Our Lady of Long Fields (Our Lady of Atocha)
Our Lady of Long Fields
(Our Lady of Atocha)
https://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/our-lady-of-atocha.html
January 26
For a long time part of Madrid was nothing but a field of matreeds (tules) particularly in district of Atocha. Here is a shrine to Our Lady of Atocha, a Spanish contraction for “Theotokos”, meaning “Mother of God,” or a simplification of “Antiocha” which in 12th Century under this title was already ancient & beloved.
Today statue stands in a business center, a dark little Madonna with an enigmatic smile on her face. Nobody knows where she came from, but everyone from gold-braided officer to ragged street urchins pay her the most polite respect & give her most unqualified love.
Our Lady of Atocha was in Madrid when there was only a field of reeds & a hermitage.
The Moor & Moslem came – they respected her & left her alone.
When Toledo was sacked in 1170, she remained there calm & accessible, watching over her children.
In 1525 Charles V brought her his bride & asked her blessing upon their marriage; Don Juan of Austria, departing for Battle of Lepanto, knelt at her feet & pledged his sword to her; after his victory he sent in thanksgiving his sword to her along with captured Moorish banners.
Despite all these trappings of high & wealthy, she still remains Our Lady of all the people, beloved of kings & farmers, such as St Isidore.
Atocha is Madrid’s royal shrine: there isn't a Spaniard of public importance for a thousand years who wouldn't kneel to ask her help.
Her gowns are made from bridal gowns of queens; yet no shrine better demonstrates how little it matters where we rank in the world or what we do for a living.
One of her supplicants asks her for victory for his armies, one for rain for his thirsty fields; Our Lady of Atocha answers all, impartially & lovingly.
In year 1554 Spanish Missionaries brought Our Lady of Atocha to Mexico with them.
She was brought to a sanctuary called The Santuario De Plateros, which is a church about 30 minutes from small town of Fresnillo.
There were many miracles that occurred after arrival of famous statue.
After first miracle was reported Infant of Atocha was separated from rest of statue.
He was seated instead by Himself in a splendid crystal niche on main altar, & He can still be seen there today.
In His left hand He holds a jug, which for centuries was used by pilgrims to carry their liquids for drinking. In His right hand is a small basket of food.
The face of Infant is dark & bright.
He has long curls, & wears a small hat trimmed with gold & feathers on side.
His clothing is velvet, with exquisite embroidering, & has initials JHS. .
Finally, on his feet he wears solid gold sandals.
The Holy Infant is so small & attractive He is like a magnet to everyone.
He is actuall a figure of admiration to faithful.
He grants them favors they ask for, & gives grace instantly.
He usually works during night visiting sick & poor, therfore, He is also known as The Night Walking Infant of Atocha.
It isn't unusual to see HIs little chair empty while He is out on a mission.
In morning when He returns sisters dust off His sandals after His all night journeys.
Pilgrimages are daily occurences at Santuario De Plateros.
Thousands of pilgrims go to Santuario on their knees, singing & praying.
The pilgrims come for miles away on foot carrying flowers.
The children come also & little infants are carried in mother's shawl.
It is impossible to count testimonials that cover walls.
Pictures, wheel chairs, crutches, braids of hair, have been brought in by those who received miraculous cures.
All testimonials are framed with a picture of The Little Infant of Atocha, a picture of moment of miracle, & they also indicate time, date & place.
(Our Lady of Atocha)
https://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/our-lady-of-atocha.html
January 26
For a long time part of Madrid was nothing but a field of matreeds (tules) particularly in district of Atocha. Here is a shrine to Our Lady of Atocha, a Spanish contraction for “Theotokos”, meaning “Mother of God,” or a simplification of “Antiocha” which in 12th Century under this title was already ancient & beloved.
Today statue stands in a business center, a dark little Madonna with an enigmatic smile on her face. Nobody knows where she came from, but everyone from gold-braided officer to ragged street urchins pay her the most polite respect & give her most unqualified love.
Our Lady of Atocha was in Madrid when there was only a field of reeds & a hermitage.
The Moor & Moslem came – they respected her & left her alone.
When Toledo was sacked in 1170, she remained there calm & accessible, watching over her children.
In 1525 Charles V brought her his bride & asked her blessing upon their marriage; Don Juan of Austria, departing for Battle of Lepanto, knelt at her feet & pledged his sword to her; after his victory he sent in thanksgiving his sword to her along with captured Moorish banners.
Despite all these trappings of high & wealthy, she still remains Our Lady of all the people, beloved of kings & farmers, such as St Isidore.
Atocha is Madrid’s royal shrine: there isn't a Spaniard of public importance for a thousand years who wouldn't kneel to ask her help.
Her gowns are made from bridal gowns of queens; yet no shrine better demonstrates how little it matters where we rank in the world or what we do for a living.
One of her supplicants asks her for victory for his armies, one for rain for his thirsty fields; Our Lady of Atocha answers all, impartially & lovingly.
In year 1554 Spanish Missionaries brought Our Lady of Atocha to Mexico with them.
She was brought to a sanctuary called The Santuario De Plateros, which is a church about 30 minutes from small town of Fresnillo.
There were many miracles that occurred after arrival of famous statue.
After first miracle was reported Infant of Atocha was separated from rest of statue.
He was seated instead by Himself in a splendid crystal niche on main altar, & He can still be seen there today.
In His left hand He holds a jug, which for centuries was used by pilgrims to carry their liquids for drinking. In His right hand is a small basket of food.
The face of Infant is dark & bright.
He has long curls, & wears a small hat trimmed with gold & feathers on side.
His clothing is velvet, with exquisite embroidering, & has initials JHS. .
Finally, on his feet he wears solid gold sandals.
The Holy Infant is so small & attractive He is like a magnet to everyone.
He is actuall a figure of admiration to faithful.
He grants them favors they ask for, & gives grace instantly.
He usually works during night visiting sick & poor, therfore, He is also known as The Night Walking Infant of Atocha.
It isn't unusual to see HIs little chair empty while He is out on a mission.
In morning when He returns sisters dust off His sandals after His all night journeys.
Pilgrimages are daily occurences at Santuario De Plateros.
Thousands of pilgrims go to Santuario on their knees, singing & praying.
The pilgrims come for miles away on foot carrying flowers.
The children come also & little infants are carried in mother's shawl.
It is impossible to count testimonials that cover walls.
Pictures, wheel chairs, crutches, braids of hair, have been brought in by those who received miraculous cures.
All testimonials are framed with a picture of The Little Infant of Atocha, a picture of moment of miracle, & they also indicate time, date & place.
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