Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos

I attended the Thanksgiving Day Mass at Sts. Peter and Paul, in the Old South End. Very impressive interior. I'll post on it later but I wanted to mention one particularly interesting feature. In the vestibule is an obviously old, obviously highly-respected statue of Our Lady. It was brought from Mexico many years ago and is surrounded by small metal "milagros." A milagro is an ex voto offering given in gratitude for an answered prayer. They're often in a shape recalling the request, a figure of a leg for a healed knee problem, for example. The figure of Our Lady is a replica of one of the most venerated images of Our Lady in Mexico.
Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos was brought to a village in Jalisco by Father Juan de Bologna, in 1542. The image stands about twenty inches tall and is made in a manner common to the Tarascans of neighboring Michoacan. Corn pith and orchid juice is blended and molded over a frame of cane or wood. Then a layer of gesso is applied and the figure is painted. At some time in the late 16th or early 17th centuries, a wide flaring frame was added to dress the figure. The crown and the crescent moon at her feet date from the same time.
The image was venerated from an early date. According to the story, Our Lady's intercession saved the life of an Indian girl who was either close to death or already dead. In a very short time San Juan de los Lagos had become a popular destination for pilgrims. The present church was built in 1732, and was made a basilica by Pius XII. For more information about the veneration of Our Lady in this guise, click HERE.
Though little noticed, Toledo's image of Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos, Our Lady of San Juan of the Lakes, is worthy of respect and reverence. Perhaps all of us should pay her a visit.