Saint of the Month - April 2026: Maria Concetta Pantusa

The Servant of God

Maria Concetta Pantusa

Another Apostle of the Holy Face

Her Early Years

Maria Concetta Pantusa, later known with affection as “Sister Concetta,” was born in 1884 in the small town of Celico, Calabria.  Her childhood unfolded under the shadow of a violent and domineering father who rejected the Catholic faith and forbade any religious practice within the home.  Her mother, however, was a woman of deep devotion, who with courage, quietly taught her daughter the faith and, with the help of the parish priest Don Vincenzo Letieri, managed to have her little girl secretly baptized.  This hidden act of grace became the seed of a lifelong fidelity to God that would define Maria Concetta’s entire existence.

Brazil ... Marriage ... Early Trials

From her earliest years she felt drawn to religious life, sensing within herself a call to belong entirely to God.  When she expressed her desire to enter a convent, her father reacted with force.  Rather than allow her vocation to flourish, he uprooted her from Italy and forced her to emigrate with him to Brazil.  There she lived in isolation, subjected to mistreatment and deprived of freedom.  Yet even in this harsh exile, her longing for God only deepened.  At the age of twenty, when her father chose a husband for her, she turned to the Holy Spirit in prayer, asking to understand the will of the Heavenly Father.  In response, she received a brief but luminous vision of her future.

On Christmas Day of 1914 she married Vito De Marco, an Italian emigrant.  That same day, for the first time in her life, she was able to receive the Eucharist openly—a moment she cherished as a profound gift.  The following year their daughter, Maria Carmela, was born.  Soon after, the young family returned to Italy and settled near Bari.  But tragedy struck quickly: Vito died in the First World War, leaving Maria Concetta a widow with a small child.  She returned to her parents’ home, only to face a new trial.  For an entire year she was struck by blindness and paralysis of her lower limbs.  Her sudden and complete healing, attributed to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, restored her strength—but not her security.  Her father expelled her from the house, refusing to support her.

Maria Concetta with her daughter, Maria Carmela,

who shared her mother's piety.

The Beginnings of a Public Ministry

Alone with her daughter, she embraced a life of service.  Despite being illiterate, she was chosen by the parish priest to lead the “Daughters of Mary,” a testament to her spiritual maturity and natural authority.  She worked humbly as a cleaner for the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Redipiano, and in 1930 she traveled to Airola in Benevento to seek admission to the Poor Clares.  She was accompanied by her daughter and by Speranza Pettinato, a close friend, who would later record Maria Concetta’s mystical experiences in a journal.  The Poor Clares accepted only Maria Carmela, not her mother.  Undeterred, Maria Concetta and Speranza opened a small nursery on Via Monteoliveto with the bishop’s blessing.

Her Mystical Gifts

Fortunately, Speranza's writings reveal the extraordinary spiritual gifts that marked Maria Concetta’s life.  She experienced Prophecy, Levitations, private apparitions, and was surrounded by other miraculous signs.  For example, those around her often perceived heavenly fragrances or saw flower petals appear mysteriously.  She described visions of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin, her Guardian Angel, and Saints such as St. Joseph and St. Gemma Galgani.  She also recounted encounters and struggles with demonic forces.  In 1936 Maria Concetta received the Stigmata of Christ’s Passion during an ecstasy in which she saw Jesus in radiant light and felt piercing pain in her hands, feet, and heart.  Wounds appeared and bled, remaining visible until 1939 on her hands and feet, and until 1952 on her side.

A photo of Maria Concetta showing the wounds

of the Stigmata on her hands.

Her Devotion to the Holy Face

One of the most astonishing events of her life occurred on February 17, 1947.  In her humble room, an image of the Holy Face—a reproduction of the Shroud of Turin—began to shed blood from the head and eyes for three hours.  The phenomenon repeated on February 28 and again on March 4.  From that time forward, numerous images in her home bled, especially during the days of the Passion.  Jesus spoke to her of a mission particularly involving His Holy Face:

+ “I want My image to be widely distributed.  I want to enter every family and convert the hardest hearts.”

