26 January - Our Lady of Atocha/Our Lady of Long Fields

[Weedy]

26 January - Our Lady of Atocha/Our Lady of Long Fields
Madrid, Spain

(1261)
For a long time part of Madrid was nothing but a field of matreeds
(tules) particularly in the district of Atocha. Here is a shrine to
Our Lady of Atocha, a Spanish contraction for “Theotokos”, meaning
“Mother of God,” or a simplification of “Antiocha” which, in the 12th
Century under this title, was already ancient and beloved. Today the
statue stands in a business centre, a dark little Madonna with an
enigmatic smile on her face. Nobody knows where she came from but
everyone, from gold-braided officer, to the ragged street urchins, pay
her the most polite respect and give her most unqualified love.

Our Lady of Atocha was in Madrid when there was only a field of reeds
and a hermitage. The Moor and the Moslem came – they respected her and
left her alone. When Toledo was sacked in 1170, she remained there
calm and accessible, watching over her children. In 1525 Charles V
brought her his bride and asked her blessing upon their marriage; Don
Juan of Austria, departing for the Battle of Lepanto, knelt at her
feet and pledged his sword to her; after his victory, he sent in
thanksgiving, his sword to her along with the captured Moorish
banners.
Despite all these trappings of the high and wealthy, she still remains
Our Lady of all the people, beloved of kings and farmers, such as St
Isidore.

Our Lady of Atocha is Madrid’s royal shrine: there is not a Spaniard
of public importance for a thousand years who would not kneel to ask
her help. Her gowns are made from the bridal gowns of queens; yet no
shrine better demonstrates how little it matters where we rank in the
world, or what we do for a living. One of her supplicants asks her for
victory for his armies, one for rain for his thirsty fields; Our Lady
of Atocha answers all, impartially and lovingly.

In the year 1554 the Spanish Missionaries brought Our Lady of Atocha
to Mexico with them. She was brought to a sanctuary called The
Santuario De Plateros, which is a church about 30 minutes from the
small town of Fresnillo. There were many miracles that occurred after
the arrival of the famous statue.

After the first miracle was reported, the Infant of Atocha was
separated from the rest of the statue. He was seated instead by
Himself in a splendid crystal niche on the main altar, and He can
still be seen there today. In His left hand He holds a jug, which for
centuries was used by pilgrims to carry their liquids for drinking. In
His right hand is a small basket of food. The face of the Infant is
dark and bright. He has long curls and wears a small hat trimmed with
gold and feathers on the side. His clothing is velvet, with exquisite
embroidering and has the initials JHS. Finally, on his feet he wears
solid gold sandals.

The Holy Infant is so small and attractive He is like a magnet to
everyone. He is actually a figure of admiration to the faithful. He
grants them the favours they ask for and gives grace instantly. He
usually works during the night visiting the sick and the poor,
therefore, He is also known as The Night Walking Infant of Atocha. It
is not unusual to see HIs little chair empty while He is out on a
mission. In the morning when He returns the sisters dust off His
sandals after His all night journeys.

Pilgrimages are daily occurrences at the Santuario De Plateros.
Thousands of pilgrims go to the Santuario on their knees, singing and
praying. The pilgrims come for miles away on foot carrying flowers.
The children come also and the little infants are carried in the
mother’s shawl.

It is impossible to count the testimonials that cover the walls.
Pictures, wheel chairs, crutches, braids of hair, have been brought in
by those who received miraculous cures. All testimonials are framed
with a picture of The Little Infant of Atocha, a picture of the moment
of the miracle and they also indicate time, date and place.


Bible Quote:
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to
all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. [James 1:5]

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( "A Year with the Saints". January - Perfection)

St. Vincent de Paul was not contented, as so many are, with knowing
and loving virtues, but he applied himself continually to the practice
of them. It was his maxim that labor and patience are the best means
of acquiring and planting them firmly in our hearts and that virtues
acquired without effort or difficulty can be easily lost, while those
which have been beaten by the storms of temptation and practiced amid
the difficulties and repugnances of nature, sink their roots deep into
the heart. And so, on such occasions, instead of being sad he appeared
unusually cheerful. When a certain person was lamenting a mischance
which had recently occurred as likely to give bad opinion of his
community and give rise to comments injurious to himself, he replied,
"This is good, for it will give us a more favorable occasion to
practice virtue."

By this same sentiment, St. Philip Neri encouraged his penitents not
to grieve when they suffer temptations and trials, telling them that
when the Lord intends to confer on anyone some particular virtue, He
is accustomed to permit him to be first assailed by the contrary vice.

St. Francis de Sales illustrated the firmness of virtue in this
manner: "if’ said he, "the world comes to attack me, I will treat it
as I would a viper: I will trample it underfoot, and obey none of its
suggestions. If Satan arms his powers, I will not fear them at all. I
am stronger than he. God is my Father, and He will have compassion on
me, and will fight for me." Here is a fine example of virtue, and of
the way to exercise it.