IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF EL VIEJO

Day 208: December 06

Immaculate Conception of El Viejo, Chinandega, Nicaragua



In 1562, due to a tropical storm, Fr Lorenzo de Cepeda, who was traveling through Peru, had to stop at Puerto de la Possession, now called El Realejo. Among the things Fr Lorenzo carried with him was the image of the Virgin of the Conception. Fr Lorenzo de Cepeda was a very pious man. He had a sister who was a Carmelite nun, who is now known throughout the world as Saint Teresa of Ávila, a Doctor of the Church.

From El Realejo, Fr Lorenzo de Cepeda was forced to go to El Viejo, a nearby village, but he did not want to leave the statue so dear, so he took it with him to deposit it in the village parish. He sought help from the Franciscan friars who lived in Chamulpa, now El Viejo, who lived in the convent and were able to give him the medical care he needed.

The inhabitants of El Viejo, Indians and mestizos, were immediately attracted by the beauty of the image, and gladly went to the parish to admire the "white girl." She soon became famous for the graces she bestowed on her devotees. Unfortunately, however, Fr Lorenzo had to leave and despite everyone's pleas he wanted to take the precious statue with him. However, when it was loaded onto the ship, a storm immediately broke out and the boat that had just sailed had to turn back to avoid shipwreck.

From this it was understood that she most likely wished to remain in the Nicaraguan port. The entire city exerted strong pressure on Fr Lorenzo, who, although dismayed by her abandonment, had to resign himself to the Virgin's wishes and continued his journey, leaving her in the care of the parish in El Viejo. Devotion grew even more, and today the Immaculate Conception is venerated on a beautiful and precious altar enriched with votive offerings.


St Justin Russolillo Writes...

"Practices suggested by St Louis Marie de Montfort: (1) after choosing a special date for this personal consecration to Mary, one must spend thirty days in preparation, offering God all one's prayers, actions and sacrifices as follows: for twelve days to empty oneself of one's worldly spirit; for six days to seek an understanding of Mary and then, for six more days to strive for greater knowledge of Jesus Christ. On the thirty-first day, that is the day set for the consecration, make the consecration according to the following formula written by St Louis Marie de Montfort; (2) renew this consecration every year with the same preparation. This could very well coincide and serve as an opportune exercise for the month of May or one could also use the time of the apparitions at Lourdes from February 11 to March 25."

(Ascension, trans. Louis Caputo, Vocationist Father, Newark, 1997, pp. 421-422)

Comments

Post a Comment

Hot Picks

OUR LADY OF MELIAPORE

Image
Day 47: June 26 This is the shrine in the East Indies, where Saint Francis Xavier often retired to pray during his eleven years with the people of India. The Blessed Virgin Mary was Francis’ constant source of strength and inspiration. The image before which Saint Francis used to pray is called Mylai Matha in Tamil, or Our Lady of Mylapore in English. It is an ancient statue about three feet tall, Our Lady of Meliapore can still be venerated at the church. The church of Saint Thomas of Mylapore – spelled somewhat differently from the above – contains Mary’s shrine. According to tradition, the Apostle Saint Thomas came to India in 52 AD. Due to his success making converts to the True Faith, he was persecuted and finally martyred in the year 72 AD. Saint Thomas is buried at the shrine of Our Lady of Meliapore, and there are relics of Saint Francis Xavier. There was a church known to be in Mylapore going back to the 1st century, and built by St Thomas. According to tradition, there was a ...
Read more

Marian Year 2025-26

Image
  MARIAN YEAR The year 2026 marks the first centenary of the apparition of Our Lady to St Justin Russolillo, the Founder of the Vocationists. As the feast of Our Lady of Divine Vocations falls on May 11, the year preceding to that year (May 11 2025 – May 11 2026) has been declared to be celebrated as Marian Year by the Vocationists. The reason behind this year-long celebration is, as Pope Pius XII decreed prior to the Marian Year in 1953 on the occasion of the first centenary of the definition of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Mother, “that the faith of the people may be increased and their devotion to the Virgin Mother of God become daily more inflamed.” As Rev. Fr. Louis Caputo SDV rightly points out, “the life of Fr. Justin here on earth began with the…apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary…, it developed in the shadow of Mary and ended in union with Mary.” The birth of Justin was preceded by an announcement by the Blessed Virgin Mary to Fr. Sa...
Read more

OUR LADY OF DIVINE VOCATIONS

Image
The Devotion to Our Lady of Divine Vocations The devotion to Our Lady of Divine Vocations has its foundation on the Marian Apparition that St Justin Russolillo had on May 10, 1926. He was praying breviary near a hut made of straws called pagliarella. St. Justin describes it in his diary (Book of the Soul) "May 10, 1926, first day of the Rogations. It was given to me the certainty that the Blessed Trinity has given the Blessed Lady the Office of the Immediate Superior of the Society of Divine Vocations and therefore of all the offices, mansions, studies, works, spheres and everything. She is the authority of the Society. Glory and thanks to God and Mary. Therefore, the established practice of having one person always present and on guard in the room dedicated to Our Lady to honor and venerate her perpetually." After the Marian Apparition, St Justin rushed to the rectory of St George's parish in Pianura where he used to be the parish priest. He asked Fr Luigi Diodato to pre...
Read more