The Lord of Miracles
Post categories: Student blog
| 17:07 UK time, Wednesday, 6 October 2010
I still can remember the day when I was in the Earthquake. It was three years ago. I was walking along the boardwalk when I heard "that sound", it's not a sound like another. The windows of the houses started to shake. The ground started to move like a big wave. While I was hearing the first shouts, I saw a man kneeling praying "please Lord of the miracles save us"!
So begins the story of the lord of the miracles....
It was a long time ago, around 17th century.
The miracle started at the end of an Earthquake. It was the early morning of anyday in 1655, during the Vicerayolty. The city of Lima was still sleeping when suddenly a terrible sound shook the earth. The quiet was broken. The city was seized by the panic. Lima had woken up.
People were running in terror, some of them were crying, another shouting and a few of them were praying. When the earthquake ended, the city was not the same anymore: there were cracks in the ground, shattered streets, broken houses. Everything was destroyed, everything was devastated except one thing: a curious image on the wall.
The mistery of the wall
In those times, Lima society was divided into three distinct classes: Spanish Republic (White People from Europe, from Spain mainly. They were the dominant group), Indian Republic ( Dominated group, they were descendants of the Incas and had a certain prestige but other were treated like servants), and the Slaves (they were black people from Africa mainly, they used to work on farms and orchards).
One group of the Slaves used to live in an orchard called 鈥淧achacamilla鈥. The History tell us that five years before the earthquake, in 1650, a black slave (whose name is unknown) painted a mural. Everyone was amazed because the slave had painted a crucified 鈥淏lack Christ鈥. Slaves worshiped the image and they named it like 鈥淐risto de Pachacamilla鈥.
On this mural appears the crucified Black Jesus. Above the cross is the Holy Spirit and God the Father. Below and to the right of Jesus is his mother, the Virgin Mary with her heart pierced by a lance of sorrow and to her right at the foot of the cross is Mary Magdalene.
But that mural came to be known after the terrible earthquake in 1655. The catastrophe had destroyed most of the city leaving only that mural standing up. This fact increased the devotion of slaves. 鈥淢iracle of God鈥 said some people. 鈥淟uck鈥 said some skeptical. Since that moment slaves named the Black Christ 鈥淪e帽or de Los MIlagros鈥 (Lord of the miracles) or 鈥淪e帽or de los temblores鈥 (Lord of the earthquakes).
Since then, many stories have been told: terminally ill patients were cured, blind people could see again and other incredible miracles.
People use to celebrate and thank the miracles with gatherings where people could sing or play guitar; although for some religious people those kind of celebrations were offensive. That was the reason why the viceroy ordered a painter to remove the mural, but when he approached and tried to erase the image, his hand was completely paralyzed. He fainted. Another painter intended to clear again, but the result was the same. Nobody could touch the image. Neighboors commented: 鈥淚t seems like God does not want the image to be erased鈥.
"Lor of the MIracles" is one of the biggest processions around the world.
Finally the Viceroy had to bless the mural.
Years later, in the same place of the mural It was built a Monastery, called Nazarenas Church, where the image was saved.
Celebration of Faith
Since that time every year, in October thousands of believers celebrate the Lord of Miracles in a religious procession through the streets of Lima. This festivity is the main catholic celebration in Peru and one of the biggest processions around the world. The main days are 18th and 19th in october.
The litter which bears the image weighs two tons and is carried on the shoulders of believers who set out on the traditional procession from the church of Las Nazarenas to many districts of Lima.
Procession of Lord of the miracles
Thousands of Faithful are dressed in purple and sing hymns and pray as they accompany the image. The original image was fixed in the 20th century by artists italians and this is saved in the Nazarenas Church.
Nazarena Church
....
The last eartquake in Peru was three years ago. The epicenter was in the sourthern of Lima. It lasted 3 minutes and 30 seconds and it was considered like one of the most violents and destructive in recent years. There were 595 dead and more than 1,800 wounded. The town Ica, Chincha y Pisco were almost in ruins. After the eartquake a image of Christ which was in the 鈥 "templo de Luren鈥 (Luren Temple) was intact. A new miracle born again.
Comment number 1.
At 6th Oct 2010, talha wrote:hi.谋 ve some questions for you.firs of all are you catholic or protestant or anything else?and what are your points of view about different religions and faith on the world? for example what do you think about Islam?thats all if you have any questions dont hesitate.
see you byeeee.
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Comment number 2.
At 6th Oct 2010, Natanael wrote:Hello Miguel,
Great post, it's amazing. I saw by tv, all the earthquake matter on Peru and the Brasil (Rio de Janeiro included) mobilized to help the Peru.It was a miracle about the Christ Image.
