The Road to Juquila - Part 5: Holy Water

I know it’s been awhile
since I posted something
about my trip to Juquila.
I had hopes of going to Palenque
this year,
but I am slowly starting to realize
that I am being called
to spend more time in Oaxaca.
Specifically,
I feel Our Lady
calling me back to Juquila.

It’s been six months
since my trip to Juquila,
but
I continue to reflect
on this sacred journey.

My life
and my brain
just seem to be going
in so many directions lately.
And I still have so much more to share
about this wonderful trip
to Our Lady’s little chapel.

Since the celebration
of The Easter Vigil
a couple of months back
my mind’s eye has been focused
on Holy Water.

Since my trip to Juquila
I’ve really given a lot of thought
to our use of Holy Water,
of our non-use of Holy Water,
and to the Holy Waters
found at Juquila.

Now,
of course,
water is just plain necessary for life.
We cook with water.
We clean and wash with water.
Water is just one of those things
that one can easily take for granted.

But of Holy Water?
What is it that gives Holy Water her power?
What makes Holy Water “Holy?”

Is it the power of God?
Is it the prayer of the priest?
Is it the assent of the people?
And who decides what bodies of water are holy?

I have several containers of Holy Water
on my home altar:
Guadalupe, San Juan de Los Lagos,
Lourdes. . .and yes,
even Juquila.
And to tell the truth,
I use them sparingly.
And since the Easter Vigil
I am beginning to question
why I don’t just use them all the time.

Juquila,
as already mentioned in previous blog posts,
is located in Oaxaca
in the mountains.
It is a long and arduous journey to get there.
Many of the area
choose to make the pilgrimage on foot,
processing for several days up that mountain
before finally arriving.

At the outskirts of Juquila,
there is a little place
where pilgrims can gather themselves
and their thoughts.
They can formalize their prayer requests
in concrete form
before going on
to the little mountain municipality.

They can stop and rest and eat.
They can also wash up.

But,
as you watch the faithful
stepping into the river
one quickly realizes
that there is more going on
than people washing their face
or splashing their bodies.
It is easy to see
that something of a healing nature
is taking place in those holy waters.

Now,
I am certain that God
has greatly blessed that area
including the waters of that river.
And I am certain
that many a priest
has blessed those waters.
So please,
don’t think that I am in any way
negating the Power of the Merciful One
or the works of those
called to an ordained ministry.

But in all honesty,
I can’t help but think
that the water of that river is holy
because the people
are constantly blessing it.

The faithful aren’t just washing up
after a long journey.
They are refreshing
and renewing their belief.

Belief:
What powerful things can be
if we but only believe.

. . .remember,
if we but believe
we can move those mountains. . .
. . .what we can do
if we had faith the size of a mustard seed. . . .

What happens
when a believing people
enter the waters of that river
and offer prayers of blessings
and thanksgiving?

A couple of years ago
I read many of the works
of Dr. Emoto.
He writes about the power of words
on water.

Great stuff.
I highly recommend.
His work demonstrates that the written words
“love” and “gratitude”
when shown to water,
will change the water.
So does the word “ugly.”
The words change the water.
Water charged and changed with “love”
changes the plant watered with it.
So does the plant
when watered with “ugly” water.
The words change the water.
The water changes the plant.
Can you imagine what that could mean
about the fruit and vegetables we eat?
This is so simple.
Its about words,
only words.

. . maybe that’s why grandma’s chicken soup
tastes so good
and makes us all better
when we are sick:
because she adds “love”. . .
. . but I digress. . .

Now,
I’ve said throughout this blog
that words of have power.
In fact,
one of my first blog posts
was about words and tattoos. . .
. . but I digress again. . .

Here’s what I’ve come to believe:
The water of that river is holy
because the people
are constantly blessing it.
Prayers of blessing and thanksgiving
are constantly flowing
from the faithful
as they approach this river,
as they are in the river,
as they leave the river.

But they are not just
blessing the water with their words.

They are blessing it
with all of their being:
Body, Mind, Spirit.

Remember,
they have been on foot for days
making a sacred procession.
They have been in prayer
and singing sacred songs
as they journey.
They have worked hard
to get to this sacred place.
The have worked hard
to be in Sacred Space.
Laos Ergon: The Work of the People.
Their time in this Holy Water
IS Liturgy.
And Liturgy,
all liturgy,
is
a sacred, holy event.

