apparent and inspiring.

THE INCORRUPT BODY OF BL. SEBASTIAN DE APARICIO - CHURCH OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI, PUEBLA

While on a side trip to the city of Puebla, I had the opportunity to venerate the incorrupt body of Bl. Sebastian de Aparicio who died in there on February 25, 1600.  The visit to the church was not part of our itinerary, but because I was aware of it, I asked our guide to squeeze a visit to the relic into our schedule, which she did - Praise the Lord!  It turned out to be one of several highlights of this trip for me, and for other pilgrims in our group.  The presence of God was in that chapel.

For those not familiar with the life of this Blessed, here's a summary:  Sebastian de Aparicio was actually born in Spain in January 1502, from a poor but devout peasant family.  Highly pious himself, Sebastian was prayerful and hardworking, supporting himself by working odd jobs before sailing to Mexico in 1533.  In Puebla, he slowly built a life as a successful farmer and rancher, and became  a very wealthy man.

The body of Bl. Sebastian de Aparicio

Seeing the challenges experienced by the indiginous workers in their backbreaking transport of his products, Sebastian's wealth and influence were instrumental in having wheeled carts introduced in Mexico and paved roads built between the Puebla and Veracruz trade routes.  He also gave generously to the poor, which earned him further respect from the people, who nicknamed him the "Angel of Mexico".

Sebastian was married twice in his middle age and widowed both times after living chastely with his late wives.  When he fell seriously ill and recovered, he sold his business and gave away his possessions to the poor to join the Franciscan Order.  As a Lay-Brother, the Blessed was assigned the task of collecting alms, which afforded him contact with the local populace, who benefited from miracles he worked through his prayers.  

Sebastian de Aparicio died at the age of 98 and his funeral was a triumph with many already considering him a Saint.  His body was discovered mysteriously incorrupt 6 months after its burial and remains in the same condition in its silver urn within the Church of St. Francis.  His Beatification was celebrated on May 17, 1789.  May Bl. Sebastian pray for us all.

THE OSSUARY OF THE SERVANT OF GOD, MARIA DE LA LUZ CAMACHO - CHURCH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, COYOACAN

While on a side trip to the city of Coyoacan we visited the Church of San Juan Bautista steps away from the city's main square.  While wandering inside, I discovered a shrine at the back of the church that held the ossuary of the Servant of God, Maria de la Luz Camacho, a Martyr who died outside the main entrance of the same church.  I had read her bio many years ago and recall being impressed by her heroism... so, unexpectedly coming upon her tomb was a pleasant surprise.  I offered a prayer and told several others in our group about the ossuary and who Maria was - all were glad to learn about her and the presence of her relics.  So who was this courageous woman of faith?

Maria was born on May 17, 1907, to a prominent and pious family.  In her brief lifetime, she displayed a high degree of personal sanctity, working in her parish as a trusted Catechist, Secretary, and Treasurer.  In addition, she was active in the Catholic Action association and was a professed Third Order Franciscan; it was apparent to all who knew her that Maria was serious about her Catholic Faith and was an excellent role model in practicing it.

Under a red metal grill one could see the

wooden box enclosing the Martyr's bones.

At the time that she lived, there were Socialist revolutionaries - "Red Shirts" - who were intent on destroying the Church in Mexico.  On December 30, 1934, a group of them arrived in Coyoacan with the intent of rallying support and desecrating the parish church of San Juan Bautista.

On learning of the planned sacrilege, Maria along with a small group of parishioners, rushed to the front steps of the church to defend it from the Red Shirts.  The confrontation that ensued quickly escalated leading to the revolutionaries firing at the unarmed group at the entrance to the church.  Maria was hit several times in the chest and succumbed to her wounds shortly after the priest administered the Last Rites.

Maria de la Luz Camacho was immediately acclaimed a Martyr by the people, and her funeral was a massive event in the city.  She was only 27 when she gave her life for Jesus while shouting, "Viva Cristo Rey!"