On Haiti, we lost one of most important person in Brasil that treated about this matter (Mis. Arns). She was into the Church on the earthquake moment. It was very sad for Brazilian.
It show us how is so much important to have faith.
Great post, man, great post.
Cheers - Natanael - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
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Comment number 3.
At 6th Oct 2010, MIguel Aguirre wrote:Thanks Natanael!!
I'll go to Brazil for the next World Cup Football in 2014. (I hope) That'll be awesome. Brasil it's a beatiful place, It has a rich culture, amazing beaches and beautiful girls!
Best Regards
Hi Talha, where are you from?
I believe in God, but I do not belong any religion, but I respect every religion in the world. I Think Faith it's universal and this it is expressed through the customs, beliefs and religion.
Best Regards
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Comment number 4.
At 6th Oct 2010, danny wrote:Hola Miguel
Thanks for very impressive post.I hope you'll take some pictures for us from the coming procession.What's the reason behind the purple color?Is there specific meaning?
Adios
Danny
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Comment number 5.
At 7th Oct 2010, MIguel Aguirre wrote:Hi Danny
Well, it has a litle story: Antonia Maldonado, was a very religious young. She was forced to marry, but she was widowed almost immediately so She found his real vocation: service to Christ.
She founded a pious of Nazarene and chose a "h谩bito" (type of clothing) purple. Then she was devoted to the black Christ and since that moment people is dressed in that " h谩bito morado". - (purple habit)
Best Regards
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Comment number 6.
At 7th Oct 2010, Ditta wrote:Hi Miguel,
This story is very intriguing and the photo whit a whale of believers weard purple dress too...wow...how many people...
In Hungary the earthquake is infrequent and it's not violent. I've passed through one of them, and that sound and to see that the steel concret walls waverd was really frightful, but fortunatelly the biggest damage was some crack in few housewalls. So, I'd like to say, that I think I can't imagine what does it feel like to live through a violent earthquake.
Best wishes,
Ditta, Hungary
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Comment number 7.
At 7th Oct 2010, bbllmm wrote:Hey Miguel, I麓ve just opened the Met Museum of Art link and today麓s featured work of art there is "Wirgin of the Rosary of Gu谩pulo" by Peruvian (Cuzco) painter about 1680! By the way, your story is interesting, punchy, excelent and neatly writen and documented. You are very talented for writing, it麓s a pleasure to read. I suppose, there won麓t be find a mistake by no teacher. And, your country and people are the pearl on the Globe! marianna, Slovakia
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Comment number 8.
At 7th Oct 2010, Natanael wrote:Hello Miguel,
Yes, It'll be a big World Cup after that,Olimpic Games. I think taht it'll be a very good opportunity to South American People, all of us.
By the way, congratulations for Vargas Llosa ( Nobel Premium ). He's a great "Peruano".
You'll be welcome here...
Cheers - Natanael - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
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Comment number 9.
At 7th Oct 2010, Natanael wrote:Hi Ditta,
It's a pleasure to talk to you again.
I've tried to talk to everybody on the other link, but for a while I prefer here.
Tell me more about Hungary. I confess that i heard about Hungary due to the championshinp of "F1" (Ayrton Senna - Our Champion of F1), and about the Hungarium circuit of F1. Now, your volleyball team.
Tell me more about your Politics Organization...
and your culture.
Cheers - Natanael - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
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Comment number 10.
At 7th Oct 2010, Ashish wrote:Hi Micky,
(I found Alonso from Peru using this name. I find it easier than Miguel, if you don鈥檛 mind)
What a presentation! Yes, I say it a presentation. I thought I was reading a story while I was going through this blog. It鈥檚 superb, Micky. I like it dearly. The story of the lord of the miracles is really well-written and interesting. You鈥檝e made us travel beyond 17th century.
To tell the truth, I鈥檓 very much pleased at the 鈥楲ord of the miracles鈥 as it was painted by a black slave. And, by the time, it鈥檚 been proved that 鈥楪ood鈥 something is always appreciated, praised and accepted by all the people even by the Viceroy. It doesn鈥檛 matter where it comes from, it hardly matters by whom it is developed 鈥 by 鈥楤lack鈥 or by 鈥榃hite鈥. I wish if we could minimize the gaps between these two groups by such way! Anyway, have you read the book 鈥楤lack Boy鈥 by 鈥楻ichard Wright鈥? If you don鈥檛, I think you can start it from this link page, 鈥.
You鈥檝e mentioned that thousands of believers celebrate the 鈥楲ord of Miracles鈥 in a religious procession, one of the biggest around the world in October, mainly on the 18th and 19th. So, it鈥檚 just ten more days, isn鈥檛 it? What鈥檚 about your plan? We look forward to having a fresh flavor of the celebration this year.
