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 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.
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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.
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.
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 testimony 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
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