Before closing this blog, I just want to add how impressed I was by the many wondrous things/places I saw in a short while in Mexico; it almost seemed as though every town we went to had its own miracle... and the joy and faith I witnessed in the Catholics there encouraged and uplifted me for which I am forever grateful.

Click on the link below to read Part III, which is my personal testimonial about the signal graces and signs experienced during this pilgrimage.

* * To view Mexico Pilgrimage, April 2023 - Part III (Signs), click here

* * To view Mexico Pilgrimage, April 2023 - Part I (Apparitions), click here

Mexico Pilgrimage, April 2023 - Part I: Apparition Shrines

Viva Cristo Rey!  Viva la Virgen Maria!  This author just had the most blessed opportunity to go on a pilgrimage to several holy sites in Mexico (my first trip since the pandemic started in 2020).  In fact, I just returned to Hawaii earlier this afternoon.  Before continuing any further, I want to first give shout-outs to the following:

* The country of Mexico - its scenic beauty; culture (i.e., architecture, art, customs, food, and music); people... all impressed me deeply, adding to the unforgettable experience I had on this trip .

* Our local tour guide, Veronica ("Vero" from the Catholic Pilgrim Office, Inc.) - her knowledge of history/culture; warmth and humor; and flexibility in accommodating our requests all contributed positively to our group's overall experience of her country.

Now going back to the topic of this blog - my pilgrimage experiencce - this trip was primarily a pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (OLG), which this lay-ministry is named after, given this writer's history of personal devotion to OLG and the many signal graces received from our Heavenly Mother's intercession, under this popular title.  As such, this trip was on my Bucket List for long while now and took on an extra-special personal significance for me.

Our pilgrimage itinerary, however, included other places in Mexico that are known for miraculous sightings and sacred relics of veneration, which I wanted to especially highlight and share my impressions about; smaller shrines that I personally feel are no less holy than OLG and deserve more recognition.  Given the large amount of information I intend to share, I am drafting 3 separate blogs, of which this is Part I, dealing specifically about apparition shrines; Part II will be about holy relics/objects; then a Part III will follow, as a testimonial to remarkable graces received from Our Lady on this pilgrimage.  So let's begin...

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, MEXICO CITY

Most Catholics are already aware of the story of the 1531 apparitions of OLG, so I won't write much about it - those not familiar with the story can click here.

In the centuries following her appearances on Tepeyac Hill, chapels and two grand basilicas were constructed to house the focal point of the OLG Devotion - the Virgin's miraculous image imprinted on St. Juan Diego's Tilma (a cactus fiber cloak).

On the very first day our Hawaii group arrived in Mexico, two of my fellow prayer group members and myself made it a point to visit the shrine although it wasn't in our official schedule... and, as soon as I stepped foot into the shrine plaza, I was immediately struck by the awesome sanctity of the place - it is holy ground!

The basilica complex is HUGE and encompasses a vast plaza on Tepeyac Hill on which sits the modern basilica, steps away from the original, smaller baroque-style basilica, which is still in use.  Smaller chapels also dot the site commemorating St. Juan Diego's hermitage; a well of water discovered on the hill (considered healing); a chapel atop Tepeyac where OLG caused roses to miraculously appear; and other chapels for various purposes.  I had the pleasure of visiting not just the two basilicas but these other chapels, too, during my week-long pilgrimage.

Of course, the center of the entire shrine is the enigmatic Tilma of St. Juan Diego, which is situated behind and above the main altar, in a gold and silver frame, covered by bulletproof glass. OLG's image - a "perpetual apparition" - is magnificent... and radiates a tangible aura of maternal love.  For me, it's as though I came home and there's Mom joyfully awaiting and welcoming me; a sensation of both reverence and comforting familiarity swirled in my heart while tears of joy flowed freely from my eyes.

A couple of pics taken in the Basilica

(I wept tears of joy!)...