And, what鈥檚 about the new miracle? Is it also celebrated in the same way? I enjoy reading books very much about different religions though I鈥檓 a Buddhist. Have you enjoyed 鈥楾he Life of Our Lord鈥 by 鈥楥harles Dickens鈥? This is the book which tells the Jesus Nazareth, from his birth to crucifixion in a very simple and charming way. The book is easy to read as it was written without thought of publication in order that his family might have a permanent record of their father鈥檚 thoughts.
鈥楴azarenas Church鈥 looks really lucrative. It seems to me that it鈥檚 an excellent architectural view. The photograph is also fine.
Thanks again.
Ashish, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
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Comment number 11.
At 7th Oct 2010, Ashish wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 12.
At 7th Oct 2010, Badr wrote:Hi every body
I am Badr from Morocco, it鈥檚 my first participation in the 蜜芽传媒LEblog, these lasts weeks I enjoy reading some posts from recent Bloggers, I will be happy to rejoin your community.
Hello Miguel your last post is very interesting, by the way congratulation to Peru: Mario Vargas Llosa receive Nobel Prise in Literature
Friendly greetings,
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Comment number 13.
At 7th Oct 2010, Natanael wrote:Hello Badr,
It's pleasure to have you here.
You're welcome.
Cheers - Natanael - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
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Comment number 14.
At 7th Oct 2010, 蜜芽传媒 Learning English wrote:Good evening everyone,
I've been speaking to our teacher for October today. I won't reveal who he or she is yet, but there will be a post to read very soon!
Stephen
蜜芽传媒 Learning English
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Comment number 15.
At 7th Oct 2010, Ashish wrote:Hi Stephen,
Thanks a lot for your information. We're eagerly waiting for him/her and looking forward to an extraordinary post that will bridge the gap of these eight days (*_*).
Warm welcome in advance.
Ashish.
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Comment number 16.
At 7th Oct 2010, misou wrote:Hi every body
Hi Moguel , i 'm very pleased to belong to 蜜芽传媒LEB this is my second comment but i really enjoyed the previous posts that i already read English was kind of hard nut to crack for me but now i feel that i'm okay day by day i learn something new and it's due to people like you Miguel and also bbc teachers .well your post today was very interesting you know in this blog we do not only learn english but we exchange culture , traditions ,customs, and many other informations needed to undertstand eachother .i've read and taught my class of french about a Philipinian legend about EARTHQUAKE ans a king named LAKAN ADYA , i don't know if you know it , it happened in Tagal's country where this king was belobed by all the citizens because of his justice and loyality . but no one have seen him ever all what they know about their king is that he was so powerfull then any other man ( physicaly i mean ) one day ,the country was conquiered by the ennemies who took L adaya and imprisoned him in a dark cave in SAN MATEO mountains with handcuffs . From that day , every time when an earthquake happen the citizens becomes happy ,they think that it ( earthquake ) happens due to their king's super power and that he will remove his handcuffs and come back soon.
Every people has their own beliefs and even if it seems inbelivabe to us we have to respect it so our beliefs can be respected .black people suffered a lot, since cristopher Colombus had discovered the new world where they were used as slaves and farmers ,until nowdays , many africans are hungry , illitrate, housless,...but you know what they have power to challange because they do have a dream ( this remind me the famous film of Denzel Wachngton MALCOM X .
waiting forward your next post
bay
Soumia from BREZINA / Algeria
to BADR and TALHA :
i'll be glad to know more about you
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Comment number 17.
At 8th Oct 2010, Ditta wrote:Hi Everybody,
Natanael,
What happened? I hope, the other topic also will function.
I'm sorry but I don't follow the F1, but of course I know who was Ayrton Senna, and it was the huge adversity what happened with him.
Our volleyball team? You know more than me:)! It's very surprise that you mentioned F1 and volleyball apropos of Hungary as if we look at sport, usually the first one is Pusk谩s Ferenc and the football. Ok, it was so far:), but how was it in 1986.?:) I'm just kidding.
Our culture is very colorful. It was mixed with nearby countries's and some invader nation's during one thousand and one hundred years, but I think after all it's unique:).
And what about Brazil?
Ditta, Hungary
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Comment number 18.
At 9th Oct 2010, Marina wrote:Hi Miguel! Hi guys!
Sorry for my absence I'm on my work trip now :) with almost no Internet connection.
Anyway, Miguel this post is just amazing! I've never heard about the celebration of "Lord of miracle" (thank to you I know about it now). What an impressive procession! There is no religion festive that gathers so many people together in my country. I love that! I'll learn more about that in Internet :)
NATANAEL!! ;) Thanks a lot for your Poem, friend! I'm so touched... Do I really deserve those words ? ;)
Marina the Pocahontas, Kazakhstan - Almaty
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