+ “Speak to everyone of My infinite mercy and love.”

+ “By My Holy Face the world will be saved.”

The bishop later recognized the shedding of blood from the Holy Face as an inexplicable miracle.  The people of Airola, witnessing her charity, humility, and suffering, called her “Sister Concetta,” as she dressed as a Passionist nun although she had never taken vows.  She lived in deep poverty on Via Monteoliveto for more than twenty‑three years, dedicating herself entirely to the care of the poor, the sick, and the abandoned.  Her life was marked by intense suffering, yet she radiated peace and unconditional love.

Maria Concetta with the image of the Holy Face -

a copy of the Shroud of Turin - that bled in her home.

Her Death and Legacy

Maria Concetta died at 3 p.m. on Passion Friday - March 27, 1953 - the hour of Christ’s death—a date she had foretold three years earlier.  She was first buried in the Passionist cemetery chapel, and in 1981 her remains were transferred to the Sanctuary of the Holy Face on Via Monteoliveto, the very place where she had lived and where so many miracles had occurred.  Since then, the sanctuary has become a place of pilgrimage, especially on February 17, the anniversary of the first bleeding of the Holy Face.

On February 17, 2007, her Cause for Beatification was officially opened.  In the front row sat her daughter Maria Carmela, then ninety‑one years old, moved to tears as the Church began formally recognizing the holiness of the mother who had endured so much and loved so deeply.

Please join this ministry in praying for this great mystic's speedy Canonization.

Maria Concetta Pantusa,

pray for us!

The Shroud of Turin: The Passion of Christ Revealed

"He was bruised for our iniquities; the

chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

and by His stripes we are healed."

- Isaiah 53:5

With Holy Week just around the corner, I thought it an opportune time to post about one of the Church’s most precious artifacts (and one of my personal favorites); a major relic that, when properly understood, inspires deeper appreciation from its viewers for the terrible sufferings our Lord endured during his Passion.  The Santa Sindone, better known as the Holy Shroud of Turin (simply called the "Shroud" for the rest of this blog) is one of the most venerated relics in the history of Christianity ... but what exactly is it?  The Shroud is a centuries-old sheet that mysteriously bears the faint image of a man believed to be Jesus.  Revered by Christians and scrutinized by science, its history is a rich tapestry of faith, mystery, and controversy.

Origins and Early History

The Shroud is a linen cloth measuring approximately 14 feet long and 3.5 feet wide, on which can be seen on its surface, the front and back image of a completely nude man who suffered crucifixion, along with other tortures.  The image shows wounds consistent with scourging, a crown of thorns, a shoulder wound, and nail marks in the wrists and feet.  Given its alignment with the Gospel narratives of the Passion, for many Christians, especially Catholics, this cloth is believed to be the burial shroud of none other than our Lord, Himself, that's mentioned in various parts of the New Testament such as John 19:40; Mark 15:46; and Matthew 27:59.

"So Joseph (of Arimathea) bought

some linen cloth, took down the body,

wrapped it in the linen, and placed it

in a tomb cut out of rock.  Then he

rolled a stone against the entrance

of the tomb."

- Mark 15:46

The earliest known reference to a linen matching the Shroud dates to the 6th century in the city of Edessa (modern-day Şanlıurfa, Turkey), where a relic known as the "Image of Edessa" or the "Mandylion" (the "holy towel") was venerated.  Some scholars suggest this may have been the Shroud folded to show only the face.  It was reportedly transferred to Constantinople in 944 AD, where it was kept until the city was sacked during the Fourth Crusade in 1204.  After that, its whereabouts are uncertain until it reappears in the 14th century in France.

Medieval Appearance and Journey to Turin

The Shroud surfaced in the historical record in the 1350s in Lirey, France, in the possession of a knight named Geoffroi de Charny.  It was displayed publicly and quickly drew both veneration and skepticism.  In 1389, Bishop Pierre d'Arcis of Troyes wrote a memorandum to Pope Clement VII claiming the image was a painted forgery.  Despite this, the Pope allowed its display as a devotional object, not as a confirmed relic.