A great innovation implemented by the basilica is a conveyor belt behind the sanctuary directly under the miraculous image.  One can stand on this short moving track to get a closer view of the Sacred Tilma, which I estimate to be only about 35 feet above the pilgrims.  One can go on the conveyor belt as often as desired, and I must have done so at least 20 times during the 5 visits I made to the basilica since the crowd moved along quickly.  It wasn't uncommon to see other pilgrims weeping in the Tilma's presence.

The view from the conveyor belt

under the miraculous Tilma.

Now I've been to 11 Marian apparition sites and OLG Basilica ranks among my Top 4 favorites, which include Montichiari-Fontanelle (Rosa Mystica revelations, Italy), Lipa (Mediatrix of All Grace apparitions, Philippines), and Tre Fontane (Virgin of the Revelation apparitions, Italy).  The ground literally emanates divine power and sanctity, and I highly recommend that Catholics (and non-Catholics, too) visit this hallowed shrine at least once in their lifetimes, if at all possible.

OUR LADY OF OCOTLAN - OCOTLAN, TLAXCALA

This Church-approved apparition is celebrated in Mexico but seems little-known outside of that country, which sort of puzzles me - it's story is an interesting blend of OLG and Lourdes... plus, the Virgin left behind two lasting signs - gifts to us - in the form of a healing spring of water and a remarkable statue that both still exist!   Yet, I've never heard of this place until a few years ago.  To summarize its history - in 1541 (just 10 years after the OLG apparitions), an Aztec convert named Juan Diego Bernardino (no relation to St. Juan Diego of Guadalupe fame), experienced a single apparition of the Virgin Mary in a grove.

A mural at the site of the blessed well

showing Our Lady's appearance in Ocotlan

in 1541.  Note the stone basin under it.

At the time of an epidemic that was decimating the local populace, including the seer's family, Juan Diego went to the river to fetch water.  On his way back through a grove of ocote trees, he was surprised by Our Lady's sudden appearance.  In a nutshell, the Virgin led the man to a spring of water where there was none before, and instructed him to have the sick drink the water for healing purposes.  The words she spoke were full of maternal concern:

  “My heart always desires to help those who are suffering.  My heart cannot bear to see so much pain and anguish among people without healing them.  Drink as much water as you desire.  Upon drinking just one drop, the sick will not only be cured, but they will receive perfect health!”

Furthermore, the Blessed Virgin directed Juan to have the Franciscan missionaries return to the site to retrieve a statue of herself that she wanted venerated in their Chapel of San Lorenzo.  She then disappeared.

The visionary wasted no time collecting the spring water and administering it to his sick relatives who all recovered.  He then relayed the Virgin's message to the friars who went with the seer to the site of the visitation.  It was already evening when they arrived with a crowd of onlookers, and the group was greeted by a curious sight - a single ocote tree covered in flames!  Unable locate the statue, the crowd left but returned the following morning to find the tree burnt to a crisp.  In a hallow cavity of its trunk was discovered a large, unscathed, and beautiful statue of the Holy Virgin dressed in regal robes and carrying a scepter.

       

A mural depicting the miraculous finding

of Our Lady's statue and the statue as

seen today in its place in the basilica.

The statue was reverently carried to the chapel of San Lorenzo where a cathedral later rose to enshrine the miraculous image.  Although it could possibly be a statue carved in Spain, how it got into the burning tree is deemed a mystery.  Favors through the veneration of this particular statue and the use of the water continue be reported up to our present time.  In fact, an Aunt of mine in our group was suffering from chronic knee pain but claims the pain almost immediately dissipated after she rubbed the blessed water on it, making it possible for her to walk with little discomfort!

During our visit to the Basilica of Ocotlan, we had the opportunity to pray before the sacred statue, which is displayed behind and above the main altar in a glass case. We also took a 15 minute walk down a steep road to the Chapel of the Little Well that was constructed over the original spring revealed by the Virgin.  Inside the small hexagonal chapel, along its walls, are several stone fonts with spigots.  The well itself is in the center covered with plexiglass to protect the water source from debris and foreign objects.

  

The Chapel of the Little Well... the

actual well shown to the right covered

by plexiglass for protection.