We become what we get close to.
Look at your closest five friends.
How much are they like you?
How much are you like them?

This water, too, becomes
what it gets close to.
It becomes Sacred and Holy
because a Sacred and Holy people
approach her, seek her, touch her,
and bless her.

The water is blessed
because a blessed, holy people
are in constant contact with her,
blessing her.
The water,
ever present,
is also listening
as the faithful voice their prayers.

And now,
I’m calling the river “her”
as if she were alive.
The thing is,
she is.
And she is very, very sacred.

Now,
mind you,
I’m not at this time
speaking/writing about ecology
or keeping the earth green.
That discussion,
I’m sure,
will make itself known.
What I am speaking of here
is very simply
the power of words.

Words have power.
Don’t forget
the Word Became Flesh.
I don’t know why the works
of Dr. Emoto
would come as such a big surprise
if we really believe
what we’ve read a gazillion times
in the Scripture.

Words Have Power.
And the faithful
are constantly
pouring blessings
on the water
of this river.

The faithful
are making this water Holy
with their words,
with their prayers,
with their work,
with their bodies.

So,
why are those holy water bottles
just sitting on my home altar?
Why am not blessing myself
everyday with them?
Why haven’t I blessed
the whole of my house,
inside and out,
with those sacred, holy waters?

What good are they
if I don’t use them?

We become what we get close to.
I could use a little Guadalupe
in and around my neighborhood. . .

My middle son
was in the hospital a couple of months back.
His illness was sudden
and changed our lives.
At the time,
a little Juquila healing
would have been most appropriate.

And then,
not too long ago,
I was sick myself for awhile,
missing quite a bit of work
and just having hard time
getting over a respiratory bug.
Guadalupe Holy Water
really could have made all the difference.

I should be blessing my vegetable garden,
my car,
my son’s school books. . .

. . . a pitbull went after my cat
not too long ago
and really, really scared her.
I should have blessed her
and entrusted her, once again,
to the care of St. Francis. . . . . .

I can’t tell you
the number of prayer requests
that come through
my facebook.
Why haven’t I just given
my bottle of Lourdes Holy Water
to someone who really needs it?
Why am I hoarding it?
What good is my faith,
my belief,
if I don’t share it?

Sadly,
I did not enter the river
when I made my trip to Juquila.
I regret that now.
But,
as I have every intention
of returning to Juquila
you can bet your bottom dollar
that I won’t deny myself
that sacred experience.

And so now
I’m blessing the waters of that river
even though
I am thousands of miles away. . . .

Yes,
Words Have Power.
And when words are spoken
in prayer and blessing,
they have the greatest power of all.

Holy Water.
Something so simple,
so basic,
and yet,
so powerful.

You know,
we SHOULD be blessing the waters
of the gulf area.
And maybe we should be pouring
our bottles of Holy Water
right into it. . . .

Concert - June 19th - Children's Choir Program Line-up

I just want to be sure
you're aware of the concert next Saturday,
June 19th at 1:00p.m.

The Children's Choir of St. Gabriel Detroit
will be performing in the church,
located at 8118 W. Vernor in Detroit.

Here is the complete program for the event.
We do hope you can make it!

The program is bi-lingual,
being presented in both Spanish and English.
The Church is air-conditioned
and there is a reception afterward.
And it's FREE!!!!

Children's Choir Concert Program - June 19th - 1:00p.m.

*Bienvenida (Welcome)
Michelle G. - Celine G.


El Fuego Cae, Cae
Tradicional
Maracas - Carlos E., Jean Paul G.
Chimes - Viridiana C.
Claves - Rita R.


*El Oración de San Patricio (About St. Patrick's Prayer)
Natalie A.


St. Patrick’s Breastplate
Gaelic Melody (Bunessan) Translation by James Quinn
Rainstick - Elisa E., Elizabeth M., Estefania


Ven, Espíritu Santo
Jaime Cortez, OCP Publications
Soloista (soloist) - Rita
Chimes - Viridiana C.
Maracas - Carlos E., Jean Paul G.


*San José (About St. Joseph)
Carlos E.