A closer view of the two images on the Shroud:

the front of the Man (left) and the back.

The cloth passed through various hands, eventually coming into the possession of the House of Savoy in 1453.  It was moved to Turin, Italy, in 1578, where it has remained ever since, enshrined in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.  Over the centuries, it has survived fires, repairs, and intense scrutiny.

Scientific Investigations

Since the advent of modern imaging and dating technologies the Shroud has been the subject of extensive scientific study.  In 1898, amateur photographer Secondo Pia took the first photograph of the Shroud and discovered that the image on the cloth - particularly the face - appeared more lifelike in the photographic negative than in the positive—suggesting the image itself was a kind of natural negative.

In 1988, radiocarbon dating tests conducted by laboratories in Oxford, Zurich, and Arizona dated the cloth to between 1260 and 1390 AD, aligning with its first documented appearance in France.  This led many to conclude it was a medieval creation rather than a genuine biblical artifact.  However, later investigations have confirmed that the samples used were actually snipped from a repaired section of the cloth after it was damaged in a fire in 1532.  The effects of the fire, itself, could have produced skewed radiocarbon dating results making the 1988 test results unreliable.

The Man of the Shroud suffered terribly,

yet His face reflects majesty and peace!

Subsequent studies examining the anatomy of the Man, the bloodstains, pollen grains, and textile structure have concluded with results strongly supporting the Shroud's probable authenticity - for example:

• The image is not a painting; it bears no trace of paint or pigment.  How it was formed remains a mystery to this day.  Certain scientists speculate the image was the result of a photographic-like imprint caused by a tremendous burst of energy from an undetermined source.  The Resurrection?

• The Shroud's weave is ancient, matching early Middle Eastern textiles not found in medieval Europe, but depicted in pre-medieval art (the 12th-century Pray Codex).

• The Shroud image's appearance is consistent with a man in his 30s; the right arm and shoulder is slightly more muscular than the left suggesting he was right-handed and worked in manual labor (Jesus was a carpenter) ... and His long hairstyle and facial hair was common among Jewish men of Christ's time.

• Bloodstains are comprised of human blood - rare Type AB blood - and the patterns in which they appear on the cloth is forensically how blood would normally flow and coagulate on a corpse (NOTE: Bleeding Eucharistic Miracles analyzed by science are also Type AB blood!).

• The Man suffered nail wounds to his wrists, versus the palms, as it is generally depicted in pious art since circa 420 AD.  This actually conforms with Roman crucifixion methods.  Furthermore, missing thumbs on the Man's hands are consistent with injury to the median nerve due to the nails puncturing the wrists, which would cause the thumbs to involuntarily press into the center of the palms; a detail unknown in medieval art but in line with modern forensic pathology (NOTE: The injury to the nerve caused excruciating pain not just in the wrists but throughout the entire body).

• The small barbell-shaped marks of the scourge wounds seen throughout the Man's body conform with a torture/whipping instrument used by the Romans called the Flagrum.

• Pollen grains found on the Shroud are from dozens of plant species from the Near East, many unique to Jerusalem or Anatolia, consistent with a cloth that traveled from the Levant through the Mediterranean.  The pollen found on the head area are from a shrub in Palestine known to have thorns!

• In addition to pollen, subtle images of flowers native to the Judean region have been observed on the Shroud, including the chrysanthemum and rock rose, which were known to have been used in ancient Middle Eastern funeral rites.  These flowers and their pollen were mainly concentrated around the head of the Man.

• Tiny limestone particles discovered imbedded in the fabric are identical in composition to limestone caverns in the Jerusalem area (NOTE: Caves were commonly utilized as tombs by the ancients - again refer to Mark 15:46).

• Images of coins over the eyelids (not readily visible to the naked eye) indicate the presence of Pontius Pilate lepta coins (circa 30 A.D.) placed over the Man's eyes, a 1st-century Judean burial practice!

