If you’ve been following our "Mondays with Mary" series, you know we talk a lot about the different names we give to the Blessed Mother. This week, I wanted to share the story behind Our Lady of Miracles. This title has been a revered by the the Franciscans for hundreds of years. It's a reminder of two specific times when Mary stepped in to help her children when things seemed hopeless.
The Fire in Cusco
Back in the early 1500s, some Spanish settlers and a group of Franciscan friars moved into Cusco, the old Incan capital in Peru. They brought a simple statue of Mary with them, praying for Our Lady's intercession in the conversion of the Incan people.
Eventually, a revolt broke out. The settlers and the friars were outnumbered and had to hide in a small shed. Their enemies started shooting flaming arrows at the building, and it wasn't long before it caught fire.
But then, something incredible happened: they witnessed Our Lady herself extinguishing the flames. The survivors were so moved that they built a church right on that spot, and the statue was sent to Lima.
The Earthquake in Lima
Fast forward to 1630 when a massive earthquake hit Lima. The people were terrified, but in the middle of the chaos, a group of people inside the church saw the statue of Mary move!
She didn't just move an inch or two. She moved all the way to the high altar and stopped right in front of the Blessed Sacrament. It looked like she was kneeling and praying for mercy for the city. As soon as she was before the Blessed Sacrament, the earthquake stopped. The people of Lima never forgot it. Since then, she’s been known as the Virgin of the Miracle.
Why We Still Love Her
But even without the gold and jewels, the message is the same. Whether it’s a "fire" in our lives or the ground feeling shaky beneath our feet, Mary is always there to point us back to her Son.
Our Lady of Miracles, thank you for always leading us to Jesus. Amen.