Hombre Justo
Celine Durea, CSJ; OCP Publications
Rainstick - Elisa E.

Oracion - Mi Amigo, Jesús
Gerardo R.

Mi Amigo, Jesús
Silvio Cuéllar, OCP Publications
Solista (Soloist) - Jessica R.


*Oracion A La Virgencita de Guadalupe
(Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe)
Esther G., Jean Paul G.


Holy Is Your Name
Wild Mountain Thyme, arr. by David Haas, GIA Publications
Chimes - Viridiana C.


Virgencita, Dulce Madre
Silvio Cuéllar, OCP Publications
Trio - Esther G., Celine G., Michelle G.
Maracas - Carlos E.


Our Lady of Guadalupe
Music by Cesareo Gabarain, text unknown
Duet - Estefani O. & Elisa E.
Rainstick - Estefania R.


Canto Final/Rosas del Tepeyac.
Carlos Rosas, OCP Publications
Rainstick - Estefania R.
Chimes - Viridiana C.
Maracas - Carlos E., Jean Paul G.


* Intermedio (Intermission Announcement)
Michelle G. - Michelle G.

****Intermission*****

Guitar Soloists
(Rita & Alfredo)
Introduced by Fr. Jaime


Soon and Very Soon
Andrae Crouch, Bud John Songs, Inc.
Solo - Gerardo R.
Chimes - Viridiana C.
Claves - Rita R.
Maracas - Carlos E., Jean Paul G., Gerardo R.


The Love God Has For Me
Donna Pena, GIA Publications
Duet - Viridiana, Estefania


All In All
Dennis Jernigan, Shepherd's Heart Music Inc.
Rainstick - Estefania R.
Chimes - Viridiana C.


Halle, Halle, Halle
Traditional Carribean, arr. John Bell, Iona Community, GIA Publications
Chimes - Viridiana C.
Maracas - Carlos E.
Claves - Rita R.


Si Se Puede/You Can Do It
(Dedicated to the Memory of Cesar Chavez
im Rule, PNO Tuna Music
Rainstick - Elisa E. , Estafania R.. Elizabeth M.
Maracas - Carlos E., Jean Paul G., Gerardo R.
Claves - Rita R.


Cantos Originales del Padre Jaime

(Original music written by Fr. Jaime)


*Recited

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Road to Juquila - Part 3: Not A Journey for the Feint of Heart

The Road to Juquila is a most difficult one.
This is definitely not a journey to made by the feint of heart.
It is a five hour drive from the city of Oaxaca to Juquila.
And most of that is through the mountains.

If you easily get car sick then this trip is not for you.
The road winds and twists and turns and zig zags.
And if you aren’t accustomed to the way folks drive in Mexico,
well, it can get pretty scary,
especially when you’re traveling up the mountainside.

I know I already said this
in my previous blog entry.
But it does bear repeating.
Four of the five hours is like a roller coaster ride,
quite literally.
Thankfully, I was smart enough to forgo my morning coffee.
I wasn’t thinking of the twists and turns in the road,
but rather that there would be no rest areas in the mountains.
Smart, smart move on my part.
I got the dry heaves about 2/3 of the way up.
Now,
I love amusement parks,
though I don’t care for roller coasters all that much.
I’m the cool aunt who loves the Demon Drop at Cedar Point.
But this drive does not compare.

Our vehicle left at 5a.m. and I thought that we would sleep
at least for the first half of the way.
Let me tell you that won’t happen.
When you see that there are no guard rails
you just want to stay alert.

Once we arrived at Juquila
We quickly found a pharmacy
to be sure that we all had Dramamine
for the ride back.
It would have been smarter to start the day that way,
but live and learn.
Still,
this is NOT a journey to made
by the feint of heart.

If you have never taken a ride
in a taxi cab in Mexico City,
if you’ve only done the luxury tour bus thing,
well, you’ll be in for a BIG surprise.
Take a cab in Mexico.
Sit in the front seat.
And then, imagine that cab
twisting up the mountainside with no guard rails. . .

But the Road to Juquila
is a journey that is worth it
if you have a love for
and devotion to Our Lady,
under any of Her various titles.

Once you get beyond the roller coaster ride
and just let go and let God
you will become absolutely amazed
at the grandeur and the beauty.
It is just amazing what our God can do
with dirt and stone and clay and rock.
It is a tremendous thing that our God has done
with trees and plant life.

