mornings with mary loving lupita

years ago,

memories all mixed up in the 

fragrance of roses,

my mother and i traveled to mexico city

 to the basilica virgin de guadalupe.

fittingly our hotel was once a convent,  our room, a nuns cell;

a single bed, penitence-hard.

 by morning we were on a

 a local bus, 20 pesos to fulfill a dream.

chattering uniformed school children filled the isles,

mothers wrapped in rebozos cradling babies,

quiet husbands,

everyone curious with the two new gringas

smiling radiantly; on their familiar ride.

silently

crossing themselves

as we arrived;

one hundred hands folding origami  

peace doves in thin air. 

we left the bus together,

a cluster of bright flowers thrown into a sea of devotees.

under the weight of 12 million worshipers a year,

Templo Expiatorio a Cristo Rey,

built between 1503 and 1709,

began to sink

...and in time a new basilica was erected.

as we wove our way silently inside the concrete walls,

my heart sank.

courting a vigil that bowed back

over five hundred years 

 i was not prepared for the carpeted,

ultra modern cavernous interior...

replete with moving sidewalk to glide each pilgrim

as if walking on water

beneath the most revered ancient textile in mexico.

as we passed directly under the sacred cloth

there was a presence of peace that transcended all time.

yet, it was when we walked the ancient cobblestones

around the enormous modern basilica to a small,

humble stone chapel that my heart flooded.

 here, juan diego lived out his entire life;

speaking of the virgin

to anyone who would lend an ear.

upon entering,

men and women paused

to carefully pluck one petal

from the enormous bounty of roses

spilling over a life size statue of juan diego.

they would hold the delicate cup of pink

to their lips while they prayed.

their breath,

a flame of devotion filling the bell curve of love.

when their prayers were exhausted

 they took the infused petals

and rubbed them in utter adoration

over juan diego's marble

heart, mouth, eyes. 

imagine, being painted with prayer infused rose petals

for eternity.

i still have my small paper thin petal,

curled like a tiny fist holding tight

to peace. 

shrine from my series 

Serving Mary

vintage silver tray, glass, solder, paint, gold leaf, found objects

***

 

 

loving lupita

a pilgrimage of love and celebration;

may this be your guadalupe dream come true.

mornings with mary

trail blazing on the path of love

 

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Comments

[magicalmysticalteacher]

Treasure that tiny petal...forever.

[Hettienne Grobler]

I believe in magic - maybe the fact that I am first is a sign of me being able to join you! What a feast of a blogpost - one has to drink in every word, every pause, every image!!! thank you for feeding my soul!

[priti.lisa]

Dear Rebecca,
I don't know where to begin or end here today,
my heart is just flooded with gratitude,
knowing that all is right in my world... the kismet of FEELING
connected in spirit to such a magical soul as YOU...I am for ever in awe.
Such a beautiful work of art, your shrine.
I visited the link
and heard the song
I hold in such esteem playing...
truly blessed am I told see such miracles.
Love to you♥♥♥

[Roz Cawley]

'imagine, being painted with prayer infused rose petals for eternity' - oh, what a wonderful image (and a contrast with the 'penitence-hard bed!). I feel as if I have been there with you.

[gloria]

Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful images. Your shrines is magnificent.::hugs::

[Fran aka Redondowriter]

Breathtaking photos and description of visiting Our Lady of Guadalupe. It was a long time ago when I visited there and I remember being a little overwhelmed by all the tourists. It was at least 30 years ago and my spirituality was not as finely tuned as it is today. We did not visit Juan Diego's birthplace. By reading your wonderful words, I experience it again, in a more meaningful way, than I did then.

[Maggie Grace]

Your writing has me in tears...the good kind. So beautiful...your writing and the experience. And to still have that rose ♥

[Laurie Zuckerman]

This simply has to be the best shrine I have seen you make, Rebecca. I have always loved your "Serving Mary" shrines, but I don't remember this one. I just happened to have posted about Our Guadalupe and Juan Diego myself this morning. Love your personal history of Mexico that you shared today. Thank you, I feel blessed!!

[judie]

This is a beautiful story straight from the depths of your heart. Thank you for sharing it. Your shrine is awesome!

[Sue Fox]

May I blaze alongside you on the Mary path forever, heart in heart! :~)xxx

[Nonnie]

the outpouring of words of faith and love
stir in me almost an explosion of gratitude
of finding you on the web!
I too would have been disappointed in a modern building that has the privilege of holding such a sacred object.
thank you, Rebecca, for sharing your gifts of writing and art.

[OldOldLady of The Hills]

These are all very beautiful images----the detail in them is exquisite. And what you wrote is very fascinating and moving, too. Lovely, Lovely Post!

[peggy gatto]

How divine!!

[Laura Hegfield]

I feel enchanted and spirit infused by your memory Rebecca. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!