Two elderly custodians of the chapel patiently filled our plastic water bottles, which everyone immediately drank with no ill effects.  In fact, the water was cool and tasted very similar to Hawaii's fresh, volcanic rock-filtered water - it was refreshing, especially in the warm climate of Mexico.  We then refilled our bottles to take home before hiking back up to the cathedral.

Again, this is a sacred place I would encourage others to visit should one ever be in Mexico.  It's well-worth the time!

SANTUARIO DE SAN MIGUEL ARCANGEL DEL MILAGRO - NATIVITAS, TLAXCALA

A depiction of the miracle of St. Michael

Just about 10 minutes from Ocotlan is another obscure sacred spot of heavenly visitations, this time from St. Michael the Archangel.  It's also Church-approved and given my devotion to this Archangel, and my membership in the Cohort of St. Michael the Archangel Prayer Group in my parish, this shrine was also personally meaningful to me.

To summarize the history of this place... on April 25, 1631 (nearly 100 years after OLG), in the midst of a smallpox epidemic, the Faithful in Tlaxcala held a procession to invoke Divine Help.  During the event, a 17-year-old local named Diego Lazaro was recipient to an apparition of St. Michael who told him about a spring of water that would alleviate the sickness.  The boy, however, decided to keep quiet for fear of being ridiculed after he realized that he was the only witness to the appearance.

Not long after, the Archangel revisited Diego to admonish him for his lack of obedience and to warn him that, because of it, he would be subjected to the illness; the visionary was soon infected by the smallpox.

The young man's condition worsened to the point of death, when unexpectedly St. Michael reappeared in a brilliant flash of lightning that was seen by his family, causing them to flee.  The Archangel then transported the teen to a nearby locale where a luminous ray from Heaven beamed down on a certain spot marked by a large boulder; St. Michael's subsequent words were powerful:

  "This light that you have seen descend from Heaven is the virtue that God in His Divine Providence gives in this spring for the health and relief of the sick and needy.  Make this known at once to everyone.  That they may believe your testimony, I promise to work a great prodigy through you."

Significantly, Diego also reported that he heard a terrible clamor of storm winds and growls after the light streamed down, which St. Michael explained was the sound of demons being exorcised from the area because of the immense sanctity God was pouring down over the site!

The youth was then returned home completely cured and he immediately went to the Franciscans to report his experience.  They referred him to the local governor but the Spanish official dismissed him.  Undaunted, he led a group of villagers to the site of the boulder shown to him by St. Michael.  All attempts by the people to move the massive rock proved futile until Diego remembered the angel's promise.

Ordering everyone to stand aside, the seer invoked the Archangel and was instantly granted the strength to single-handedly push aside the boulder after which the spring beneath began to flow.  All were then firmly convinced of the truth of Diego's experiences and news slowly spread about the healing waters.

Inside the Santuario de San Miguel

del Milagro in Tlaxcala.

Later in November of the same year, St. Michael appeared for the fourth and final time to Diego Lazaro, to urge him to step up his efforts to make the spring known.  In response, the young man hand-delivered a jug of the miraculous water to the bishop and urged him to spread word of the spring throughout all Mexico, per the Archangel's express command.  Sensing the truth, the bishop had the water dispensed to the sick and, when cures were effected, he authorized an official investigation, which concluded in favor of the apparitions; a chapel was constructed at the site of the spring.

Today, a sanctuary dedicated to the great Archangel stands in this town named after the miracle.  Our group visited the shrine on the day prior to the festival commemorating St. Michael's first appearance to Diego.  I found the place to be highly edifying and was profoundly moved as I prayed in front of the small chapel of the holy well and in the main sanctuary.  We were also provided with blessed spring water by the custodians of the shrine.

At the altar of St. Michael's

Sanctuary, Tlaxcala

As with the two Marian shrines I visited, I felt the holiness of the site, particularly the distinct presence of St. Michael.  This is another place I recommend to readers to visit, if one is ever in Mexico.  In fact, kill two birds with one stone - go to both Ocotlan and to San Miguel del Milagro!  You won't regret it.