It touches the heart
to see horses running,
just running because they are horses
and that’s what they do.

It is a gift to gaze upon goats as they gracefully graze
or bulls as they meander on the side of the road,
right next to the van.
And chickens cross the road like squirrels.

It’s just so inspiring
to see nature and wildlife
in this area of the world
as it was meant to be
. . . clean and free. . . .

But you’ll miss all of this
if you sleep
or if you are getting car sick
or if you are worried about safety issues.
Just let go
and be in the sacred space
that leads to Her sacred space.

And once you finally arrive at Juquila,
well, let me just say
that this is NOT a place
for tourists who want something fancy.
You’ll want to bring your own toilet paper
and maybe even disinfectant spray.
I would forgo the hand sanitizer
and just bring alcohol to wash your hands with,
and plenty of it.

And there aren’t that many hotels.
And the hotels are small,
not that many rooms.
I understand that the few that are there
fill up quickly on the weekends.
In fact,
it is quite common for pilgrims to camp out
in the mountains
when there is no room.
Although we didn’t spend the night there,
I, for one,
wouldn’t have a problem staying in of these hotels.
But let me assure you,
these at not like the Best Western.
But really now,
what do you need?
A bed and a shower, right?
You’ll get that and you’ll also receive
perhaps the finest hospitality there is to offer.

I have journeyed to Mexico many times
to several different areas
and have never had any stomach issues
or anything like that.
But if you have a sensitive stomach
or if you are a pretty picky eater
Juquila could prove a bit of a challenge.
You won’t find restaurants
that cater to the American tourist,
nor will you find McDonald’s, KFC
or any other fast food favorites.
Juquila is Oaxaca.
Period.
Come prepared to eat
the Oaxaca specialty dishes.
Come prepared to eat
mole Oaxaqueño.

The food is prepared by people
who won’t use a heat lamp or a microwave.
It’s prepared for you when you order it.
It’s fresh and it’s good
and it’s a delight to see people
so eager to serve you and make sure
that you eat well and are satisfied.

The tortillas
were probably made fresh that day
and the eggs probably couldn’t be fresher,
probably laid by that chicken you saw outside
as you entered the restaurant!

The pan de yema, a Oaxaqueño specialty bread,
was probably also just made that morning.
And the fruit
is probably much more healthier
than any you’ve ever had,
even if you’ve never seen a fruit like that before,
even if you can’t name what kind of fruit it is.
Even the candy is handmade.
Leave the finicky eaters in your family at home.
And forget the diet and just enjoy!

What you will find
is that the food is prepared
by a people who understand
what many of us seem to have forgotten:
That all of life is sacred,
even our work,
even our workplace.

Yes,
The Road to Juquila
is not a journey to be taken
by the feint of heart.
But if we can clear the path of all these obstacles,
obstacles that only we, ourselves,
place in our own way,
obstacles that are born in our heads,
we will be open and ready
to receive in our hearts
all the sacred
that so graciously awaits us
when we decide to travel
that Road to Juquila.

I haven’t even finished
writing everything I want to write
in this blog about the trip
and I am already ready
to go back. . . .

. . and when I go back
if there is no room in the hotel,
that’s OK because I know
that even Our Lord had no place to lay his head.
Even Our Lady,
who is the reason for a trip to Juquila,
knows what it’s like
when there is no room in the inn.
Yes,
those pilgrims camping out
along the road
are truly a people of scripture.

But, there again,
you’ll miss all of this
if all you want is creature comforts.

. . .so, are you coming with me next time???

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
About the photos:
The first to pictures are of nuts, peanut brittle and handmade candy. All of which can be purchased by street vendors just near the church.

The last photo is of an "altarcito" (a little altar) in the restaurant where we stopped to have lunch, St. Martin de Tours (San Martin Caballero) and Jesus. These little altars are very common among faith-filled business owners. (these little altars abound in SWDetroit as well!)

The Road to Juquila - Part 1: The Desire to Get to Know Her, La Virgin of Juquila, Begins

I have so many, many thoughts,
so many things run through my head
after my recent pilgrimage to Juquila.
And so,
this will be the first of many blog entries
about that most wonderful trip.
It has been a process.
And like all processes,
it started somewhere. . .
. . .when I least expected it. . .
and only now am I realizing
how many years ago
this desire to visit La Virgen de Juquila
began in me.

