Hansen, Mary. 2011. Madonnas of Mexico: Miraculous Images of Our Lady
(North Bay, Ontario, Canada: Heavens Above! Publications, 2011), 11.
Guadalajara, located in Jalisco, Mexico, is not only the second largest city in the country but also the home to a very popular and miraculous
Marian figure. Our Lady of the Thunderbolt is a patron for desperate cases and
lost causes. Located in the convent in the Church of Jesus Maria, a statue
stands with quite the story to its name.
On August
13, 1807 the unexplainable happened when a violent storm struck the city. Winds
were whirling and thunder cracked when suddenly, the nuns of the convent heard
a loud boom. Moments later, the air was filled with smoke as the statue was set
ablaze by a strike of lightning. The flames soon spread and engulfed the rest
of the convent and the nuns fled in terror. When the fire was finally
extinguished, residents ventured back to the building, only to find the place
in shambles. The statue of Mary was destroyed, her clothing blackened by the
flames and her crystal eyes shattered, yet one thing remained unharmed. The
baby Jesus in her arms was unharmed by the fire with not a single part of his
body touched by the flames.
Yet this
is not where the story ends. Five days later, as nuns and several helpers
worked on cleaning up the wreckage, another terrible storm rolled in. The skies
turned black, yet the convent somehow remained bright. The onlookers were
surprised to turn and see the statue of Mary, glowing bright against the stormy
skies. A sudden crash of thunder roared through the town followed by a flash of
lighting, which illuminated the entire chapel. The statue began to change from
white to pink then eventually back to its natural colors. The event ended just
as quickly as it began, only this time leaving the statue looking even better
than its original state.
After an
official investigation by the church, Our Lady of the Thunderbolt was crowned,
and the news of her miracle swept across the land. Since then, many miracles
have been said to be attributed to her including that of a young nun by the
name of Cecilia de San Cayetano, who injured her spinal cord and was left
paralyzed, subject to great amounts of pain. Even after receiving treatment
from the finest doctors in the city, it was ruled that there was simply nothing
else they could do to help her condition. Eight long years past and still
Cecilia never lost hope that Our Lady would cure her, and on December 17, 1850,
her prayers were answered. For some
strange reason she felt an irresistible urge to go visit Our lady of
Thunderbolt that day and, with the help of an aid, she was brought to the feet
of the statue. Here she prayed: “Oh restore my health Good Mother, for if I
continue like this, I fear for my salvation.”
Hansen, Mary. 2011. Madonnas of Mexico: Miraculous Images of Our Lady. North Bay, Ontario, Canada: Heavens Above! Publications, 2011.
Liguori. Mary Throughout Latin America. MO: Liguori Publications, 2005.
Prayer:
Our Lady of
the Thunderbolt, Patroness of Urgent Needs:
You cured Sister Cecilia of her
depression, her pain, and her paralysis.
Please help me in this urgent
situation!
Especially help those who have no one to pray for them. Amen.