One last thing - at every shrine we visited there was the hustle and bustle of street vendors outside the shrine complex.  Some may find this annoying but I actually didn't mind because they do serve a practical and valid purpose - they help the locals to make an honest living for themselves and are convenient places to purchase devotional items and other souvenirs.  Plus, they were generally much cheaper than the official shops within the shrine complexes.  I'm all for supporting the local indiginous community.

With the above being shared, I close Part I of my 3-part Mexican Pilgrimage Blogs - click on the link below to read Part II about certain relics I saw/venerated in Mexico.

* * To view Mexico Pilgrimage, April 2023 - Part II (Relics), click here

* * To view Mexico Pilgrimage, April 2023 - Part III (Signs), click here

America Needs Fatima Rosary Rally 2021

“Pray, pray much, and sacrifice

for sinners, for many souls go to hell

because there is no one to sacrifice

and pray for them.”

- Our Lady of Fatima,

August 13, 1917

Today, groups of Faithful around the country gathered to participate in the America Needs Fatima (ANF) annual Rosary Crusade to offer needed prayer for our country that's spiraling out of control at breakneck speed.

Other chapters of the Needs Fatima organization from around the globe - Canada, Australia, etc. - also did the same for their respective countries.

Here in Kailua, Oahu, a small group of us organized by my dear friend - "Auntie Patty" - joined in on the ANF Crusade. After a one-year break in 2020 due to Covid-19, she decided to restart her long-running annual Rosary Rally, despite the pandemic.  Sure - this year's gathering wasn't as big as her pre-Covid ones, but it's OK.  The main thing is - Auntie Patty bravely said "Yes" to Our Lady and decided to hold a Rally.

So a small bunch of us came together - responsibly - to support the ANF organization and Auntie Patty to PRAY THE ROSARY.  We gathered in the Cobb-Adams Family's open-air garage where a beautiful makeshift altar was set up.

A strange occurrence that impressed us deeply was how, throughout our hour-long prayer, it was mostly quiet except for random street noise... but towards the end when we sang Marian hymns, a small group of birds in a tree suddenly began chirping loudly in chorus, as if to accompany us in honoring Our Lady!

This ministry's relics of the Fatima

Seers graced the makeshift altar during

the Rosary and other prayers.

Afterwards, we enjoyed delicious Chinese lunch plates, courtesy of  Auntie Patty. 

All in all, what a blessed and meaningful event it was.  The Holy Virgin, in her many appearances throughout the world continues to plead that we PRAY... PRAY... PRAY!  Sinners are tragically falling into Hell because of a lack of prayer for them... so let's continue responding to our Blessed Mother's call to help save souls - today just goes to show that it's possible to still come together in prayer responsibly and safely.  May God bless us all!

The Wonders of the Theotokos of Iveron

Rejoice, inexhaustible wellspring of grace;

Rejoice, thou who in boundless purity didst

serve the Infinite One!

This ministry has already posted a few times concerning its positive impressions of the "Hawaiian" myrrh-streaming icon of the "Theotokos" ("God-bearer") of Iveron... but then it recently dawned on this author that I didn't really know the entire backstory of the original icon.  I only knew the streaming icon here is a copy of a streaming icon from Montreal, Canada, which in turn, was a contemporary rendition of an ancient icon of the Holy Virgin and Christ Child currently kept in an Orthodox Monastery on Mount Athos, Greece.  I decided to do research and what a spiritual treasure trove I discovered!

According to online accounts, the original Iveron Icon was said to have been painted by St. Luke the Evangelist, like a number of highly venerated miracle-working icons of the Madonna and Child (e.g. Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Our Lady of Czestochowa).  Because of its sacred provenance, this icon, too, was considered miraculous in nature.  Somehow, in the mid-800s, it ended up in the home-chapel of a devout widow who lived in Nicaea.  At the time the Byzantine Emperor Theophilus launched an iconoclasm (war against images) - a purge of religious images, including icons in the Eastern Church - because of a misguided belief that all were "graven".