I have always had a devotion to
and a love for
Our Lady.
Anyone who knows me even ever so slightly
knows this about me.
Why,
I’ve even built a website in Her honor.

And I have always had a particular interest
in the titles given to Our Lady
by the peoples of the Americas.
But I must admit
that I do not know
a great many of the stories
attached to these titles
of Our Most Blessed Mother.

And such was the case for me
with the Virgin of Juquila.
I knew that this was a title of Our Lady
venerated by the people
of the state of Oaxaca in Mexico,
but I really didn’t know much more than that.
I also knew several people
who had gone to the little church
where she is venerated by that title.

And then, several years ago,
a priest said something in casual conversation
that just made me absolutely angry.
At the time
I just could not believe the words
that were coming from this man’s mouth.
At the time
I found his words to be unforgivable.
Oh, I know, I know.
We are all human
and as such
we all say and do things
that we later regret.

The thing is,
there were others there
who actually believed what he said.
And that’s what made me angry.
If it were just a conversation with me,
well, that’s one thing.
But he said some things
that others present believed to be true.

You know,
to whom much is given
much will be expected.
To be ignorant of a subject matter is one thing.
But to speak things that are so untrue
well,
that is another matter entirely.

And if one is uncertain of what the truth is
of a particular subject matter,
would it not be better
not to speak what you are unsure of??
Would it not be better
to keep one’s tongue silent????
Yes,
this man made me angry.

He said that the veneration to Juquila
was a veneration to an abortion clinic.
People who said that they visited Juquila
had actually gone to have an abortion
or have accompanied someone who had an abortion.
He said that there was no title to Our Lady
under the name “Juquila,”
but rather that it was all about abortion cover up.

Now,
Juquila is the name of the little mountain municipality.
(Actually, Santa Catalina Juquila.)
That being the case,
there could very well be a clinic of some sort
that uses that name.
However,
having recently returned from Juquila
I can honestly say
that I never saw any abortion clinic.
Now,
this is not to say
that maybe there isn’t one
somewhere up in those mountains,
but I never saw it.
But more,
he spoke a blatant lie
when he said
that there was no Lady of Juquila,
when he stated that there was no real veneration
to Our Lady by that title.

But you know,
his cold and callous untruth,
his sheer stupidity
started the fire
that began to burn in me that day.
And that desire
was to travel the Road to Juquila.

Little did I know
that when he spoke his untruths
I would begin developing the promesa
I would later make to Our Lady,
the promise to tell and share Her story
with as many people as I can.

It still angers me,
and a justified anger, I do believe,
that this priest could somehow
make an abortion accomplice of Our Lady.
Still,
I am thankful.
Were it not for his unwillingness
to study the matter further,
his stubbornness at not wanting to know the truth,
the desire would never have been born in me
to seek the truth for myself
and to visit Her at Juquila.
I suppose that Spanish colloquial statement
fits well here:
No Hay Mal Que Por Bien No Venga
(There is not bad from which good doesn't come.)
And so while he may choose
to distance himself from Our Lady,
I grow ever closer to Mary of the Magnificat,
La Virgen de Juquila.

And thus,
I began my travels
down the long and winding
Road to Juquila
about six years ago
during a time in my life
when I had
neither the gumption needed to correct this priest
nor the financial means
to take a plane south of the U.S. border.

I’ve since flown to Mexico several times,
with hopes of returning to Mexico
twice more this year alone.
I just returned from visiting that shrine in Oaxaca.
And now, with this blog,
I hope to set my mind at ease
and correct this man’s error
as best as I can.

Perhaps,
one day
in him will also be born
the desire
to travel to the state of Oaxaca in Mexico,
the desire to travel
that long and winding road,
full of twists and turns
up that high mountain,
up that road full of obstacles.
Perhaps one day there will be born in him
the desire to travel
The Road to Juquila.
I certainly hope so.

At the very least,
I pray to Our Lady
that this minister of God
would learn to respect
the popular religiosity
of a people so strong in their faith.
For as I see it,
he is the living embodiment
of why some people
are a people of faith
in spite of the Church
and not because of her.
In the end,
I guess it is always
a Holy Spirit thing.