• The total combination of wounds, trauma, and death mechanisms of the Man is statistically improbable except in the biblical account of the Roman crucifixion suffered by Jesus

Religious and Cultural Significance

Regardless of all the controversy, the Shroud endures as a powerful symbol of faith.  It is publicly displayed for veneration only occasionally, most recently in 2015 and virtually in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Millions have viewed it, and it remains a focal point of pilgrimage and devotion ... and cures have even been reported through it such as the 1954 healing of 11-year-old Josie Wollam of England, from a terminal bone disease, after she touched the reliquary enclosing the Shroud.

Despite the remarkable scientific findings and cures supporting the Shroud's legitimacy, the Catholic Church has never officially declared it to be the authentic burial cloth of Jesus.  Rather, it encourages veneration of it as a representation of Christ’s suffering.  Pontiffs, including Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis have all expressed reverence for the Shroud, emphasizing its spiritual value regardless of its origin.

The Santa Sudarium

The Sudarium of Oviedo—venerated in the Cathedral of San Salvador in Oviedo, Spain, and alleged to be the cloth that covered the face of Jesus after the Crucifixion that's mentioned in the Book of John—has long intrigued both the Faithful and researchers.  In recent years, as a result of scientific studies, it has become closely associated with the Shroud because of its striking correspondences with it.

"Then Simon Peter came along behind him

and went straight into the tomb.  He saw the

strips of linen lying there, and the cloth that

had been wrapped around Jesus’ head.

The cloth was still lying in its place,

separate from the linen."

- John 20:6-7

While the Sudarium (seen above) bears no image, it contains bloodstains and fluid patterns that perfectly align with the facial wounds and blood flows visible on the Shroud.  Studies comparing the two relics have noted matching blood type, compatible wound locations, and congruent folding and placement traditions that trace back to early Christian communities.  The convergence of historical tradition, forensic analysis, and pattern correspondence has made the Sudarium an important companion artifact in the broader investigation of the Shroud’s origins and authenticity.

The Connection to the Holy Face Devotion

In the mid-20th century, the face on the Shroud became synonymous with the Holy Face Devotion revealed to Bl. Maria Pierina de Micheli (d. 1945).  In a series of private apparitions, Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary urged the nun to spread this devotion, via a special medal featuring the face of Christ.  In 1940, she was given Church-permission to produce the medals and chose the image from the Shroud for its design (see below).  The  Holy Face Medal is to be worn as an "armor of defense" and a means of obtaining the salvation of souls through contemplating the Lord's face disfigured by the Passion. 

 

The decision to use the Shroud image by a Church-approved visionary, who witnessed the Lord's actual face on multiple occasions, is significant.  Furthermore, the devout use of the Holy Face Medal has occasioned countless signal graces, as promised by our Lord.  It all adds another layer of likelihood to the Shroud's authenticity.  

Bl. Maria Pierina was not the only saintly soul who held the Shroud in high regard.  Other holy individuals who've venerated it include St. Francis de Sales, St. Jane de Chantal, St. John Bosco, Padre Domenico of Cese, Pope St. John Paul II, Bl. Maria Pia Mastena, Ven. Hildebrand Gregori, and the astounding Servant of God Maria Concetta Pantusa, just to name a few.

ABOVE:  The mystic and stigmatic, Maria Concetta

Pantusa, and the copy of the Shroud that wept

blood in her home in Airola, Italy.

BELOW:  A.I.-generated images of the Holy Face,

as revealed on the Shroud.

"My beloved daughter!  I would like My image (Shroud

copies) to be widely distributed.  I want to enter into every

family, to convert the hardest hearts.  Take Me to hospitals

and shelters, to schools and kindergartens.  Speak to

everyone of My infinite mercy and love."

- Jesus to Maria Concetta, 1947

Conclusion

In closing, the Shroud of Turin is a relic that bridges the realms of faith and science.  Whether its enigmatic images are seen as a miraculous imprint or a medieval artifact, it continues to inspire awe, inquiry, and devotion across the world.  Through the Shroud, the Passion of Christ is vividly revealed in all its painful and bloody details; visibly testifying to the boundless love that Jesus expended to save us from our sins.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his

only Son, that whoever believes in him should

not perish but have eternal life."

- John 3:16

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/tap here

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

Only 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/tap here

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