The original wonder-working

Theotokos of Iveron Icon.

As a result of the emperor's edict, soldiers showed up at the widow's home to confiscate her icon.  One brazen soldier actually slashed at the Virgin's chin with a sword after which, to the horror of all present, blood dripped from the gash inflicted.  The soldiers immediately repented and left the home without destroying the image.

The widow then offered heartfelt prayers of reparation before her treasured icon and received a divine revelation to set it adrift in the nearby ocean to save it from further desecration.  The following morning the woman and her son obediently did as commanded and laid the wooden image upon the waves of the sea, where it set itself upright and began to mysteriously sail towards the West.

The Theotokos Icon is commended to the

sea by the pious widow of Nicaea.

Some time later, the monks of Mt. Athos in eastern Greece, were struck by the sight of a pillar of fire, approaching from the horizon, that rose from the sea into the sky.  The fiery column eventually reached the Grecian shoreline where the awaiting monks discovered the floating painting at the base of the luminary phenomenon.  Their attempts to retrieve the icon failed, though, as it drifted out of reach whenever it was approached.

In the meantime, a humble and holy monk named, Gabriel (St. Gabriel of Iveron in the Orthodox Tradition), from the Georgian Monastery of Iveron (one of several Eastern Orthodox monasteries on Mt. Athos) experienced an apparition of the Blessed Virgin, who directed him to fetch her sacred image from the sea.  Gabriel, without hesitation, went down to the shore and, walking upon the waves, as though on land, easily retrieved the painting.

The Montreal streaming Iveron

Icon with its custodian, the late

Bro. Jose Munoz.

The image was initially installed in a chapel within the Iveron Monastery but it disappeared only to be found hanging near the monastery's gate.  Repeated tries to move the icon only resulted in it inexplicably returning to the gate.  Our Lady reappeared to Gabriel and spoke the following words to him:

“Announce to the brothers that

from this day they should not carry

me away.  For what I desire is not to

be protected by you; rather I will

overshadow you, both in this life

and in the age to come.  As long as

you see my icon in the monastery,

the grace and mercy of my Son

shall never be lacking!”

As a result of this revelation, a new chapel was constructed at the gate where the icon was successfully enshrined, and where it remains to this very day.  Since then, the wonder-working image was affectionately nicknamed the "Portaitissa" (the "Portress"), as well as called the Theotokos of Iveron, after the monastery in which it's kept and venerated.

A monk, Gabriel of Iveron, miraculously

retrieved the icon from the sea by walking

on its surface.

Throughout the centuries copies have been painted of the original icon, which are amongst the most popular Orthodox representations of the Holy Mother and Child.  The rustic images show the Virgin as both the Theotokos and as the "Hodegetria" ("She who points the way") since she gestures with her right hand towards her Divine Son sitting beside her. 

Contemporary renditions of the Iveron Icon are more stylized, compared to the original, and show the Holy Mother in red robes, which are traditional in Eastern iconography.  The color denotes her sanctity and sorrows as the Mother of our Savior; the child Jesus seated on her left arm holds a scroll, which from this writer's understanding symbolizes wisdom and prophecy.

Hawaii's Iveron Icon, a slightly smaller

version of the Montreal icon, which went

missing in 1997 after the mysterious death

in Greece of Bro. Jose Munoz.

In closing, this ministry was pleasantly surprised to learn Hawaii's streaming icon is just one of several links in a chain of miracles started centuries ago by Our Lady; a blessing not just for her Orthodox children, but also a unifying bridge between the Eastern and Western (Catholic) Churches whose members all call her "Mother"; a hypothesis supported by the many graces and healings reportedly effected by the Iveron Icon and its fragrant myrrh that have transcended denominations.

For more information about the Hawaiian myrrh-streaming icon, and/or to support its worldwide healing mission, please click here.

Rejoice, thou who sheddest tears over us

from thine icons; Rejoice, thou who givest

us tears of repentance!  Rejoice, thou who

 healest us with the medicine of

bitter sorrow...