As I write about my experiences
on the Road to Juquila
(which will include the story
of La Virgen de Juquila)
I will keep this gentleman in my prayers
and I ask all who read this blog
to do the same.

And you know,
I’ve always said that sometimes
we need to hear the exact opposite
of what we know to be true
to move us from our complacency.
Sometimes it takes someone
saying something we know isn’t right
to make us stand up and take notice,
stand up and take action.
And with those thoughts,
I think of my father,
who always taught us
to stand somewhere.

And so I do not think it is a long stretch to say
that the Road to Juquila
really, really began in me as child
with my father teaching me
to love justice and truth.
Wow. . .
. . . . Our Lady has been waiting for me
for quite some time. . .
Sort of reminds me of that Spanish hymn
to Our Most Blessed Mother:
“Una madre no se cansa de esperar. . .”
(A mother never tires of waiting. . .)

And thus began
my journey to Juquila.
Like most journeys of faith,
it began with a movement of the heart,
when and where I least expected it.
It has not been a journey of miles,
but rather, one of years.
And I am ever grateful
that I headed the call
to take The Road to Juquila.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pray For Us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray For Us.
Our Lady of Fatima, Pray For Us.
Virgen de Juquila, Ruega Por Nosotros.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
About the photo:
I picture I took of some statues of La Virgen de Juquila,
handmade by local artisans,
sold by the local street vendors.

Mananitas for Our Lady of Guadalupe

Yes. . .I was one of those crazy people
that get up in the wee hours of the morning
to go to church to "wake " Our Lady of Guadalupe on Her feastday.
Here are some photos I took this morning.
Pictures include Mariachi, Band,
and choir and singers from the parish.
A few pics of people
who participated in the "open mic" as well,
including a very young child.
Sorry.
No photos of children's choir.
I can't accompany
and take pictures at the same time!
Pictures taken at the mananitas this morning
at Detroit's St. Gabriel parish.
And sorry not to spend too much time cleaning photos up.
I just wanted to get them up today!
Happy December 12th!

Litany of Our Lady of the Americas

Our Lady of Guadalupe,
Empress of the Americas;
Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lugan,
Patroness of Argentina;
Pray for us.

Our Lady of The Valley,
Patroness of Argentina;
Pray for us.

Our Lady of Copacabana,
Patroness of Bolivia:
Pray for us.

Our Lady of Aparecida;
Patroness of Brazil;
Pray for us.

Our Lady of the Cape,
Patroness of Quebec, Canada;
Pray for us.

Our Lady of Carmel of Maipu,
Patroness of Chile;
Pray for us.

Our Lady of Chiquinqui,
Patroness of Columbia;
Pray for us.

Our Lady of the Angels,
Patroness of Costa Rica;
Pray for us.

Our Lady of Charity of Cobre,
Patroness of Cuba;
Pray for us.

Our Lady of Presentation of Quinche,
Patroness of Ecuador;
Pray for us.

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception,
Patroness of the United States;
Pray for us.

Our Lady of Peace,
Patroness of El Salvador;
Pray for us.

Our Lady of the Rosary,
Patroness of Guatemala;
Pray for us.

Our Lady of Suyapa,
Patroness of Honduras;
Pray for us.

Our Lady of Agualeguas,
Patroness of Agueleguas, Mexico;
Pray for us.

Virgin of Juquila,
Patroness of Oaxaca, Mexico;
Pray for us.

Virgin of Octlan,
Patroness of Tlascala, Mexico;
Pray for us.

Our Lady of Roble,
Paroness of Mexico;
Pray for us.

Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos,
Patroness of Jalisco, Mexico;
Pray for us.

Our Lady of El Viejo,
Patroness of Nicaragua;
Pray for us.

Our Lady of Caacupe,
Patroness of Paraguay;
Pray for us.

Our Lady of Evangelization,
Patroness of Peru;
Pray for us.

Virgin of the Well,
Patroness of Puerto Rico;
Pray for us.

Our Lady of Divine Providence,
Patroness of Puerto Rico;
Pray for us.

Our Lady of Monserratte,
Patroness of Puerto Rico;
Pray for us.

