Our Lady of the Miracle ( Nuestra Señora del Milagro ) - Lima, Peru

Our Lady of the Miracle ( Nuestra Señora del Milagro ) - Lima, Peru

http://mariancalendar.org/nuestra-senora-del-milagro-our-lady-of-the-miracle-lima-peru

Commemorated on Nov 27, July 19

 

The Franciscan friars who accompanied Conquest to Peru hung an image of  Immaculate Conception over door of their first church in Lima. On missionary journeys around region, they'd take image, "La Misionera," with them. 

 

They were in Cusco, Inca capital, on May 23, 1536 when, during rebellion of Manco Inca against 2-year Spanish regime, natives trapped many Spaniards in a hut & set fire to straw roof. La Misionera was seen by all to leave her place inside & to appear above burning building together with Santiago (St. James the Greater). 

 

The fire ceased, & all were saved. In honor of this event, Spanish built  Church of the Triumph, now an adjunct of the Cusco cathedral.  

 

Back in Lima, after Franciscans surrounded little chapel with a big monastery complex, image over door was gradually forgotten. By 1600s, it had one regular devotee, a poor woman. 

 

One day she heard Virgin speak: "You alone, daughter, among all people here, visit me & pray to me. One day I will repay you." After  woman told saintly Brother Juan Gomez, he often remarked, "Lima doesn't recognize great good it has in this miraculous image, but soon it will know."

 

On Nov 27, 1630, when most of people of Lima were attending a bullfight in main plaza, a violent earthquake struck city. All were terrified, for it seemed certain that they'd perish. But those near Franciscan Church saw image of Our Lady turn in direction of Blessed Sacrament, with her hands held in suppliant gesture. Abruptly, earthquake stopped.

 

Several hours later, when Franciscan community had gathered before miraculous image to give thanks, the prodigy was renewed. The statue turned again to its former position, smiling graciously.

 

Now called "Our Lady of the Miracle," statue was given a magnificent new church. In 1835, church burned down. Only statue remained intact. On June 19, 1953, papal nuncio crowned miraculous statue. The feast of Our Lady of the Miracle is on Nov 27, anniversary of 1630 earthquake.

 

(Text adapted from "Our Lady of the Miracle," Mary Question Page, http://www.udayton.edu/mary/questions/yq2/yq355.htm. 

 

Picture from "Nuestra Señora del Milagro de Lima," Página Mariana, www.fatima.org.pe/seccion-imprimearticulo-166.html )

History

Our Lady of the Miracle is patroness of Catholic Daughters of America chapter in San Francisco, California. The image shown here is temporarily at National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi in San Francisco through kindness of Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. The answer below is from website of shrine to St. Francis (www.shrinesf.org).

 

Our Lady of the Miracle, one of first images of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary to be brought to Americas, came to Peru with Franciscan Friars who accompanied the Conquest.

 

At that time image was known by title "La Misionera." Taken to Lima by Franciscans, it was placed in facade of first Franciscan Church there. Frequently it would be carried on missionary journeys into various regions of Peru.

 

Thus, image was carried to Cuzco, center of Incan cult, where "La Misionera" performed her first visible miracle. The Spaniards, besieged in a straw-roofed native hut, were in grave peril of their lives when Indians set fire to roof. 

 

Our Lady's image was seen by all to leave her place within hut & to appear above burning building. The fire ceased immediately, & all were saved. In honor of this miraculous event, a church, called Del Triunfo, was built there.

 

On returning to Lima, religious placed image in its former niche, where for many years it remained neglected & seemingly forgotten. Only a poor woman visited image & prayed before it. To reward her devotion, Blessed Virgin one day spoke to her thus: "You alone, daughter, among all people here, visit me & pray to me. One day I'll repay you."

 

The saintly religious, Fray Juan Gomez, to whom woman had related this locution, frequently used to say, "Lima doesn't recognize the great good it has in this miraculous image, but soon it will know."

 

Thus time passed. In 1630, on Nov 27, when most of people of Lima were attending a bullfight in main plaza, a violent earthquake struck city. All were terrified, for it seemed certain that they'd perish. 

 

But those near the Franciscan Church saw image of Our Lady turn in direction of Blessed Sacrament, with her hands held in suppliant gesture. Abruptly, earthquake stopped.

 

Several hours later, when Franciscan community had gathered before miraculous image to render due thanksgiving, the prodigy was renewed. Our Blessed Lady turned again to her former position, smiling graciously upon the religious.

 

A magnificent temple of this blessed image was constructed near site of this miracle, and the image itself was given new title of "Our Lady of the Miracle," under which advocation it has been venerated ever since.

 

In 1835, fire completely destroyed beautiful Church, together with all its treasures. Only blessed image of "Our Lady of the Miracle" remained intact & unharmed by the conflagration.

 

In Lima, on July 19, 1953, solemn Pontifical Coronation took place, proclaiming  devotion to other peoples & countries.

https://udayton.edu/imri/mary/o/our-lady-of-the-miracle.php

Prayers

Prayer to Our Lady of the Miracle

Most Holy Lady, today I place myself under your motherly protection.

I beg you, please protect me from every evil, spiritual or temporal.

Since you are the Mother of Jesus & Spouse of the Holy Spirit,

I beg you to pray for me & obtain for me the particular favors I now request.

I offer you my heart, dear Mother. Grant that I may be of sincere & humble service

to your Son, Jesus, & then come at last to the everlasting joy of heaven.

https://udayton.edu/imri/mary/o/our-lady-of-the-miracle.php