Hansen, Mary. 2011. Madonnas of Mexico: Miraculous Images of Our Lady (North Bay, Ontario, Canada: Heavens Above! Publications, 2011), 21.
Country
Mexico
Description On
September 19, 1644 in the small town of Talpa, Mexico, something of a miracle
happened. A 19-inch statue of Our Lady of the Rosary, brought over from Europe years
prior by Franciscan missionaries, was placed in a local chapel where is was
venerated by all who came to visit. For decades, visitors brought gifts
to lay at the statues feet in her honor. This included things such
as flowers, corn, and beans, all of which attracted insects. Over time, the
insects ate away at the image, leaving it battered and tarnished and eventually
so disfigured that the pastor, Father Pedro Rubio Felix, had no choice but to
dispose of it. He feared that the unsightly looking statue may deter the faith
of his parishioners and asked the cantor's daughter to prepare its disposal. She
reluctantly accepted, as she herself had always loved the image. She was
instructed to wrap the statue in altar cloths but was utterly shocked when she
attempted to do so. Out of nowhere a radiant light protruded from the statues
forehead, and she fell to the floor unconscious. Parishioners
rushed to her side in fear for her life, but she quickly regained consciousness.
Their attention soon came back to the radiant statue, which now looked different. Instead of reverting back to its old weathered form,
it now appeared brand new. The once cracked and deformed figure now took the
shape of a beautiful Marian figure.
After
official church investigation, it was agreed that the event truly was that
of a miracle and was confirmed with a document of authenticity in 1644. Word spread of this amazing event and people
traveled from far and wide just to get a glimpse of the famous statue. In fact, so many people rushed into the small
chapel that it had to be expanded in order to accommodate the overflowing
crowds. The shrine was even declared a Basilica by Pope Benedict XV in 1915 after our Lady of Talpa was credited with saving the town from a widespread
epidemic.
To this very day crowds are still attracted to this holy site as it is considered one of the “Three Sister Virgins of Jalisco”, along with Our Lady of Zapopan and our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos, two other Marian figures.
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.
Popular Devotions
Prayer:
Our Lady of Talpa, you saved the town of Talpa from a terrible epidemic in 1825.
Please save me and my loved ones from the burdens of life which, at times, seem so overwhelming.
Please intercede for me with your Son, Jesus.
Amen.
Hail Mary |
Dios te salve, María. Llena eres de gracia: El Señor es contigo. Bendita tú eres entre todas las mujeres. Y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre: Jesús. Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros pecadores, ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte. Amen. All content is used with permission of the Marian Library at the
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