As a child on my first visit to Jamay, a small village in the state of Jalisco in Mexico, I met a cousin who wore a brown habit. As a child I thought she was a nun of some kind because of what she wore (she actually resembled a monk more than a nun). A few years later when visiting the village again, I was surprised to see my cousin in regular clothes. I mentioned this to my mother. She informed me that as a young girl, my cousin contracted diphtheria and did not receive the proper care soon enough. She was in very critical condition. She prayed to a patron saint of healing and promised she would wear his habit for a number of years if she would be restored to perfect health. It was then I realized that I witnessed the keeping of promises for an answered prayer—a prayer for a miracle.
The following story in the LA Times describes the same kind of devotion and keeping of promises for miracles. “Believers come to her home for a miracle”
The crucifix, which made its way to Tucson from Spain, is sacred in Tucson's Catholic community. (Nicole Santa Cruz / Los Angeles Times)