Our Lady of High Grace,
Patroness of the Dominican Republic;
Pray for us.

Our Lady of Mercedes,
Patroness of the Dominican Republic;
Pray for us.

Our Lady of the Thirty Three,
Patroness of Uruguay;
Pray for us.

Our Lady of Coromoto,
Patroness of Venezuela;
Pray for us.

Our Lady of the Valley of the Holy Spirit,
Patroness of Venezuela;
Pray for us.

Pray for us, Holy Mother of God,
That we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.
Amen.

Litany compiled by Rubi Martinez-Bernat.

En español: Letanía de la Virgen de las Américas

God's Work of Art

This summer I had the opportunity to participate in a most wonderful event in the city where I live. Wyandotte’s Crafter’s Alley is an event sponsored by the Wyandotte Business Association and runs at the same time as the Wyandotte Art Fair. Although this event took place in July, I thought I’d share my experience as well as some photos here.

Artists and crafters lined the streets at Wyandotte’s Art Fair and Crafter’s Alley. The finest works of art I experienced during the festivities weren’t sold by any artist, crafter or vendor. The finest form of art I experienced was in the form of body art: tattoos.

Personally, I’ve never given tattoos much thought, however, I must say that it is an art form I admire. I am a musician and while I have never particularly cared for opera I appreciate and respect all of the preparation and talent needed to sing opera, to compose opera. In much the same fashion, I appreciate and respect the art and talent in every tattoo.

Words have power. If a mother yells at her six-year-old daughter, “you’re stupid. You’re ugly,” those words are not uttered without effect. Those words carry impact. But what if words are part of body art?

I met a young man at the event with a very elaborate and ornate tattoo. Amidst the designs of his tattoo was the word, “hate.” Another young person had the words, “infernal confusion” on her arm. I wonder how seeing those words every day effects these young people. I wonder how it is that they came to choose these particular words for their tattoos. The irony is that these young people were browsing the rosaries I made.

I have always had a great love for popular religiosity, those faith expressions that are born at the grass roots experience, born from the living experience of the populace. Quite often, these expressions of faith aren’t recognized by the church or are even shunned by the church. The tattoo has certainly not been widely accepted as the only “mark” or “seal” is the one given at baptism.

Personally, I have seen that popular religiousity finds expression in many forms. Popular faith truly finds expression in art.

I also had the opportunity to meet a young man who shared the story of how his father had a great devotion to Our Lady of San Juan de Los Lagos. As he embraced his young child he told the story of how his father had hopes of one day traveling to San Juan de Los Lagos to “pagar una manda.” In Mexican faith expression, a “manda” is where the faithful publicly thank God, Our Lady and the Saints for prayers answered. Pilgrims travel many miles, often doing the last stretch on their knees as they approach a specific sanctuary. Sadly, this young man’s father died before he could fulfil his “manda.”


He further explained that he was going to do what his father didn’t get a chance to do: publicly make a “manda” at Our Lady’s shrine. He said that he, too, had a great love and devotion to Our Lady. The procession to Our Lady’s Shrine that this young man will make in his deceased father’s honor will begin at Detroit Metro Airport. More specifically, the procession has already begun in his heart.

He then told me had Her tattooed on his back. Although the tattoo was still a work in progress, he permitted me not only to see it but also to take a photo. I never would have thought that a tattoo could be used for evangelization, but this young man taught me a lot that day. Now that was, without a doubt, the most affective and effective piece of art I witnessed during this particular event. In fact, that art witnessed to me!

A young lady who browsed and then purchased a rosary wore the fourth tattoo that caught my attention. Perhaps the rosary she wore as body art on her wrist and the back of her hand expressed her devotion to Our Lady much more than the rosary she purchased from me. This young person was also gracious enough to permit me to photograph her tattoo. Have you ever thought about how often you use your hands, about how you use your hands? Every time she pays a cashier, every time she shakes someone’s hand, every time she waives she has a prominent tool for evangelization available. Every time she uses her hand she gives witness.

My time at Wyandotte’s Art Fair and Crafter’s Alley was truly blest by those who not only had art on their bodies, but art in their heart. I’d like to thank these young people for what they brought to me. You, my friends, are God’s work of art.

Our Lady of San Juan de Los Lagos, Pray for us.

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