3 October - Feast of The Miracle of Ocotlán – Our Lord of Mercy

This is a major miracle that you’ve probably never heard of, the
appearance of Christ in the clouds, in Ocotlan, Mexico, in 1847. This
historical event – approved by the Archdiocese of Guadalajara in 1911
– is known as “The Prodigy of Ocotlán“

On Saturday 2 October 1847, a massive earthquake hit the region of the
town of Ocotlán, Mexico; much of the city was destroyed and 40 people
died. The next day, Sunday 3 October 1847, before a Mass was
celebrated in the cemetery of the Chapel of La Purísima Concepción in
the city of Ocotlán, more than 2,000 people witnessed a perfect image
of Jesus Christ Crucified that appeared in the skies for more than 30
minutes.

Before Mass began that 3 October which would be presided over by the
parochial vicar, Fr Julián Navarro, two very white clouds began to
join in the north-west of the sky and in the middle of them the image
of Christ appeared.

Those present and those in nearby towns were moved, made acts of
contrition and shouted for “Mercy to the Lord.” For this reason this
Christ was named the “Lord of Mercy” and in his honour, in September
1875, a new Church dedicated to Him was blessed and consecrated.

Among the faithful who witnessed the prodigy were also Fr Julián
Martín del Campo, Parish Priest of the community and Antonio Jiménez,
the Mayor of the city. Both sent letters to their respective superiors
telling what happened.

In addition, after the miracle, a file was prepared with 30 eyewitness
testimonies by order of the layman Lic. Miguel Castellanos. Fifty
years later, in 1897, under the order of the then Archbishop of
Guadalajara, Mons. Pedro Loza y Pardavé, a new file was drawn up with
30 more people, including 5 priests.

On 29 September 1911, the Archbishop of Guadalajara at that time. Msgr
José de Jesús Ortiz y Rodríguez. signed the document that endorsed the
appearance of Jesus Christ in Ocotlán and the worship and veneration
that the faithful of that town carry out to the venerated image of the
Lord of Mercy located in the Sanctuary of the same name.

“We must recognise as a perfectly proven historical fact the
appearance of the blessed image of Jesus Christ Crucified (…) and that
it could not have been the work of hallucination or fraud, since it
was verified in broad daylight, in view of more than two thousand
people, ” said the Archbishop.

He also pointed out that so that the Mercy of the Lord is never
forgotten, the faithful should “congregate in the way possible, after
purifying their consciences with the holy sacraments of Penance and
Holy Communion and solemnly swear in the presence of God, for himself
and his descendants, that year by year they will celebrate the
anniversary of 3 October. ”

In 1912, after approval and to comply with the provisions of the
Archbishop of Guadalajara, the public festivities began in honour of
the Lord of Mercy, remembering the Prodigy of 1847. Currently the
festivities last 13 days, from September 20 to September 3. October.

In 1997, John Paul II sent his Apostolic Blessing to the town of
Ocotlán for the 150th anniversary of the prodigy and asked to
celebrate their festivals in a holy way, living the sacraments.

To commemorate the event, a monument, which is entirely carved in pink
quarry. On the eastern altar there is a scene of the destruction of
the town by the 1847 earthquake and on the western altar there is a
representation of the prodigy with the Lord of Mercy in the centre. It
has a height of approximately 20 meters.

See pictures
https://anastpaul.com/2020/10/03/

Reflection: Though we are in the world, let us strive to separate
ourselves from it and consecrate ourselves to God, remembering that
“the world passes away, but he who does the Will of God abides
forever.” (I John 2:17)

Saint Quotes:
The more you devote yourself to study of the sacred utterances, the
richer will be your understanding of them, just as the more the soil
is tilled, the richer the harvest.

The man who is slow to grasp things but who really tries hard is
rewarded, equally he who does not cultivate his God-given intellectual
ability is condemned for despising his gifts and sinning by sloth.

Learning unsupported by grace may get into our ears; it never reaches
the heart. But when God's grace touches our innermost minds to bring
understanding, his word which has been received by the ear sinks deep
into the heart.
-- Saint Isidore of Seville

To what shall I compare thee? Or to what shall I liken thee, O
daughter of Jerusalem? To what shall I equal thee, that I may comfort
thee, O virgin daughter Sion?
--Lamentations 2:13

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Merciful Jesus!
Stretch Forth Thy Hand of Mercy
(Excerpt – Prayer in a Time of Anguish)
By St Jerome (347-419)

Merciful Jesus!
Thou art my strength, my refuge and my deliverer;
in Thee I have believed and hoped;
in Thee have I loved.
Call me now, I beseech Thee and I will answer.
Stretch forth Thy hand of mercy, to the work of Thy hands
and let me not perish, whom Thou hast redeemed
with Thy precious blood.
It is now time for dust to return to dust
and my spirit to Thee Who gavest it.
Open then, Lord, the gate of life and receive me.
Receive me most merciful Lord,
according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies,
Who receivedst the thief on the cross
and now prepare my soul for hearing
the same promise of mercy which he did.
I am ill, O Lord and Thee my Physician.
Heal me then, my God and I shall be healed,
let me not be confounded, for I put my trust in Thee.
In Thee have I hoped – let me not be cast off forever!
… Deal not with me, according to what I deserve,
nor chastise me, according to my iniquities
but help me, O God, my Saviour
and for the glory of Thy Name deliver me.
Now, at this hour, show mercy to me
and whenever I depart, receive me
into the number of Thy family that I, may be one of those,
who are to praise Thee forever.
Amen